Award Season is what I consider to be the most exciting and glamorous time of the year in LA. It’s a whirlwind of events starting (for me) with the Palm Springs Film Festival and ending with my first SAG Awards Red Carpet experience.
Whether you are involved in the film industry or not, it’s tough to deny the season’s allure. As I write this, my Hollywood neighborhood is in lock down as the longest Red Carpet of all is being laid.
On Feb 29 the world’s eyes will be fixated on tinsel town when the most prestigious night of award season takes place: the annual 88th Academy Awards. We’ll all be waiting to see who will bask in the glow of an Oscar – will it be Cate, Jennifer or Brie?
But for us die hard beauty and fashion junkies it will be all about the make-up, hair and the gowns. In that regard, I thought that I wanted to share with you who I consider to be the real stars of the night: The titans of beauty and fashion; The stylists, make-up artists, hairdressers, tanning specialists, nail artists and let us not forget the fitness experts who keep celebrities looking flawless from head-to-toe on the red carpet. Read on to discover how these experts get the stars ready and what they consider to be the hottest looks right now!
The Lash Queen – Michelle Rath
Eyelashes alone have the power to make quite the statement on the red carpet. This year a must-have accent to any look during award season is long, enchanting eyelashes. How to get them? Visit Michelle Rath, the owner of Sinful Lashes in Studio City. She specializes in giving you the luscious, full, thick eyelashes you’ve always desired. How she does it? With the new and innovative eyelash extensions that look natural. These lash extensions are made of a flexible synthetic material that have a curl with extra strands of hair that are secured with a superior adhesive. This means attaching fewer lashes giving you a natural look that can last up to a month. This procedure eliminates the need for falsies, (which actually do look false!) and any type of mascara. Imagine waking up every morning with your mascara already in place, what a time saver, not to mention you’re never going to have to worry about clumps or smearing again. The reason why Michelle is my top pick for the treatment is due to her philosophy about lashes. She puts the health of your eyes and lashes first, making sure that her products are top of the line and not irritating on the skin. She also has an individualized approach to her clients; she analyzes the shape of their eye and communicates with them about the look that they are trying to embody. From natural beauty to glamazon, Michelle has developed the method to help you achieve the look you desire. She is an artist and looks at your eyes as a piece of art. We’ll definitely be keeping our eyes on the beautiful lashes of the stars on the red carpet this year! Some of the stars that use lash extensions are Nicole Kidman, Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé.
Michelle Rath
The Stylist who reigns Supreme – Christina Erhlich
Christina Erlich is the most esteemed stylist to the Stars. She is the one that everyone turns to for all their style needs during award season. Some of her clients include. Penelope Cruz, Amy Adams, Allison Williams, Jessica Pare, Tina Fey, Kyra Sedgwick, Ashley Greene and Margot Robbie. She is actually the one responsible for Tina Fey’s Geek to Chic Makeover. Getting ready for an award show like the Oscar’s takes a lot more preparation than one would think. I was lucky enough to chat with Christina and she gave me the inside scoop on how far in advance she begins working with her clients prior to an event. She said it’s completely situational; sometimes she begins working with the stars as far as 4 months in advance with a fashion house to create a custom gown. But there are also instances where she is fitting a nominee for an award show as big as the Oscars for the first time the night before! Making a statement on the red carpet is a really big deal and will be remembered for years to come, especially for the nominees. I asked Christina if there are any specific colors or styles that are absolute winners on the red carpet? She mentioned that black and white always have their standout moments. Also there is so much you can do with jewelry to bring a look to life and it’s great to play off of a clean palette. I completely agree, jewellery can make or break an outfit. I’m also sure their are multiple challenges that come up along the way so I asked her what some of the biggest ones are when choosing the right outfit for the evening. Without surprise Christina told me that translating a look from the runway to the red carpet is the biggest obstacle we have to overcome. Designer samples are made for models not “real” women and we are responsible for making the impossible happen! It was nice to hear that even the biggest stylist in Hollywood knows that the models on the runaway are far from what a real woman should look like. I look very much forward to continuing my conversation with Christina on what some of the standout looks will be this year but I did get to inquire about what some of her favorite looks from previous years were. Her favorites from 2014 were Margot Robbie in Gucci at the Golden Globes, Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Delpozo at the Beyond The Lights Toronto Film Festival Premiere and Allison Williams in Giambattista Valli Couture at the Emmy’s. I definitely can’t wait to see what this years will be! Christina is a true style icon herself and has put together some of the most unforgettable looks for some of the most unforgettable nights.
Christina Erhlich
The Make-up Magician – Charlotte Tilburry:
British born make-up artist, Charlotte Tilburry is the one all of Hollywood has on speed dial during award season. She is the make-up supremo celebrities turn to when they seriously want to get their glam on – Charlotte is famed for her mesmerizing eye make up looks and her soft- natural contouring. Her A-list clients include Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and most recently Mrs. George Clooney, Amal Alamuddin. She is best known for perfecting the cat- eye; in fact she rocks the look herself everyday. She grew up in Ibiza; her father was an artist and her mum in production. Her mother was pretty glamorous but they still lived an “island life” everyone was tanned and just wore lip-gloss. It wasn’t until she went to boarding school in London when she was thirteen that she discovered make up. Everyone was wearing it! Mascara was her first discovery as she had very fair eyelashes that she didn’t like at all. The next day she got so many compliments and everyone claimed she looked so mature and sophisticated. Ever since that day she realized the true power of make up and vowed to never go a day without it again. Her husband has never even seen her without makeup. Charlotte believes that make up is every woman’s secret weapon; she is all about glamour and knows how to transform anyone into the best-looking version of themselves. That’s why all the stars turn to her for their make up and beauty needs. She is not only passionate about beauty but incredibly knowledgeable as well.
This year she is creating natural make-up looks that will have a subtle glow and lips will be paired down compared to the bold lip trend of previous years.
Charlotte Tilbury
Facialist to the stars – Bianca Beverly Hills:
Bianca Beverly Hills is one of Hollywood’s best-kept secrets. Celebrities flock to Bianca Beverly Hills to transform their skin before a big event like the Oscars. They engage in a series of Micro-dermabrasion treatments weeks in advance to ensure a superior smooth finish. Her Microderm method is amazing as she uses tiny exfoliating crystals that are sprayed onto the skin that work to smooth the skin by removing dull skin, brown spots, and age spots. After 6 treatments the quality of your skin majorly improves, fine lines, scarring and any other surface problems are completely removed. Bianca is a specialist at this treatment. Her celebrity clients swear by it. Apart from this treatment a regular facial routine is also a fantastic way to prep your skin for a big event where all eyes will be on you. Bianca designs a skin care routine to cater your unique, individual needs. Her clients experience the most optimal results, jaw dropping, to say the least. Regardless of how talented your make up artist is it is absolutely essential for you to have a clean smooth palette for the make up artist to work on, and that’s exactly what Bianca provides. In the long term making facials and micro-dermabrasion a part of your beauty routine will keep your skin looking younger for longer. Also allowing you to wear less make-up and maintain a youthful glow.
Bianca Beverly Hills
The Tanning Specialist – Fiona Locke
When it comes to looking your best during award season, having a natural, healthy looking glow is absolutely essential. Celebrities who want to get their glow on go to Fiona Locke. She is one of the most sought after Skin Finishing and custom tanning experts in the world. She is known for her natural looking, golden glow that gives a healthy, youthful appearance. Fiona has developed what she calls the art of ‘Skin Finishing’, which is defined as a flawless, custom delivery of enhanced skin tones, bronzing, contouring and definition to the body. “It’s removing the idea of spray tanning and giving skin a more modern, fresh and natural appearance, “ says Fiona.
Her philosophy is to give her clients more than just a tan but to contour their body and create the perfect bronze tone that looks completely natural, healthy and vibrant on their bodies. Some of her celebrity clients include; Kim Kardashian, Anna Gunn, Beth Behrs, Tara Buck, Amy Poehler, Evangeline Lilly, Olivia Wilde, and many more. Fiona’s expertise has been recognized by many of the top fashion magazines as well, you can find articles about her in, Allure, Bride, Marie Claire, Elle, Maxim, Fitness, Self, Shape and Cosmopolitan. Next time you see a sun kissed celeb on the red carpet instead of wondering what tropical location they just visited just remember it’s probably the work of Fiona!
Fiona Fileitem
The Go To Colorist and Haircutter – Heather Cie and Michael Sparks.
This dynamic duo are the most sought after beauty experts in their fields. Cie’s knack of creating looks that look natural and sun-kissed rather than blatantly dyed has become her trademark, a technique that has become the reason why flocks of Los Angeles’ most style savvy head to Cie’s chair. She has worked alongside leading ladies Kate Beckinsale, Rachel Taylor, and Gillian Jacobs in addition to being featured as a Five Star Colorist with Allure Magazine.
Michael perfected his craft handling the manes of Courtney Cox, Lena Dunham, Kristen Chenoweth and Jamie Alexander.
Both are in demand during Award Season making sure their clients locks are coloured and styled to perfection. They start a week prior to a red carpet appearance. Firstly the cut is executed and then the color is done. They predict we will see a lot of smooth waves, middle parts and short sleek hair looks at this years Oscars.
Some of their favorite looks they have created are for Kate Beckinsale, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez.
“It isn’t difficult to achieve the final look the day of the event because its something you have been working on leading up to that day. When you do the cut and styling prior to the event that is your “trial run” so to say. That way you are prepared and know exactly what you are doing the day of the event.”
Heather Cie and Michael Sparks
My Favourite beauty looks from previous years.
Reese Witherspoon and Margot Robbie.
Reese Witherspoon
Reese is wearing the new natural smokey eye teamed with a soft apricot pink lip and a golden glowing complexion. Her make-up artist created a smokey eye using jewel tone shadows – Think plums and copper browns. Wearing a jewel tone colour on the eyes can be more complementary because it can bring undertones out of your eye colour that the greys/blacks won’t pull.
Margot Robbie
Margot rocks a bold pout! Her make-up artist, Tyron Macchausen who created the look says, “ This is one of the biggest nights on the red carpet, so I was looking for a lip colour that is interesting and pops and this lipstick is more orange-y and much fresher and younger than the usual red. I think of her as a super modern Grace Kelly”
Best Dressed on the Red Carpet.
Jullianne Moore
THE OSCARS(r) – PRESS ROOM – The 87th Oscars, held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre(r) at Hollywood & Highland Center(r), are televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m., ET/4 p.m., PT. (ABC/Rick Rowell)
Emma Stone in Elie Saab
HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Actress Emma Stone wearing Elie Saab as she attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Rosemund Pike
HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Actress Rosamund Pike wears Givenchy Haute Couture as she attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage)
Cate Blanchett
HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Actress Cate Blanchett wearing Maison Margiela gown as she attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Scarlett Johansson in Versace
HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Actress Scarlett Johansson attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Jennifer Lopez in Elie Saab
HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Entertainer Jennifer Lopez wearing Elie Saab as she attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
