Sidetracked by shoes at Nordstrom cosmetic event
By Nadine Kam
Nadine Kam photos
Nars is presenting 15 iconic looks on some of his fashionable friends to celebrate its 15th anniversary and the launch of a limited-edition book, “NARS 15X15,” of 15 celebrity portraits inspired by one of his products. Here, model Dayle Haddon is made up to look like Elizabeth Taylor. I enjoyed seeing all the images at the Nars counter.
The Cosmetics Trend Event, a makeup road show, returned to Nordstrom on Saturday. This time, I slept through the 8 a.m. event, figuring I’d just head in later to see what’s new on the floor.
Gotta give the visiting makeup artists a lot of credit for always waking up early to put on energetic and entertaining shows to introduce the new season, no matter how jet lagged they might feel.
Here are a couple of videos with Smahsbox’s Hank Hoffman, and ZO Skin Health’s Dr. Zein Obagi. Obagi had a lot of startling things to say, such as challenging the wisdom of using moisturizer, and that it can be better to no nothing than do the wrong thing.
After Hoffman’s presentation, a woman lamented that she—meaning older women and women without classically beautiful features—could never look as good as the model.
That must be frustrating for any makeup artist to hear, because they repeat themselves over and over, and all the information is out there in newspapers, magazines and online, but women still have misconceptions about what makeup can and cannot do.
True, if you didn’t win the genetic lottery, you will never have classically beautiful features without surgical chiseling, and for older women less is more, but the point is to work with what you have and learn to play up your best features to put your best face forward. That’s all. If women don’t want to wear makeup, they shouldn’t have to, but no one should use the excuse that there’s no point in doing so because she’ll never look like a model. Few people do, but most still want to try to look their best.
M.A.C’s holiday palette
This was the gift tote with sample goodies for those who paid $15 (applicable toward the cost of cosmetics purchased that day) to attend the event. I couldn’t wake up before 8 a.m. on a Saturday, so missed out.
The cosmetics department happens to be right next door to the women’s shoe department, so I found myself wandering over there after spotting the season’s thigh-high boots. Wonder who will be the first to wear them. Not me. I’d be swallowed up by those.
The first window display of the season’s boots was in New York in September, with a showing of Louis Vuitton footwear at Sak’s Fifth Avenue. I thought I had taken a photo, but I guess I only photographed the shoes, coming up later in this post.
Those who purchased a pair of UGG boots that day could have them embellished on the spot by Chris or Carly Young.
I broke down and bought my first pair, being embellished by Carly Young.
UGG boots all in a row. Get the pink! (Partial view behind woman’s arm.)
Boot- or bootie-like, high-vamped shoes are also abundant. The pair on the left is from Pelle, at $189.95. The one on the right is from Sam Edelman, $199.95.
And boot season wouldn’t be complete without Western styles as well.
Sequins are also everywhere this season, so why not on shoes? These are from Kate Spade.
And I can’t believe the height and narrowness of the new stilettos. I’m seeing heels that are starting to look pencil thin, like those below I saw the other night at the Yves Saint Laurent boutique at Luxury Row. Can you walk in those? It may be more comfortable than it looks thanks to the platform front.
Louis Vuitton window display at Saks Fifth Avenue, New York, Sept. 10, 2009.
