Beauty: Bellissima Fashions F/W 2011

After a ton of e-mails regarding the makeup used at our Fashion Week Show, Michaelle from Smashbox is revealing her well kept secret:

Runway Images Courtesy of Ian Harding

Her list to a flawlessly dewy evening look: 

Bourjois 10 Hr. Sleep Effect Foundation (1) for a flawless dewy look. Bourjois Rose d’or Blush (2), Bourjois Volumizer Mascara (3), Bourjois Elastic Mascara (4),  Lineur Feutur, felt tip black liner that stays in place. Thick or thin lining possible.

Smashbox Photofinish Luminizer Primer (New in stores June 2011)(5). Make-up applies more smoothly, stays fresher 3x longer. Smashbox Contour Palette (6). Smashbox Halo powder in solid form (7) lifts cheekbones, gives facial contours structure (New in stores, includes easy instructions). Smashbox Layer Lash Primer (8), coats lashes safely encouraging growth and giving mascara application more volume and length automatically. Smashbox Eyelid Primer (9), eyes are smoothed with completely neutral color enabling shadow to stay crease free and smooth for hours. Smashbox Trio Eyeshadow: Panorama Trio (10), 3 colors to contour and highlight. Smashbox Double take Lip color in Gossamer (11), gives perfectly neutral lip look. Smashbox Limitless Lip gloss (12) in Infinite color gives lips plastic shine for up to 4 hours.

Runway Images Courtesy of Ian Harding

I don't know about you but I will be trying this out for the next big event.

The French Riviera

Dressed in what I would think Coco Chanel would wear today, I felt so ready to board a plane to the glamorous streets of Cannes, France!

I love the shape and style of this blouse; it’s so feminine and highlights just the right spots: neckline, waist and arms. Perfect for a chic summer evening. These high-waisted trousers are made out of the most comfortable and forgiving fabric, making them perfect for travel. No more low-rise for this girl, I’m officially converted! Accessories make the look, so I’ve topped my outfit with a vintage snakeskin purse, Grace Kelly-esque sunnies, a large diamante ring (similar to the style of the Chanel camellia), and a pair of prized Chanel platforms. A simple chignon and a slick of dark pink gloss complete my look. Exetera blouse and Frank Lyman pants both from Bellissima.

You still have two days to catch an exclusive Frank Lymann Trunk Shows at one of our Vancouver Locations. Tonight we are at South Granville, tomorrow we will be at Park Royall Mall from 4-8pm and again on Thursday at Serena Willowbrook Mall. Hope to see you all there! 

Olivia

Sneak Peak: Bellissima behind the scenes

For those of you who were unable to joins us for Fashion Week we had Jason Eng come and and take some behind the scenes snap shots. They all turned out amazingly well and we are simply not able to post them all on the blog, visit our facebook page for a further look of what went on on the big day. 

The Video

Video Courtesy of CalgaryFashion.ca

The Reviews Are In

Bellissima, the gracious leading sponsor of Alberta Fashion Week have re-branded themselves to bring something different to shoppers and the results have created quite the stir. The crowd loved the new edginess and rawness added to the Bellissima mix.

Black was the colour of choice for outfits but the cuts, colour and patterns made each piece it’s own. The red hot, front side zip leather jacket paired with black jeans was the winning piece. By simply adding a staple leather jacket in a bright colour can really add some spice to one’s style palette.

The breezy one-piece jumper has made its come back and fashionable is the only word to truly describe it.

As for dresses, Bellissima took the tender loving approach, comfortable and sexy. A black and sleeveless dress with a silver zipper in the front and pockets on the side; was worn over black leggings which made for a great combination. For ladies wanting to show off their gorgeous legs for the summer time, there were several stunning pieces to choose from: the flashy one-shouldered flowy red dress, the classic black and white horizontal striped dress broken apart with a solid black strip on the front and how can we forget the funky sand-coloured dress with black and white stripes on both sides, with a touch of orange for pop.

Words by Daniela Codreanu

Main photo: Courtesy of Lions Lace Lattes

Thumbnail photos: Jason Waight

From: CalgaryFashion.ca

Press: Alberta Fashion Week Edition

The Bellissima Jumpsuit made it to the pages of 24hr Magazine on Friday, May 20th. Stylist Jennifer Lyle posed for a quick Q&A about Alberta Fashion Week and she looked stunning. To read the full article click HERE. We are excited to bring you all the coverage from the past week's events so make sure to keep checking back.

Bellissima on BT

Shea Kerwood, Ania Boniecka & Jill Belland

Bellissima was all over the morning breakfast show today and we were right there to catch the action. Bellissima's Fashion Week debut is only one week away!  Do you have your tickets yet? (Ania & Jill both wearing Joseph Ribkoff)

Bellissima & Alberta Fashion Week 2011

We are so excited to announce that Bellissima is the official sponsor of the Alberta Fashion Week. Some of you might have already seen the news on our Facebook and Twitter or heard it through the grape vine. With less than one week away we are in full swing of the preperations. If you are in Calgary, tune in to Breakfast Television on City TV tomorrow morning to watch Jill Belland rocking a gorgeous Bellissima outfit. Ania will be on location talking about the brand as well as what you can expect  from Bellissima in the near future. We will post the clip as soon as it hits the web.

GET YOU TICKETS TO ALBERTA FASHION WEEK HERE... Bellissima will be showing on May 19th, the shows are starting at 6:00 pm. We have seen some of the outfit picks for the event and are very excited to see them hit the runway. Some new boundaries are going to be pushed as Bellissima enters a new decade in high fashion!

1 hour till the Royal Wedding!

Love them or hate them the Royal Wedding WILL be the wedding of a generation. It is to quite elaborate lengths that this event has gone, and it's not only people in England that get to participate, thanks to social media the whole world will be watching. If you haven't yet set your channels to the Royal Wedding you can still tune into YouTube where they will be broadcasting live from the procession and the ceremonies, if you are early you can even upload a video message for the happy couple. Carole will be amidst all the commotion. We wish she had a twitter account to update us all on the things to come (hint hint ;) ). For now you can also participate using the hashtag #rw2011 and #royalwedding

There are dozens of ways to stay up to speed with the events of the upcoming hours:

View the photos on the Royal Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishmonarchy

Follow them on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BritishMonarchy

Like them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheBritishMonarchy

Stay updated with their Blog: http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/

and of course Watch them on the Royal channel: http://www.youtube.com/theroyalchannel

AMAZING! What are your thoughts on the Royal Wedding? 

FACT: After their marriage, Prince William and Catherine Middleton will become The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The Royal Treatment

I have a dilemma...

Words cannot express how excited I am for this wonderful celebration. If you are as excited as I am, you must be planning on where you will be on that late April morning. Will I be one of the chosen few to be in West Minster Abbey gazing upon the beautiful couple as they exchange their vows? Will I be in England, in my family’s living room, surrounded by the youngsters who will wish to grow up and be a real princess? If my invite to the wedding doesn’t arrive, perhaps I will be on a rooftop in NYC with my dearest friends, early in the morning with the British flag in one hand and my favorite English cocktail Pimms in the other, celebrating with glass after glass. Or maybe I will simply stay put in my apartment in Manhattan, with my husband, having a delicious British breakfast complete with our English China, and of course a few glasses of Pimms! 

Wherever I end up on April 29th, and I promise to let you know where that is, one thing I know for sure: I will be wearing waterproof mascara, as I laugh, cry, and rejoice in this historical celebration. 

Cheers,
Carole

As we all raise our glasses wishing this handsome, wonderful couple, that found each other and nurtured their love as friends, peace and happiness, we must remember it is up to us to let them live their lives in peace so that they can bring joy to the world. Joy, which we so badly need. 

I just know my invite to the Royal Wedding is lost in the mail. I check my mailbox everyday hoping to see that golden envelope with my name on it. I have already prepared my ensemble for that special day. My dilemma is: what hat should I wear?

Carole: London Fashion Week

As some of you might remember from previous entries or stories I have written these past months, I was born in London and although have lived in several parts of the world, one thing is constant in my life and that is the love of fashion. Now I live in New York City, my second home, I am lucky enough to call two wonderful cities home.  What excitement to be in London, not only for the main purpose of a family celebration, but also London Fashion Week. And such an amazing coincidence that the London shows were taking place during my four and a half days visit. Although I did not have any invites this year, being caught up in the excitement of Fashion Week, the mood on the streets, the energy in some of my favorite stores satisfied my thirst for my passion. I am not the most camera savvy and usually end up a video by mistake. I managed to figure it out and took some photos regardless (my genius friends at Apple tell me some of the best pictures are taken because of emotion). 

Looking at the following will drive you to the realization that I am not talking about designers in this story, I want to share with you some of the excitement that is London for me, show or not it still is one the fashion capitals of the world  where fashion and trends are born. Some of the most creative talent that we have seen in the last couple of decades have all been products of England as you must already know (Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, the late Alexander McQueen to name a few).

COLOR SPLASH-THE CATWALKS AND WINDOWS WERE A RIOT OF DAZZLING BRIGHTS THIS SEASON, AS SUMPTUOUS JEWEL TONES AND GLOWING FLUORESCENT  EXPLODE ACROSS THE COLLECTIONS AND WINDOWS.

WORN HEAD TO TOE HUE OR IN BOLDLY CLASHING COMBINATIONS, LUSH COLOR  IS SPRINGS HUGE STYLE STORY. MY STYLE TIP BREAK TRADITIONAL COLOR WHEEL RULES! BLUE PLUS GREEN AND RED PLUS PINK ARE DESIRABLE CONTRASTING COMBINATIONS.

STYLE TIPS-RICH FABRICS SUCH AS LUXE TAFFETA  AND DUCHESSE SATIN ELEVATE YOUR LOOK. LONDON’S COUTURE WAS SHOWING HEAD TO TOE HUES.   THE KEY IS TO PICK ONE COLOR TRULY VIBRANT AND WEAR TOP TO BOTTOM.

HIGH STREET FASHION

THIS REPORT IS PERSONAL AND I AM NOT MENTIONING ANY ONE DESIGNER IN PARTICULAR, AS I WAS EQUALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE HIGH END STORES AS I WAS ABOUT THE HIGH STREET STORES (THE TERM USED  FOR THE MAJOR STREETS OF ENGLAND WHICH CATER TO THE MASSES). FOR DECADES DESIGNERS AND STYLISTS GO TO LONDON TO VISIT THEIR FAVORITE HIGH STREET STORE, BUY MANY GARMENTS AND ‘KNOCK EM OFF’. THE PICTURES DEPICT SOME GREAT TRENDS SHOWN AT ALL PRICE POINTS.

MODERN CRAFT SEEMED TO HAVE A GLAMOROUS RETHINK. THIS SEASON. TASSELS, FEATHERS AND CROCHET APPLIQUES OF LACE ADD TEXTURE TO SIMPLE SHIFT DRESSES. SOME DESIGNERS WERE VERY CLEVER BY USING OLD ARTISAN TECHNIQUES BY PLAITING, WEAVING TO CREATE PIECES WHICH LOOK BEAUTIFULLY HANDMADE.

STRIPES-EVERY FEW SPRING SEASON WE SEE THIS FAITHFUL REINVENTION AND LONDON HAS IT AT ALL PRICE LEVELS. FROM TUNIC DRESSES TO T-SHIRTS, KNITTED BLAZERS AND AGELESS ATTIRE MAKE THE STRIPE CURRENT.

AS FAR AS A GREAT NEW JACKET FOR THE SEASON, THERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL CHOICES. IF I COULD SPLURGE I WOULD BUY A SHORT SCRUMPTIOUS LEATHER JACKET TO WEAR OVER A SHORT OR LONG MAXI DRESS. THE KNIT JACKET A’LA CHANEL WAS ANOTHER FAVORITE, GIVING A GIRLIE FEEL WORN WITH A GEORGETTE BLOUSE SOLID OR PRINT.   

EMBRACE THE WIDER FLARE TROUSER (SOME OF YOU MIGHT LAUGH AS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THROWN YOURS AWAY). THEY CERTAINLY ARE MORE FLATTERING IF THEY ARE TIGHTER IN THE LEG WITH A HIGHER WAIST. IT CERTAINLY LOOKS SEXIER WEARING A WEDGE SANDAL OR A BOOT BUT DOING YOUR OWN THING IS THE WAY TO GO!

NEON COLOR HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH STREET FASHION AND THE YOUTH MARKET BUT THIS SEASON NEON GREW UP, FROM VIVID LASER CUTS TO FEMININE BRIGHTS.

LADYLIKE BRIGHTS  ELEGANT CUTS MEET EXPLOSIVE COLORS IN A BURST OF BRILLIANT GLAMOUR . FEELING SHY? GO FOR ELECTRIC ACCESSORIES. EYE POPPING BAGS AND SHOES  OR GREAT COLORED BANGLES.

Left: TWO BRITISH HOTTIES! 

Right: LIBERTY OF LONDON SIDE ENTRANCE. ALWAYS  HAVE THE FLOWER OF THE SEASON IN FULL VIEW

'PECKHAM RYE' IS SLANG FOR 'YOUR TIE', SO WHAT A PERFECT PLACE TO BUY YOUR FELLAS TIE!

CARNABY STREET. THE 60’S EXPLOSION. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN!

As the famous British song goes... 

“Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner, that I love London so.”

Love,

Carole

More than one way to help Japan

Our friends at PARK are putting together a fundraiser in partnership with the Gerry Thomas Gallery here in Calgary, the event takes place on April 7th and will include a Silent Auction, an Art Exhibition and a presentation of the Caitlin Power A/W 2011 Collection and most importantly all the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross towards the Japanese disaster relief. We are so proud to see our city collaborate on so many levels to help out our Eastern neighbours. If you are in the Calgary area next Thursday make sure to come support PARK at this great event. For more information go to their blog, http://stateofthepark.blogspot.com/ or visit their facebook page here. 

Also remember to 'like' our facebook page for a chance to donate $1/every like to Japanese disaster relief. CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Bellissima For Japan

Some amazing news from the Bellissima Team. As you know Japan has recently gone through a world scale tragedy, killing thousands of people and leaving even more without homes and with little hope. Japan has been amazingly brave, with the help from the rest of the world they are slowly coping with this imense disaster and will eventually pull through. We wanted to show our support to the country and its people by donating to Doctors Without Borders, and we need your help to do it! For every like on our facebook page we will be donating $1 toward Japanese Relief, that's $1 per every person. One click is all you need to do. The goal is to donate up to $3,000. This is the perfect opportunity to help in the time of need. See you all on facebook!



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