Seventies Fever Featuring the Hilary MacMillan Spring/Summer '16 Collection

On the outside, I'm a short, pale Scottish lassie, but inside, I'm a tall, lithe woman, with glowy skin and chic, bohemian style.

To say I'm enamoured of the glamorous era of the 70's is an understatement.  I adore Bianca Jagger, Debbie Harry and Liza Minelli from the days of Studio 54.  The silhouettes were elegant, with deep-V's, softly draping jersey dresses, and wide-legged pants.

Imagine my excitement when the lights lowered on the Hilary MacMillan Spring/Summer 2016 show, and the funk music started. Did I mention that the music was live?  And amazing? 

Once the models started strutting, I was simply beside myself!

 

 

The clothes were in rich tones of emerald, grape and deep teal, along with a spectacular peacock print.  The silhouettes were varied, with flowy tunic dresses and crop tops with culottes, also structured crop pants, blazers and a phenomenal wrap skirt.  The silk dresses were sexy, with a strapless, halter or slip-dress options.  If office appropriate options are your jam, there were shirtdresses, and an amazing sleeveless vest!  The collection felt clean and modern, while giving a nod to the  past, all without looking costume-y.  This is retro for grown-ups. 

 

The inspiration for this collection came from a visit to a village in Tanzania, where Hilary volunteered at a children's home.  The children and women were optimistic, with a determination to empower themselves, get an education and hope for a better future. 

 

While at the local marketplaces, Hilary found a particular print with shades of green, purple and gold which then became the centre-piece for the whole collection. As a feminist, this was extremely inspiring and also humbling.

 

The collection also contains a silk tee with the head of a peacock, which was painted by her Mom!  How cute is that? Every Hilary MacMillan collection has a wonderful family-oriented detail in the pattern choices.  It makes me so happy when there is a personal element to a design.  It's like each piece has a part of the designer's heart in it.  Gives me the feels!

 

The beauty look of the show called to mind a soft, sunkissed elegance.  The skin had a lit-from-within glow using shades of peach and bronze.  The eyes had washes of the same shades, with lots of lashes, and the lip had a gentle coral stain.  Hair was centre-parted with soft waves cascading down.  The jewellery was minimal, only gold lariats around the neck.  Oversized sunglasses and the occasional headwrap sent down the runway, added to the breezy summer vibe. The whole aesthetic was extremely chic!

 

                                                               all photos - George Pimental

 

 

 

I will leave you with some more images from the show, for drooling purposes.  Visit hilarymacmillan.com for a full list of retail locations, which include Monaco, BTW!  Don't forget to keep an eye on my Twitter and Instagram for images from the Hilary MacMillan show on Wednesday at 7, and if you're a fan, don't miss Hilary's Twitter page!  This is a very cool lady!

 

Donna Xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding the Muse Again, and Talking Gloss and Dirt With Shannon Ray.

                                

As you can see in the above photo, I'm more of a silver fox these days, than a redhead.  My utter devotion to a fabulous lip, however, hasn't changed!

Welcome to An Occasional Redhead!  

I've been on, let's call it sabbatical, for a while, and it's a pleasure to be back!  If you're a returning reader, you may know some of my life for the last year. If you're new here, I'll fill you in a bit. 

As of Nov. 17th, I've been on weekly low-dose chemotherapy, for Lupus, for a year.  It's been a roller coaster, but it's going to be worth it.  I might not have a lot of hair for a while, my skin is a bit bananas, however, the fact that I'm writing words which seem to be sensible is a huge step in the right direction. Couldn't do that last April!  Or August!

One thing that I've been struggling with has been inspiration. I felt like warmed-over death, looked like it too, and could hardly keep a coherent thought rolling around in my head for the first six months. I didn't show my mug on social media for ages. How was I supposed to be a voice for beauty, when I felt like I had none?  Inspiration was in desperately short supply. 

I had no idea how to get my groove back, so I decided to strip everything away and figure out why I started writing a blog in the first place.  I'm so glad I did! It was almost cathartic to just let the muse find me again. No deadline, no stressing about pageviews, only finding the joy in sharing this part of my being with the world!

There were a few different things that inspired me to take the leap into blogging, and keep An Occasional Redhead going. Over the next month or two, I want to share some of those things  with you. The ladies that I want to talk about in these posts have made me smile, say WOW, laugh, and want to be better, both personally and on An Occasional Redhead. I think you'll enjoy them as much as I do!

First, I want to tell you this.  If I lived in Phoenix, Arizona, there are two things that I know would be true. Since the climate is dry, my arthritis would be far less bitchy, and Shannon Ray and I would the kind of friends that drank wine on the porch and had serious, occasionally loud-ish, discussions regarding the eyebrow situation of everyone on the street. 

 

 

 

Shannon Ray is the brains and beauty behind a blog called Gloss and Dirt.  Gloss and Dirt is a marvellous blend of honest, thorough beauty reviews, clever tips and tricks, snark and glorious pop-culture. I discovered Shannon's blog about 3 years ago.  I had stopped work a couple of  years earlier, because I couldn't get my health under control and still didn't know what was going on with me.  Had NO idea what to do with myself.  I liked reading blogs, but I was not nearly sweet and flowery enough to write one.  Or so I thought.  Once I read Gloss and Dirt, that all changed!  This lady had a gorgeous face, kick-ass makeup skills, lots of knowledge, a semi-dirty mouth, and a mountain of personality!  I saw that I didn't have to be ultra-bubbly to write a beauty blog!  Some snark and an honest voice are what made me want to read more of this blog, and I figured that I had those qualities, so I gave it a whirl!

 

What makes this blog different is that it's not just about what's new.  It also features products that perform regardless of how long they've been available.  One person's stand-by may be brand new to someone else, and I love when an oldie-but-goodie is shown in a new light!  It's certainly not the standard review-the-same-collection-that-600-other-bloggers are swatching as we speak, and that's part of why Gloss and Dirt became Allure Magazine Best Blog in 2012.  Shannon still posts on the Allure website till this day!

 

Gloss and Dirt was started in 2012, like many other blogs, as a creative outlet.  Shannon had owned a women's clothing store for several years and started working at a Dermatologist's office.  This was, ultimately, boring and had zero creativity involved.  At this point, a friend, Shannon says, "was like, 'Why don't you start a blog? You could talk about makeup and celebrities and whatever the hell you want!' He was on Ambien at the time, so I didn't take it TOO seriously, but it stuck in my brain. So, I finally decided just to do that crap,"

 

The thing Shannon enjoys most about blogging is the total creative expression, and the fact that she's free to work with 100 percent freedom.  A job has guidelines to be followed, this doesn't.  "When you're writing or creating something of your own, it's like a little piece of your heart and brain that other people might just read. And might just relate to.  So, when other people are like 'OMG I THINK THAT TOO!' it's just kind of the best."

 

 

 

 You may notice, that Shannon has some spectacular brows, among other things, and if we want hot-ass eyebrows of our own, she spills her secrets in this post. There is now no excuse for bad brows! ;)

 

I hope you guys are well, getting ready for the holidays, and most of all, being good to yourselves!  Keep your eyes peeled, Boys and Girls, because there's some fun and a lot of pretty coming to the blog.  Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for updates!  Also for doggies, tv shows, and nonsense.  It's how I roll.  Don't forget to check out Gloss and Dirt on Twitter for updates and a whole bunch of entertainment, too!

 

Donna Xoxo

A Face Full of Spring Feat. Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick and Bouncy Blush

The sun is shining and we could not be happier!  The temperature has actually above zero, and the days are getting longer. 

Holy Hell did we earn this!

This face feels like spring to me, thanks to the Creamy Matte Lipstick and Dream Bouncy Blush from Maybelline.

Let's discuss the lip first, shall we?  The ColourSensational Creamy Matte Lipstick is a collection of shades that are literally a creamy matte!  The texture is buttery and smooth while the finish is an opaque, velvety matte.  The comfort comes from a blend of three different oils.  It feels incredibly creamy, and the matte finish is really modern.  The colour is rich, and full.  The formula contains mattifying cream and pure pigments. The wear time was great too!  I got about five hours the first time I tried it, which is a lot for me, since I'm Larry the Lipstick eater.  Not something I'm proud of.  Maybelline ColourSensational has been killing it in the lipstick department for the last few years.  Each shade extension has been on trend and each has performed beautifully!  If you haven't read my post on the Vivids Collection, you should!  The shade I'm wearing is "Faint for Fuchsia".  It's a gorgeous vivid pink that is saturated and rich.  The matte finish keeps it from looking overly girly.  This hue can come across as too sweet, but this feels grown-up and currant.  The Creamy Mattes come in eight shades.

On my cheeks is the Dream Bouncy Blush in Fresh Pink.  When they say bouncy, they're not kidding!  In the pan, the blush feels soft and springy!  Like Jello and pudding had a really pretty baby!  The powder-gel formula applies softly and smoothly.  The best way to apply this is either using fingers, or a stippling brush.  It melts into the skin leaving a sheer, healthy glow.  If it's too sheer, keep in mind that it's easily buildable for a deeper flush.  There is a shimmer, but it doesn't come across as too shimmery on the cheek, just leaves a glowy radiance.  The wear time on some people has been a little on the short side, but it is easily re-applied throughout the day.  No pilling!  It can also be layered under a powder blush for some more oomph!  I have personally had no problem with wear, but I haven't left the house for more than a few hours since 2014.  My life is a riot. These blushes come in 10 shades.

I've missed you guys so much for the last few months!  The truth is, it's been a while since I've felt up to writing at all.  My focus hasn't been spectacular, and I just haven't felt pretty.  My skin lost it's mind and my hair started  to fall out, so I ended up  just saying Eff it, and shaving my head!  It was liberating!  I've learned to be so much more comfortable in my own skin.  My skin and eyes became extremely sensitive and dry like the Sahara. Because of that, I was makeup free entirely since November until very recently.  I've had to get used to going out sans makeup.  I miss colour on my face like crazy, but it's freeing to just slather on the sunscreen and go! 

The worst of it seems to be over, however.  A few more months of chemo, some surgery and by end of May, I'll be a whole new woman!  It's really exciting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

What are you most looking forward to wearing this Spring?  Which shades are you excited to try?

Donna Xoxo

The Laid-Back Girls Valentine Gift Guide

Happy Almost Valentine's Day, Boys and Girls!

How the hell did that happen?  Where did the last few months go?

On the up side, winter is on the way out!  Another five, six weeks and the worst of this is behind us!

Hallelujah!

I'm not your typical girl when it comes to Valentine's Day.  I'm not one for lavish displays of affection in the form of diamonds and fancy dinners or hotel stays.  It's just not my thing.  With Ray being a chef, this is one of the busiest nights of the year for him, so it's always quiet for us.  We eat Kraft Dinner, drink beer and chill once he gets home.  That's our version of romance!

I also don't think that V-day needs to only be about romantic love.  It can celebrate your BFF bond, or you can be the sister that's doing it for herself!  Love has no rules, so why should the day that celebrates it?

The best gift's I've ever been given have been fun and playful, so I wanted to talk about options for the easy, laid-back chick!

Shoppers Drug Mart is the perfect place to hit up for your V-day needs!  One of my favourite gifts is the All The Right Smoothes Body Butter Trio from Soap & Glory.

These three mini-butters are perfect for your winter weary skin!  The formula is thick, creamy, and richly hydrating.  Even the flakiest skin is left velvety and lush!  Each butter leaves the skin scented differently.  The Righteous Butter, which is the most popular in the S&G line, has a fruity-floral fragrance.  The Butter Yourself Body Butter has notes of green fig and yuzu fruit to it, and the Sugar Crush Buttercream has a sweet lime fragrance, just like a margarita!  These scents are so much fun!  Total mood boosters!  I will say, however, that they are pretty potent, so if you don't do well with scent these may not be the best choices for you.  This package sells for $15.00.

Another gem from Shoppers is the Fragrance Sampler Coffret. For $75.00 this package contains 10 samples with a gift certificate for the full size version of your favourite. This is genius!  When I was in my 20's I was given a bottle of perfume as a V-day gift and it was awful! It was something an octogenarian in a twin-set with a bad wig would have worn. I had to fake-smile, say I love it (barf) and soon after the relationship went the same way as the sickly bottle of fragrance went. Out. The. Door!  With a choice of high quality, beautiful scents like CK Reveal, Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream, and Givenchy's Hot Couture to name a few, you'll find something that works on you!

Don't we all want a luscious pout, and A Great Kisser on Valentine's Day?  Soap and Glory have you covered on both counts with this Super-Fruit, buttery lip balm.  This powerhouse has everything you could ask for in a balm, between a sheer wash of colour and its "just right" not too sticky, waxy or slippery texture. This balm contains mango butter for moisture, apricot butter to protect from cold and windy weather, lingonberry oil for barrier repair and water-loss prevention and pomegranate extract to return a "dewiness" to the lips. The flavour shown above is Juicy Peach, which has a sheer coral finish. So much pretty for $10.00!

I'd love to hear your plans for Valentine's Day, if you have some!  I'm actually quite sappy and enjoy hearing other people's ideas of romance!!!  

Donna Xoxo

The Cutest Last Minute Gifts From Quo

Happy Holidays!

Can you believe that Christmas is next week?

I have been chillaxing, watching tv, and drinking gingerale for the last 5 weeks because of my treatment, so I'm totally behind the eight ball.  As per usual.

If you're still looking for some adorable gifts at the last minute, Quo and Shoppers Drug Mart have you covered!

First up is the Love Lip Set, which contains six gorgeous mini-glosses.  There are five neutral shades, and one soft pink glittery shade.  Each one is nicely pigmented with a delicious vanilla scent.  The texture is creamy and quite rich, without a lot of stickiness. These are perfect for throwing into a purse, keeping at a desk, or a locker.  A girl can never have too much gloss!  This set retails for $20.00.

 

 

The Quo Walk The Line Set contains four different shades of eyeliner.  Each liner is well pigmented, and soft in texture, with no drag when applying.  Since they are creamier in texture, they may smudge a bit, so use a primer on the lid before hand.  The metallic blue, copper-brown, and silver are all loaded with shimmery loveliness, while the black is inky and deep. This set retails for $20.00.

 

 

  

This little beauty is my favourite!  The Quo by ORLY 18-Piece Mini-Laquer set is an amazing gift.  The 18 polish shades are separated into three sets of six: The Nudes, The Pinks, The Glitters.  I had never tried Quo by ORLY nail colour before, but after one try I was hooked!  The formula lasts like a champ, and for the most part goes on well in two coats.  I am particularly enamoured with the glitter polishes in this set!  I don't have a lot of luck with glitters, but these particles are perfectly distributed throughout, and there is a great tint to the base of the polish.  That green shade is super-pretty on toes!  The price is $43.00, which is wonderful for the amount of laquers, as well as the fact that you can split into it three gifts!

Are you guys going to run out to Shoppers ASAP to check these out?  Or are you going to take someone there as a subtle stocking stuffer hint for yourself?  That works too!

 I hope everyone's well, and I wish all of you the Merriest of Christmases, Happiest of Holidays, and a Spectacular 2015!!!!!

Donna Xoxo


*These products were sent for consideration, however, the opinions expressed are all mine!

Lancome Lip Lover. Colour And Care In The Best Package Ever! (Also A Little Health Update)

Hello, my neglected wee orphans!

I have been a bad blogger.  There's been a few things keeping the muse at bay of late, and I feel like I should share a little bit of what's happening with you guys.  I feel that you share your time with me by reading my little labour of love, and you deserve to hear why I've been a bit out of touch.

First, let's talk about my new fave lip product!

I had the pleasure of attending World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto last month, and it was such a great experience!  I'm working on a full recap, and trend report so keep an eye out for that.

A week or two before, my lips cracked and split in a few places.  I panicked!  How can one be expected to do Fashion Week sans lipcolour?  I healed up nicely, but my lips were extremely dry an is a d sensitive.  I still couldn't wear most lipsticks or glosses.  They irritated me, or dried out too quickly.  That is until I tried Lip Lover by Lancôme!

A few months back, Lancôme released their entry into the lipstick/balm hybrid world.  Lip Lover is a highly pigmented liquid lipstick with a balm-like texture and gloss-like shine.  The 3-in-1 elixir formula contains a balmy base for ultra cushiony comfort, saturated pigments adhere to the lips for long lasting vivid colour, and a shiny layer remains at the surface for a dewy finish which also protects the lip.  The result is a soft, rich, nourishing formula which provides a great colour payoff, and lasts for hours!

The shade I chose was Belle de Rouge #356, which is a clear rosey-red.  It has a my lips but better quality to it, and gives an elegant hit of colour.  Such an amazing product that's worth every cent of the $29.00 price tag!

 

 

As I mentioned above, things have been a bit rough for the last month or so.  My lupus has progressed, and it can`t be controlled with my current treatment plan.  I`ve been suffering with pain, lethargy, stiffness, and some neurological issues.  In late September my Doctor talked to me about the next step in treatment.  A form of chemotherapy is often helpful for lupus patients, so we decided to do some tests to see if there was a chance I`d respond to the chemo.  The test results show that I should respond well to it, so as of next Monday, I start the treatment!  The dose of medication is much lower than that of a cancer patient, so the side-effects won`t be as severe.  I`ll be run down, lazy, may lose some hair.  The first 12 weeks will be hard, but by spring I should be a dancing machine!

 

So, in the meantime I`m rocking a short pixie, and enjoying my last weekend of wine for the next six to nine months!  My yoga pants are prepped, and my Annie is keeping the couch warm for me.  If I`m MIA here and there know I`m thinking of you guys, and I`ll keep you updated.  I also have some really cool posts which I`m working on to keep me occupied for the next few weeks! 

 

Be well Boys and Girls!

 

Donna Xoxo

The New Neutrals. Flat And Boring Need Not Apply!

One of the biggest trends to surface for the last few seasons, has been the return of the no-makeup makeup look. 

The new version of neutral is nude, but with a little kick!  We should add a little spice to the gumbo, so to speak.

Usually when you think of a nude makeup look, matte taupes and beiges come to mind.  It's a clean polished look, that has seemed to be the go-to for daytime.  My favourite way to give a neutral face some spark is by using metallics.  Add a little copper to the eye, some gold to the cheek and that will bring a little interest to the face without adding loads of colour!

 

 

The first step in a neutral makeup look should always be a good primer.  This look is about a flawless face, with healthy and luminous skin.  The Almay Smart Shade CC Luminous Primer is perfect for a glowing canvas with which to begin.  It allows foundation to apply smoothly, adding a pearlesence to the skin that is just heavenly!  I talk a bit more about this primer here.  It's a must try!

 

For eyes, I chose a palette that has a taupe with a little shimmer for the lid, and a coppery shade in the crease.  A copper liner brought some warmth to the eyes as well.  The palette shown is No7 by Boots which I picked up in Scotland, but I'm really intrigued by The Nudes by Maybelline!  This looks like it has everything for a new neutral and more in it!  The liner is by Quo and it's part of their holiday collection which is out soon, if not already available.  These liners are gorgeous!  The colour is creamy, and they wear a long time without smudging.  I'll discuss Quo Holiday soon.  It's so good!

 

 

A nude lip can be tricky to pull off.  There usually has to be a caramel or rosey undertone in it to avoid a corpse-y look.  Texture is also important when it comes to a nude lip.  I personally like a bit of a sheen to nude lipsticks.  Shimmer, or gloss, but I find a true matte in a yellow shade looks like death.  Not pretty.  My go-to lipstick for a nude lip is Lancôme Colour Design Lipstick in Vintage Rose.  It has a mauve undertone which is great for us pale girlies.  Unfortunately, the Colour Design line is being phased out, but the Rouge In Love line is wonderful!

 

For the cheeks, I used a soft pink blush and a bronzer together for some warmth and definition.  A softly enhanced brow finished off the whole face!  This is nude makeup that won't wash you out, or make you look like you're going to work in you cubicle in an insurance agency in the 90's. 

 

What are your nude makeup tricks?