What To Pack This Summer For Capri

Capri has to be one of the most glamorous places on earth.

Perched prettily in the Gulf of Naples with a view along the Amalfi Coast, (from Villa Jovis) Capri is all spectacular views, sapphire blue ocean and glamour for days.

From the top of the world at Villa Jovis, looking down at the water surrounding Capri

I always think about Jackie O in her heyday walking around Capri town buying sandals. In fact every time I go to Capri I buy sandals from the same store Jackie O did! (read about it here)

When you are packing for your trip to Capri there are some key elements to keep in mind.

Capri is luxe casual. It is the epitome of chic, but effortless chic. 
Cottons and linens wear beautifully on this sunny island, lightweight fabrics that move with you when you walk. 

Here is my list of what you should be packing to take to Capri this summer.

Ideal staple items to base your wardrobe on are a great pair of wide legged, flowy white linen pants like my favorite Cool Breeze Wide Leg Linen Pant  from Nic and Zoe. Pair them with a sapphire loose fitting tank.

A maxi sundress is a must on Capri. I love this Quintana maxi from Sky, available at Revolve.com

Abandon your black and your beige - they look out of place and dull on Capri. Channel some 60's glam with some Pucci instead.

Leave your heels at home, trading them in for a chic flat sandal. I like to buy world famous Capri sandals at Shettino on via Roma just beyond the piazzetta in Capri town.

Dolce and Gbbana retro style bikini

Malibu Barbie swimwear looks crass in a place as fabulous as Capri. Opt instead for a vintage/retro style bikini or maillot. 

Dolce and Gabbana vintage style maillot

Protect your face with a wide brimmed hat like this one from Revolve Clothing. (I found Revolve via the fabulous @rachelzelic on Instagram)

Sunglasses are a must on an island, and glamorous, chic sunglasses are essential on Capri.
 Leave your traditional aviator styles at home, instead wear an oversized pair like the Dior Twisting 58mm glasses

or something uber-chic and new like Dior So Real sunglasses.

Makeup needs to be so minimal it borders on non-existent. A full face of makeup looks redundant on a sun drenched island, so stick to the basics. A gold tinted dry oil, like Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or 

keeps your skin hydrated and gives you a fabulous glow. Use a waterproof brow product so that you can swim and still have brows, and a blockbuster lash building waterproof mascara is a must. My favorite for years and years has been DiorShow Blackout Waterproof. 

If you want some extra bronzing use a gel bronzer so that your skin looks fresh.

Top off your Capri summer makeup with a bold pop of lip color like Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lip in Venezia

Don't forget your hair. You can't be blown out perfection on an island, even a super glam island - it just looks like you're trying too hard. Instead embrace your curls or waves with Ouidad. Before you dive into that beautiful sapphire blue Mediterranean sea coat your hair with Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner. 

It will protect your color and keep your hair super soft. When you get out of the water, towel dry then spritz it with Ouidad Botanical Boost Curl Energizing and Refreshing Spray. 

If you are a curly girl it will help give you bouncy, shiny curls instead of post-ocean frizz. if you are a naturally smooth haired girl or a Brazilian Blow Out smooth haired girl your hair will be soft and glossy and shiny. I just got both of these in travel size, ready for summer in Capri.

8 Fashion Films To Watch This Holiday Season

The holiday break is the perfect time to light the candles you got for Christmas, curl up on the couch with your beautiful new throw, a glass of wine, and start binge watching fashion films on Netflix (or whichever streaming device you are using).

Here are some movies to put on your glam list:

8 Fashion Films You Should Watch This Holiday Season 

8. Unzipped

This documentary follows Isaac Mizrahi as he creates his 1994 winter collection. Made in the heydey of the real supermodels, the film features Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell - the triumverate.

It's fabulous and funny and delightful.

Unzipped

7. To Catch A Thief

This has to be one of the most stylish movies of all time.

Perhaps the greatest collaboration between Hollywood costuming icon Edith Head, actress Grace Kelly and director Alfred Hitchcock, this film is a visual feast for any lover of fashion.

To Catch A Thief (1955)

6. Valentino: The Last Emporer

Valentino Garavani opened his first store in 1959. In 2007 he announced his retirement, heralding the end of an era. Valentino was the last of the old school of designers, a collective that counted Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy among its ranks. This documentary follows his last 2 years as a designer, gives the uninitiated a window into why he is and was so important in the fashion world, and is magnificent for every great lover of fashion.

Valentino: The Last Emperor

5. Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf's

Bergdorf Goodman's is an American institution, and this film explains why. From the planning that goes into their legendary windows to what it means to a designer to have their work there, Scatter gives you a no holds barred look behind the scenes.

Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's

4. The September Issue

The Devil Wears Prada's brutal depiction of Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour prompted Wintour to reply with a film of her own. The September Issue gives you a real look inside the creation of the biggest issue of the year, and shows you just how powerful she is in the fashion industry.

The September Issue

3. Dior And I

When Raf Simons took over the reins at the house of Dior in  2012 he had a mere 8 weeks to create his first Haute Couture collection, instead of the normal 6 months. Frederic Tcheng, who is also behind the incredible Valentino: The Last Emporer and Diana Vreeland: The Eye Must Travel, takes us on a behind the scenes look at Simons' stressful first few months, with attention given to the incredible seamstresses who brought his vision to life.

Dior & I

2. Yves Saint Laurent

A look at the life of legendary French designer Yves Saint Laurent from the beginning of his career in 1958 when he et his lover and business partner, Pierre Berge. 

Yves Saint Laurent

1. Mademoiselle C

This documentary is about former Vogue Paris Editor-In-Chief and supreme fashion stylist Carine Roitfeld as she launches her magazine, CR Fashion Book.

Carine is one of the most important stylists of our time, and her story is important for any devout follower of fashion.

Mademoiselle C

6 Fabulous Thanksgiving Lipstick Shades

Do you have your Thanksgiving makeup plan thought out yet?

When I'm planning the outfit and the makeup there are a couple of things I take into account. 

Firstly I don't want to diminish the power of the run-up-to-Christmas makeup and it's fierce red lips by bringing them out at Thanksgiving. All the colors surrounding you at Thanksgiving trend toward the harvest, with burnt oranges, sage greens and deep cranberries and aubergines, so a red lip is at best wasted and at worst really out of place. I feel the same about my favorite magentas and fucshias. I save them for a better outing.

Secondly I think about what the event is doing. If your role is just to swan around glamorously with a glass of champagne in your hand, a bold lip is killer. But if the event is primarily about food, such as sitting down eating Thanksgiving dinner, hopefully with a table full of great people, a bold lip may just be the enemy.

Even if you are wearing a long-wear formula. Long-wear's may hold color, but by nature they are drying, and if you've ever sat opposite someone at dinner who is wearing a long-wear lipstick you've probably noticed that their mouth looks kind of icky and their lip looks pretty unappealing by the end.

So what to do this Thanksgiving?

Here is the Thanksgiving makeup plan:

Start by focusing on your skin. Get glowing, dewy skin by using a silicone based foundation.
Next add in a cream blush. Cream blushes are lovely. They make the skin look alive and healthy. Choose a shade that is warm, complements your skin tone and works with what you are wearing.
Cold, blue based pinks may not be your best bet.
Try Laura Mercier Creme Blush which you can order online at Nordstrom

With your complexion looking gorgeous, draw attention upwards to your eyes. Give yourself a well defined brow, a slightly smokier eye, and tons of mascara. I'm back to being obsessed with DiorShow Blackout mascara
Instead of a grey, black or navy smokey eye look for a copper bronze. I love working with cream shadows like 
Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerize in Marie Antoinette.
Cream shadows can give a beautifully satin finish without being too reflective like many shimmery powder shadows.

Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerize in Marie Antoinette

While writing this post I've been clicking around on the Charlotte Tilbury website, and just ordered her Colour Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencils, and just ordered two shades, Gold Digger and Enchanting Indigo. They will be here in time for Thanksgiving, so I guess I have my eye game sorted!

Finally, it's time to work your lip game. Opt for something with a nice sheen to it, but not a super gloss. Satin finishes look luscious and are really friendly to chapped, dry, sore winter lips.

6 Fabulous Thanksgiving Lipstick Shades

Chanel Fall 2015 Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour in Pensive, available at Nordstrom.com

Chanel Rouge Allure in Pensive

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey available online at Nordstrom.com

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G in So Marilyn, a gorgeous vermilion velvet that is totally Marilyn Monroe. Available at Charlotte Tilbury.com

Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in So Marilyn

Chantecaille Lip Chic in Daphne, available online at Nordstrom.com

Chantecaille Lip Chic in Daphne

Nars "Fantascene" Killer Shine Lipstick in No Shame, available online at Nordstrom.com

Nars Killer Shine Lipstick in No Shame

MAC Creamsheen Pearl Lipstick in Sweet Sakura will give you more of a color pop to your lips, but keep you feeling hydrated and fresh. This one is also available at Nordstrom, my main online shopping hub.

Sweet Sakura

5 Must Have Beauty Products To Take To Australia

Today I am blogging from Australia, not in my favorite city in the world, Sydney, but up in beautiful Queensland by the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef, Queensland Australia

God I love Australia!

Every time I come here I am blown away by the giant, wide open skies, the beauty of these unspoiled beaches, the truth in the colors, and just how completely and utterly amazing this place really is!!

Oh - and the people?? Just the most wonderful, friendly, fun folks on earth!

I should also be given some kind of award for having the balls to get on the beach here after nearly three weeks of food and wine in Italy. But meh - life's too short to let a few extra curves get in the way of a good time!

I was asked recently which are my 5 beauty products to take to Australia. I am really paring down my travel beauty stash, especially after Italy, where I really only wore 5 things each day.

So, heading to the land down under?

Here are 5 Must Have Beauty Products To Take To Australia

1. The Best Skin Serum Ever

Tatcha Radiant Deep Brightening Serum

My normal skin care routine involves layering as many heavy, deep moisturizing products as possible. But that doesn't work quite so well when you are traveling, and when you are traveling to a beach area where in all likelihood things will get a little steamier and more humid.

Tatcha's Radiant Deep Brightening Serum keeps your skin hydrated and makes it look luminous, as if lit from within. It is the absolute holy grail of serums, a celebrity favorite, and if I am scaling back my skin care to just one item, this is the one!

2. An On-Going Sunscreen Plan

 Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen

I've used ColoreScience Mineral Sunscreen for years, and at home I always have one stashed in my handbag.
The sun in Australia is really fierce, so sun protection is extra important. 
I still start the day by slathering a broad spectrum 
SPF 85 all over my face and throat, but lets face it, once we have our makeup on, or are on the beach we are less likely to keep reapplying more sunscreen. We don't want to jack up whatever makeup we are already wearing, or if we are on the beach we don't want to be grinding sand into our skin.
This mineral powder sunscreen with it's own built in brush does double duty by knocking down excess shine (super benefit in humid climes) and letting you re-protect your skin every couple of hours without getting any cakey build up. 

After having Ultherapy (the greatest thing I ever did!) my entire makeup routine has changed. Ultherapy gives your skin lift and firmness, which means you no longer need to use makeup to create that illusion.
Thanks to Ultherapy, the entire time I was in Italy leading the Corinna B's World Glam Italia II Tour I only wore 3 makeup products each day. I'm rolling out the same game for Australia.

Read about Ultherapy here

If you are streamlining your makeup look you need to pay attention to 3 main things. Your brows, your lashes and your lips.

3. Serious Brow Game

Anastasia Brow Wiz
This mechanical brow pencil is perfect on many levels. The colors are spot on - not too ashy and not too red, so you can build a really nice brow, either sculpted or full, and not look artificial. It lasts all day too.

4. A Killer Mascara

Diorshow Blackout Mascara
I am loyal to the very end. I have used Diorshow Blackout Mascara ever since it first came out, and for me it is still just the greatest mascara out there. The color payoff is fantastic, and you can build thick, luscious, glossy lashes that stay looking fab until you take your makeup off at night.
When I'm beaching I use the waterproof formula, any other time I use regular.

5. Two Great Lip Options

When you are doing a bare faced look you need a strong brow balanced with a strong lip. When you are on vacation you really don't want to be messing with lipstick touch ups every 5 minutes, so I like to use a really saturated lip with a strong color payoff.
I'm in love with Temptu Color True Lipstick in Pink Hype

It's a nice blue based pink that packs some power while making your teeth and the whites of your eyes look sparkly and white.

On the days I don't want such a big lip game I've been wearing Nars Lipstick in Roman Holiday. 
This was actually a gift from a client and I wore it non stop in Italy when I wanted a softer, glossier mouth. Between the two I had all the bases covered.