Alexander Selig’s Illusions Cosmetics Campaign is Stunning…
“Ever since I’ve been really young, I’ve had a knack for knowing fashion,” says Alex Selig.
Over the past three months, the Temple University graphic design major has created a faux makeup campaign for Illusions Cosmetics. The campaign was initially intended to simply serve as his senior project, but quickly transformed into a work of art itself.
“I knew I wanted to create a piece I was proud of, and something I could use after college. I also wanted to do something where I could incorporate photography and design skills,” Selig said. “A makeup company was the perfect match.”
Selig scoured the internet for a cosmetics line with the potential to be a staple in the makeup industry and found Illusions Cosmetics. “[The project] was about revamping [something],” Selig said. “I found the Illusions makeup website, and it was terrible. If I were a chick, I’d block that website.”
The next challenge involved finding the right face that can compliment a wide array of makeup styles, while complimenting the intricacies of each look.
“I wanted a fresh face,” Selig said. “Makeup is all about being youthful.”
After considering several models, the photographer decided to use his younger sister Zoe Selig. “She’s incredible at makeup so we collaborated really well,” Selig said.
Each partner in the dynamic duo brought a unique skill set. Zoe had the makeup expertise, and Alex had the vision for what the makeup line could be.
The photo series started out with a photo of Zoe wearing a modern take on ancient Egyptian queens. Someone mentioned to Selig that his sister resembled Egypt, and the time period piece came to life.
The time period theme allowed Selig to demonstrate the versatility of the makeup line in addition to his skill set, without having one overshadow the other. Being detail oriented, he drew inspiration from photos taken during the time period, created a color palate, and used makeup ideas from his sister to create eight makeup looks, each completely different from the next.
“I wanted to include bright colors to draw attention and any aspect that would pop off the shelves,” Selig said. The series is incredibly artistic, but his goal was to use his vision to remarket the makeup as a brand with a solid identity.
Using a simple colored background and a similar photo composition for each head-shot, Selig created eight very unique looks that compliment each other.
After devoting his life to the project for three months, Selig couldn’t pick a favorite photo. “There are little features I love about each one,” Selig said. “All the little touches make each one different from another, so that’s why it’s so hard to choose a favorite.”
After scrolling through the campaign, I was convinced that it was an actual product line he designed. After finding out it was his senior project, I was even more impressed that he used that level of detail, but Selig treated the project as if it were an actual re-branding campaign.
“People want perfection, and if they don’t see it in the campaign, they’ll question the quality of [your product],” Selig said.
Meet Supermodel and Make-Up Extraordinaire Cindy Joseph
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ford Classic supermodel and entrepreneur Cindy Joseph about her career, her new make-up line BOOM! By Cindy Joseph, and her perspective on how every age can be beautiful. The 61 year old silver fox will also be speaking at the new raw food and juice café, Jar Bar.
PWStyle: Hi Cindy! You are so beautiful! Please tell us how you were discovered as a model.
Cindy Joseph: In 1999, I was approached on the street by a casting agent who wanted to know if I could model for Dolce and Gabbana. I was 49 and had silver hair. I did the shoot and 6 months later, the campaign was launched. I went to Ford models and they signed me. I have been modeling every since.
PW: What do you think is the most beautiful age a woman can be?
CJ: Every age has its own unique beauty. Think of a newborn’s tiny hands and feet, reaching out for sensation and the absolute awe in their eyes from experiencing all the new sensations. Then think of the sweet cuddly beauty of a toddler’s tender smooth skin romping around in their diapers. From that age through teenage years, through puberty, and young adulthood, all the way through a woman’s
30s 40s 50s, past 100, there is a nuance and shift that reveals another kind of beauty. It is our choice to seek and find that beauty in every girl and woman.
PW: What is your favorite beauty secret?
CJ: Taking joy in life
PW: Do you believe women should change their make-up routine as they age?
CJ: Depends on what they were doing when they were younger. Best thing to remember is that your face attains more character and develops more features as you age; so less of everything is better. If you wear eyeshadows and contours and powders and heavy foundations you will be just be adding more texture to the fine lines and wrinkles, and end up looking older. Think moist, dewy, color and radiance. Softer eyebrows. No dark shadows or hard eyeliners etc. Keep it simple and relax with the changes instead of fighting them. It will only make you look strained and possibly older.
PW: Do you prefer the natural make up look or the made up (to go out) look?
CJ: I think it’s all great as long as the girl or woman is motivated to wear makeup for fun rather than feeling desperate and motivated by fear.
PW: Do you believe women should embrace their age or hide it?
CJ: Not only EMBRACE their age but celebrate it. Be proud to have earned each SILVER hair and wrinkle they have!!
PW: Please tell me a little bit about BOOM! By Cindy Joseph.
CJ: BOOM! By Cindy Joseph is the first pro-age cosmetic line ever to exist. The message is that women are just right the way they are. The right size, shape, features, coloring and age, just as they are. And when a woman is taking joy in her life, experiencing pleasure she is extra attractive. It is her smile and her joy that makes her compelling and attractive. Boomsticks are easy to use, applicator free and great for multitasking. Simple, easy, and affordable. They are designed to make every women look as she naturally does when she is experiencing pleasure. If she is laughing dancing or romancing, her circulation revs up and her lips, neck, cheeks, forehead become colorful and her skin becomes dewy and radiant. Boomstick and Boomsilk are all safe, paraben phthalate free cosmetics.
PW: Explain your take on the “Pro-age” movement!
CJ: I named BOOM! By Cindy Joseph because that is the sound of a revolution. BOOM is the Pro-Age revolution! Women and men, children and adults are ready. It is simply time. Our society has hit a screeching crescendo of anti aging attitudes and products. If we believe that the largest percentage of our lives is downhill, which is after we turn thirty, it is a sad story. Life is not a mountain with one peak. Life is a V, expanding and becoming more as time goes on. As you age, you become more self-aware, develop taste and wisdom. Women are going under the knife and are injecting Botox; 9-year-old girls are worried about their weight and becoming anorexic. Women of all ages feel unseen, unnoticed, unless they look younger than they are. It is time for women and our society to realize looking like we are in our childbearing years just to be valued is archaic thinking!! Not only that, it simply does not work. It only makes a woman look desperate and they cannot fool anyone. The whole idea that women are only valuable for bearing children, ended 100 years ago with suffrage!!! Remember Women’s Lib? That happened over 40 years ago! Everyone is waking up to reality. That is the Pro-Age movement. We are not accepting this anti-age attitude anymore. Women are free, powerful and attractive at every age and are valued on many levels for many reasons. Its time to wake up and smell the coffee!
PW: Is BOOM! By Cindy Joseph only for a certain age group?
CJ: BOOM! is for every female from new born to over 100 years old. Girls and women of all ages enjoy Boom!
To learn more about this captivating woman head to the Jar Bar on May 10th from 7-9 p.m. Cindy will be offering interesting make-up tips for every age and will be discussing how you can discover yourself and live a passionate, happy life!
~Michelle Mass
Checking in with Commonwealth Proper
After meeting the owner of Commonwealth Proper, Craig Arthur von Schroeder, at the Mitchell & Ness Spring Launch Party the other week, I was dying to see what his 17th and Spruce Street showroom looked like. I was lucky enough to charm my way into an invite.
Everything about this place screams: MAN! I’m not talking the juiced up, grunting, throwing furniture over their head kind of man either. I mean the cigar-smoking, whiskey-sipping, briefcase and custom-made suit wearing kind of man. Don Draper and Nucky Thompson would be regular visitors, for sure. Not only is the showroom a certified man cave, but it simply drips with Philadelphia culture and history–from the Revolutionary and Civil War maps that adorned the high ceilings, to the African war buck in the main dressing room and the shearing scissors from the 1800’s.
In between his busy schedule of dressing A-list stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and getting ready for the MTV awards, the fashionable entrepreneur (who was as handsome and debonair as his clothing) was able to talk to me about what was new with Commonwealth Proper, especially his newfangled ‘Ready to Wear’ pieces: “We at Commonwealth Proper have studied custom tailoring and bespoke clothing practices for the past several years and are now applying the fit principles we learned from those experiences to make the perfect button-down shirt, as well as other ready-to-wear garments that simply fit better because they are designed with the contemporary man in mind. There is no substitute for fit. We are essentially making tailored fit ready-to-wear garments. The proof is in trying our clothes on…”
Craig explained that, while he has a showroom in Los Angeles, he wants to take more time to focus on his presence in Philadelphia, having everything from design, measure, pinning and chalking to the final fitting take place right here. He wants his clothing to soak up as much local culture and vintage feel as his show room does. All Commonwealth Proper designs are equipped with a tag stating when it was “born” and that it was made in the USA. Now, the creative genius, as I fondly call him, wants to produce tags saying “MADE IN PHILLY,” and there is absolutely nothing we hate about that.
A Q&A With The “Bra Whisperer”
Many women, including myself, have issues when it comes to finding the perfect bra. Cup size, chest width, strap length–they all play an important role in finding a bra that allows your chest to confidentially say “Hello world!”
I was lucky enough to be able to speak to the owner of Intimacy, Susan“Bra Whisperer” Nethero (dubbed by the one and only Oprah), about all things boobs and bras.
Here’s what Susan believes every woman should know…
PWStyle: So, Susan, how did you get into this field?
Susan Nethero: You see I was a late bloomer– and to this day remain small busted. I was frustrated throughout my teen and college years with getting the right fit. It was nearly impossible– at least I thought—to find attractive styles in my ab-normal, small size! That is what led me to build a business with FULLNESS…. prosperity and truly helping women feel confident and empowered through bra fit!
PW: If there was one rule that women had to follow when it came to buying the best bra for them, what would you say it was?
SN: Get a fitting! There are so many factors that go into finding the right bra – which is why finding expertise is key. And bra fittings are always free. At Intimacy, we pride ourselves in staffing our stores with the best bra experts in the nation. Our bra fitters are determined to find you the right fit, shape and style for your body, your wardrobe and your lifestyle. We carry over 90 sizes, A to K cup and do free custom alterations on our bras!
PW: What (do you think) is the number one mistake women make when buying bras?
SN: Most women think the support they get from a bra comes from the straps. In fact, 90% of the support should come from your bra band and only the remaining 10% should come from your straps. No kidding! Most women associate looseness with comfort, but that is actually the most common cause of poor bra fit. When bands are too loose, the back of the bra rises up, causing breasts to sag. This “see-saw” effect can also emphasize what every woman wants to hide: unsightly back fat. Finding the right fit will eliminate the appearance of back fat and will end discomfort, meaning you can stop fidgeting with your bra all day. Your underwire will stop poking, your breasts will stop over (or under) filling your cups, and your bra straps will stop falling down. Plus, you’ll look and feel better in your clothes. We want you to forget you even have a bra on!
PW: Why do you believe getting the “right bra” is so important.
SN: The right bra is vital to a woman’s comfort and self-esteem! A bra is an extremely technical product made of intricate pieces, and each different component affects the way it fits on your body in a different way. But it’s more than finding the “right bra.” It’s about finding the right “bra wardrobe!” Every woman should stock her lingerie drawer with five essential styles. You need a great t-shirt bra for a nice smooth look, but also a convertible bra that will allow you to pull off tricky necklines and racerback tops. A good strapless bra is another must have so that you can flaunt those shoulders in strapless or spaghetti strap styles. Of course, a sports bra is a necessity for exercise, which will minimize bounce and long term ligament damage. Last but not least, you simply must have a sexy bra to wear for that extra confidence boost! The frills, the lace effect, the color, the shape and the sheerness of it all combine to help your inner beauty radiate! And most women are surprised to find that beautiful bras can be comfortable and functional too. The lace in better quality styles will lay so flat under your top that you should be able to wear it every day!
PW: Please tell us about the “bra fit boot camp” that will be at your store in the King of Prussia Mall.
SN: Our bra fit experts go through an intensive, week-long training called “Bra Fit Boot Camp,” where they learn fit techniques from the very best bra fit experts and trainers in the nation! They learn everything from the proper bra band firmness to finding exactly the right cup size. We get asked all the time why fitting a bra is so involved, so for the first time ever, we’re showing the women of Philadelphia a mini-version of what our bra fit experts learn! We’ll demonstrate the “bend & snap” try on techniques for boosting your confidence, show you “stand at attention” bras that will maximize your cleavage effect, and help you size it up with the ABC’s of bra cup sizing.
Free bra fit makeovers are available at Intimacy of King of Prussia (located on the second level of the KOP Mall, next to Nordstrom). Walk-ins are always welcome, or book an appointment online. To book a one-on-one session with Susan, call 484-685-4072 or visit the Intimacy website.
Also, this Thursday from 6-8 p.m., the store will be holding a free Bra Fit Bootcamp, with Susan, in which recruits will be able to take multiple courses like “Bend & Snap Try On Techniques for Boosing Your Confidence,” “Stand at Attention! Maximize your Cleavage Effect,” “Lift & Center Your Girls For Supreme Support” and more.
~Michelle Mass
The “Cake Diva” Dishes Her Secrets
Photo courtesy of pacificweddings.com
Cake Artist/Decorator Sylvia Weinstock took her love of making desserts for her family and turned it into something much bigger. After being in business for 32 years, Sylvia Weinstock Cakes & Ltd. cranks out an average of 1,000 cakes during the wedding season alone and has made cakes for celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Sean Combs, Fran Drescher and the Victoria’s Secret Angels.
Regardless of the size of the wedding or special event, Weinstock crafts her cakes 48 hours before they’re eaten to guarantee freshness. PW Style sat down with the New York based cake artist to get the scoop on her and her business, specifically during the hectic time of wedding season:
Where do you draw inspiration from when you design a wedding cake from scratch?
Inspiration generally comes from the event – the site where it’s being held, the florists, the décor, the girl’s wedding gown, anything that’s sentimental that means something to her – that’s where our inspiration comes from.
Is it difficult to transport your cakes?
Oh yes, we are always concerned about shipping a cake by air or driving it to a site. There’s always the element of, somebody could have an accident or a plane could be delayed, or turbulence is bad or the car hits a bump in the road. Delivery is always a scary thing.
What are some wedding cakes that you’re most proud of?
We have a book called “Sensational Cakes” and we published a bunch of beautiful cakes in that one.
I was checking out your blog and there’s some really beautiful cakes on there.
Yeah they are. It’s almost like asking your mother which is her favorite child. They’re all our favorite cakes!
Are there any really extravagant cakes that stick out in your head or is that the same kind of deal?
Well, there are a couple. There’s the first one in our book that’s all white roses under a chandelier that I think is fabulous. There’s a big pink one that we did in a hotel that I think is fabulous. And then there are little cakes that we do that I think are fabulous.
Which would you prefer – creating a cake from scratch and surprising the bride or branching off a bride’s cake idea?
I enjoy creating all the cakes, no matter what it is. Somebody comes in with some ideas and we’re able to expand it and put it into production.
Did you come up with the cake recipes yourself?
Oh yes, but they’re very classic. There’s nothing unusual about them.
What are some of the favorite parts of your job?
I think one of the favorites is meeting the client, getting to know the bride and groom, or the birthday person, or the honoree at an event. And of course the other thing that gives me great satisfaction is seeing the completed product.
Do you have any advice for an amateur baker?
The only thing I can say is not to be discouraged, and keep trying to perfect what you do. Make sure it’s fresh and delicious, use buttercream, fresh fruit, heavy cream, the finest chocolate – make it a first class product.
To view more awesome cakes by Sylvia Weinstock, visit her blog. Weinstock will also be one of the judges tonight at “Let Them Eat Cake,” City of Hope’s annual wedding cake design competition.
-Lauren Arute
Get to Know the New Bar in Town: Blo/Out
That’s right, friends: there is a new kind of bar in town and this one won’t leave you feeling like you got hit by a truck the next morning, either. Instead, this bar will have you looking and feeling fabulous. I recently had the extreme pleasure of speaking with the owner of Blo/Out, the city’s premier Blow Dry Bar, Avi Shenkar, on this one-of-a-kind salon.
PW Style: Hi Avi! Can you tell me where you came up with the idea for this type of unique salon?
Avi: I was originally going into a full service salon when I asked a friend of mine in Miami for her opinion on the salon industry. She told me that it is always a great industry but she’s “addicted to the blow dry bar concept”. When I asked her what that was she sent me a Wall Street Journal article about it and I went crazy about the concept. I loved it from the moment I read the article. The service was popping up in metropolitan areas such as NY, Miami, Los Angeles and Dallas, but has not come to the Philadelphia area yet. I dropped the salon idea and went full steam into the blow dry bar idea.
PW: Do you offer other services at your salon besides just blow drying?
A: Our main service is obviously a blow dry. However, we offer a blow out in 8 standard styles such as The Astoria, which is a straight full bodied style, The Blaire, which is a sexy loose curls style, and even a Braid/Out, which is a French, Dutch, or Loose braid in all sorts of styles. We [also] offer The Sofie for young ladies ages 12 and under. Other than the standard blow out, we offer the following: Blo/Me Away – Scalp Massage, Blo/Me Up – Updo Styling, Blo/Me Custom – Custom Blow Out, Blo/Me Out – Blow Out @ Home or Office, Blo/Em’ – Events / Parties / Weddings Blow Outs, and Blo/Licious – Delicious Make Up Application
PW: Wow! They all sound amazing. Where can interested customers find this hair heaven?
A: Currently our first location opened up in Huntingdon Valley, PA, which is on the outskirts of Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County and Montgomery County. It’s a great area due to its central location to the three counties. Our upcoming locations are Old City and Rittenhouse, which are opening later this year.
PW: Oh, great! I live in Rittenhouse and you can bet I will be visiting that location! Is there a specific type of clientele that you target?
A: We do not have a specific demographic, but our main clientele are women that are looking for that awesome look and feel you usually get when leaving the salon, but on a more regular and affordable basis. We have clients coming in before dates, a night out, business meeting, parties or events, etc… Since an appointment is not necessary, women love walking in and walking out 35 minutes later looking and feeling brand new and beautiful.
PW: Any other events that women come in there for?
A: We have weddings, proms, seems like birthday parties are big and “showers” – wedding, baby, etc. Lots of pre-date stylings as well!
For more information on Blo/Out, visit their Facebook page!
~Michelle C. Mass
Fashion Incubator Designer Melissa D’Agostino Discusses Her Unique Design Process…
Image Courtesy of http://melissadagostino.com.
Last week, we wrote about the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator, the program designed to give four local designers the opportunity to start and market their own clothing lines with help from a panel of Philadelphia fashion experts. During the event, designer Melissa D’Agostino discussed how she broke into the fashion industry, and how her unique set of skills set her apart from most of the fashion world.
D’Agostino graduated from the Moore College of Art & Design in 2002 with a Bachelors degree in land based environmental arts and a minor degree in textiles. ”I began with an interdisciplinary approach, bridging the art background with the textile background,” D’Agostino said.
D’Agostino’s cautious entry into the fashion industry allowed her to design with immense precision and attention to detail, and being a Philadelphia native, D’Agostino uses Philadelphia history when creating clothing. ”My experience in Philadelphia has been informed by the history of manufacturing here, the history of textiles, the mills and the booming businesses,” she said. “[With] that constant inspiration, I started to dye pieces.”
One wouldn’t immediately see the connection between fashion design and sculpting, but they’re very similar because both must be designed for a three dimensional world. In addition to determining how the garment will fit a three dimensional body, D’Agostino also hand dyes her fabric instead of purchasing it off the rack. ”I started [by] dying scarves,” the designer said. “Then I turned them into a versatile piece, and [eventually] started sewing [the fabric] into clothing.”
She slowly progressed from dying scarves for fun to designing custom pieces for clients. ”Every dress I’ve sewn, I’ve sold it to the person I designed it for,” she said. “Working in limited edition is allowing me to grow slowly, but carefully.”
Image Courtesy of melissadagostino.com
After working in the textile field for the past two years creating custom clothing for clients, she was nominated for the Moore College Incubator designer, and after a two month selection process, she was selected as one of the four Incubator designers.
“I’m completely honored to be the Moore position because my degree was in sculpture, and my minor was in textiles,” D’Agostino said.
Personally, I think it’s incredibly inspiring that she managed to transform her love of sculpture into a lucrative business in fashion, and after looking at her previous designs, I can’t wait to see what she creates with the help of Philly’s top fashion team.
Meryl Streep: The Fresh Air Interview
Talk about inspiring.
On men not living through female characters
“When I made The Devil Wears Prada, it was the first time in my life that a man came up and said, ‘I know how you felt. I have a job like that.’ First time. … For men, the favorite character that I’ve ever played is Linda in The Deer Hunter, without question. The heterosexual men that I’ve spoken to over the years, they say, ‘That’s my favorite thing you’ve ever done.’
Street Style: Indira Jimenez
As a freshman photojournalism major at Temple, Indira Jimenez certainly has an eye for photography. But her flair for the visual doesn’t end at the f-stop; this West Hartford, Conn., native’s style is the perfect blend of badass-biker-meets-femme, a look that in many ways defines Philly.
SunnieWallflower Power: Janiah Bradley’s Wearable Icons
The colorful African prints and faces of iconic revolutionaries will initially peak your interest in Janiah Bradley’s one-of-a-kind Sunniewallflower earrings. But upon discovering that although they’re big ‘n dangly, they’re simply made of lightweight cardboard and packaging tape; your ears will love you in return. Bradley is first and foremost a poet, and her taste for revolution and love echo through her self-taught designs. Oh yea, and they’re all $5-$10! The crafty Philly native talks on her earrings and how you can get yo’self a pair of your own.
PW: Tell me a bit about yourself. How would you describe your own style?
JB: I’m a 25 year old Philly native, currently living in Delaware. It’s kinda bland where I live, so I would say I stick out like a sore thumb. My style is colorful some days & other days it’s pretty chill, depends on how I feel in the morning! Large earrings and even larger glasses are my everyday fashion staples. Partly, because I need my glasses to see and big earrings go awesome with my hair.
PW: When did you start making earrings, and where did this idea sprout from?
JB: I started making photo earrings around October of last year. The idea wasn’t initially mine. One of my girlfriends actually makes photo earrings from decal paper and Polymer clay. (I use cardboard and packing tape.) I wanted her to make me a pair, but she never got around to it, so I just checked out a few YouTube tutorials to learn to make them myself. Once I perfected every step of the tutorial, I kinda went crazy with it! It turned into a full-time hobby. Then, people started to notice them, so it turned into a part-time job.
PW: What made you choose the icons you chose? What, to you, truly makes somebody iconic? What makes an icon inspirational in terms of fashion as well as other areas?
JB: I chose my heroes, or anyone who inspires me! I’ll make earrings donning the likeness of anyone from historical black leader Martin Luther King to rap artist Kendrick Lamar. Both of these people have struck a nerve in my heart in different ways. Reaching out to a lot of folks on a personal level would make someone iconic in my book. For example, if I make a pair of John Lennon earrings, & if someone purchases them, then I know he probably touched them the same way he touched me. I’m all about peace & love, so why not wear John Lennon on my ears, ya know?
PW: What kind of events do you sell your earrings at?
JB: In addition to being pretty darn crafty, I’m a poet as well! I’ll usually have a table set up if I’m ever performing at a poetry reading or open mic nights. I’ve also sold earrings at small concerts, and comedy shows.
PW: Where can anyone in the Philly area purchase your earrings?
JB: I don’t have a website up right now. Currently, I’m filling orders via email and Facebook. To check out my earrings, just visit my Facebook or shoot me a message at: sunnie.wallflower@gmail.com.
–Marissa Oswald