When and how did your line begin?

I launched my accessories line in the Fall of 2010 with a concept design of epaulets.  I created a small collection in different styles and they ended up in the hands of some fashion influentials. I’ve since introduced earrings, bangles and eyewear.

What inspires your work?

I watch a lot of nature documentaries. I’m in love with the beluga whale. I watch the same documentaries over and over.. I’ve seen the Blue Planet series over a hundred times and I now watch Microcosmos fanatically. Have you ever seen ladybugs make love? It’s a fascinating and a gentle experience.

Where do you finding the amazing leathers and animal skins that you use on your accessories?

I buy my leather at the same place that Helmut Lang, Diane Von Furstenberg and Oscar De La Renta buy from. Its expensive and the best in the city. Libra Leather. I work with Sam Jones, The Leather Queen. She has great taste and instincts when it comes to leather. Libra Leather has been pioneering leather trends in New York for decades. They provide the selection designers conceptualize their entire leather collection from. They are best in the biz.

The Feather Spray Earrings seem like a big deviation from some of your previous designs. What was the inspiration behind those?

When I launched my line in October 2009 I used feathers in the fabrication of many of those epaulet designs. The feather was lying on my desk at a certain angle and it came to me.. that should be attached to an ear. I guess it’s all the nature videos I watch.

What celebrities have you worked with?

I grew up in NYC so Mary J Blige, Lauryn Hill and Beyonce were the soundtrack of my life. I attended borderline ruff schools and their music was uplifting and their voices strong, I adored them. Now as an adult, this entire experience as a designer has been transcendental for me. I often can’t believe who I’ve turned out to be. Just three years ago I was the most unhappiest girl in the world. I’ve designed for all them. I’ve also created custom accessories for Lil Wayne’s and Prince’s musical tours.. I used to make out with posters of Prince. I’ve designed for Alicia Keys’ Freedom tour.  Lauryn Hill just bought my entire collection for her European tour.

What’s your favorite part about being a designer?

The actual design process is probably my favorite part of being a designer. I often struggle between concept and application.. I’ll think about a construction for months before I even attempt to piece it together.. My own thoughts intimidate me. There is an element of anxiety I experience and I know that I’ll figure it out eventually. There are some designs I’ve constructed, not many, that I will never share with the world. I hoard special pieces.

What are the biggest challenges as a designer?

Figuring out which tradeshows to do make me pretty dizzy.

Three must haves to have in your wardrobe?

Combat boots, a black fur and a balaclava.

What is your best moment that you’ve experienced in your career?

All of them have been extraordinary. Getting picked up by Nordstrom, a tour order from Alicia Keys, selling at Patricia Field and having my mom and dad say that they’re proud of me.

What advice do you have for aspiring designers?

Organize yourself. Have a decent website, take good pictures, get a press list, don’t get tired, get motivated.  Surround yourself with good people that want good for you.  Love yourself and visualize yourself in the place you want to be.

How would you describe your personal style?

My look changes drastically, often. Recently my style is Le Femme Nikita.. assassin chic.

What is the inspiration behind “in love and good fashion” and “good taste must be shared”?

I tend to curate everything. My friends, my wardrobe and words.. I love language and assembling words together.. In Love and Good Fashion fell into place in the first weeks of creating my first collection.. it represents the head set I was in at the time..

Good Taste Must Be Shared is a personal philosophy.. Good taste crosses over into all aspects of living.. food, clothing, jewelry, travel and all of earths spoils.. Everything that is good about anything should be shared and enjoyed.

What’s currently on your iPod?

I don’t have an Ipod but I have been listening to Amy Winehouse, Wu Tang Clan, Florence and The Machine and Lauryn Hill recently.

Describe Mary Had A little Scam and the other short films you are working on based on your line?

I decided to make a short film when the concepts in my head began to move and could only be expressed through video. I’ve watched enough documentaries and films to understand the shooting style I like.  I titled the film Mary Had  A Little Scam to represent the duality between innocence and  a calculated menace. I wanted to create a sexy film that captures the private moments strong women experience when alone.. the awkwardness, paranoia, struggle, uncertainty and ultimate perseverance.  The character Mary in the short film Mary Had A Little Scam has a public persona of  a fierce rebel leader with the American Accessories Coalition for Good Taste (AACGT). Her mission is to collect rare jewelry from around the world, sharing good taste with the masses.

What are you currently working on for your line right now?

I’m preparing a trip to Paris, meetings, meetings, meetings!

Where do you see Seville Michelle Anastos 5 years from now?

I’m excited for the future.  Nothing I’ve done has been planned, my line has swept me off my feet!

You can follow Seville Michelle’s line and updates on twitter too @SevilleMAnastos

How did you and the POUND team get into accessories?

There are four of us who make up the POUND team: my mom (Linda), my sister (Mia), our closest friend (Amber) and myself. We all have a love for fashion, accessories and anything that speaks to our personal sense of style we can turn into a statement. My mom has collected beads, gems, stones and basically anything that sparkles for more than thirty years, compiling a huge array of amazing objects with which we work. She has also been making jewelry since the rest of the POUND team was very young. We finally decided to interweave our talents and aesthetics into a unified theme to present to the world, and out popped POUND.

Have you always wanted to create jewelry?

Mia, Amber and I have not always wanted to create jewelry, but my mom always has. The rest of us have been creative in various ways, and one day we were all literally like “hey, let’s start a jewelry business.” And we did. We have never been happier.

What is it like working with your family?

Working with family has its moments for sure, however, most of those moments are good ones!  All of us recognize who has the strength in each arena, and none of this would be possible without the other three members. And in general, there are a ton of laughs and an overall really, really good time.

Shoppers can browse Japanese trends and buy the most popular items, or dig for glorious days to find your own super unique pieces. Whichever is more your style, ZOZOTOWN is a shopper’s goldmine.

You can find Kai-aakmann at Fred Segal in LA, Oak in NYC and other such independent boutiques.

The hikes are rumored to happen anywhere between January 24th to early February and have already been noticed in Europe and Asia.  Markups on the bags, accessories, scarves, jewelry and shoes will be around 9%.  Hermes ceo Patrick Thomas told BusinessWeek that the “reasonable level” is due to “significant” silk, cashmere, and crocodile skin costs increases.  Thankfully, Hermes is one of the most esteemed investment brands, and their bags’ value, in most cases, have incredible return rates if ever sold.  Happy shopping (or in our cases, happy dreaming).

Tom Ford got back behind the lens for his Spring Summer 2012 ad campaign starring models Mirte Maas and Mathias Bergh.  They took over a Palm Springs, California home to capture playfully naughty shots. Check this look out in blue after the jump.

Photography by Ben Toms

Hit up Gargyle online or in NYC on Orchard St. and snag these for me for $180. Thanks! And Happy Christmukah.

Tweet me @nicolevardo for tips and tricks on how to best complete this look!

We first got on the site and chose between prescription glasses and sunglasses. Being a bit skeptical about ordering prescription ready glasses off a website with no consultation seemed a bit fishy…so of course we went for that option.

We picked out the most hipster looking pair and proceeded to the BonLook Virtual Try On application.  The app allows your computer’s camera to take a snap of your face (or you can upload a photo) and actually places their glasses on you! It shows how they fit and then pin points the exact measurements of your pupils so the prescription lenses are perfectly placed.  Their direct to manufacturer relationship gets you uber high quality frames at killer prices (we’re talking some at under $100!), so we got these at an absolute steal.  A couple clicks later and this pair of stunners showed up at our door. You’re welcome kids, buying eyewear just got easier.

Wanna know more about how I picked out these frames? Tweet me @iamsamlim. 

The challenge they face is producing within their boarders, keeping the business in Israel. Much like in the US, labor is more expensive there, and they lack the resources to fully flourish. Each garment becomes more expensive and and yet the quality suffers. According to Eva Cavalli, “There’s also a lot of creativity here, but there has to be more of a focus on techniques and workmanship. That exists here, there is the potential, but it needs to be nurtured.” Lev predicts that the Israel should be ready and capable for production in about 2-5 years. Get ready.

[WWD, WIWT]

Ah, just imagine the stresses that will boil in this pressure cooker of a show. Will you tune in?

Military Styled Coats

Outerwear is highly important when the winter season rolls around. Everyone loves a great looking winter coat, and for men the military styled coat is stylish but still masculine. These coats lie a bit beyond the waist and have a lot of design details that give it more of an edge than your average pea coat. Buying in a darker color, such as a deep navy or charcoal, is a sure way to complement any outfit this winter season.

Preppy is Still In

Preppy winter clothing has yet to go out of style, and is a great way to add color to your winter wardrobe. Preppy styles for men are comfortable, casual styled clothing that come in a wide variety of styles and bright colors. Brands to try: Tommy Hilfiger, D&G

Say Yes to Exotic Fabrics

Velvet is still in this season as far as fabrics are concerned. Men don’t need to stick to boring cottons or wools to have their winter wardrobe fit in. Cashmere, leather, and even fur is in this season for men. Brands to try: Versace, Etro

Heavy Knit Sweaters

Sweaters with a chunky knit in bright colors are definitely a wardrobe must have for any man along with Nordic sweaters. These sweaters will not only keep you incredibly warm during the colder months, but will also keep your wardrobe interesting and from running on the bland side. Brands to try: Versace, Hermes, John Varvatos

Go Gray Not Black

While black is classic and sleek, let’s not forget about the stylish neutral gray.  Gray suits and overcoats pair nicely with the bright garments that are in this winter, and complete an outfit without having to be so traditional.

Just because winter is upon us doesn’t mean that men can get sloppy. Keep yourself looking good by remembering a few of your favorite winter trends.

Riding boots

From tweed skirt-suits to Barbour jackets the English country scene has enamoured the fashion greats this season. In keeping with this aristocratic trend, leather, knee-high riding boots are an absolute must. Not only are they versatile – they work equally well with a skirt or dress as they do with skinny jeans – they are practical winter shoes insomuch as they keep your feet warm and dry and with a colder than average winter on the horizon these could be just what the doctor and fashion police ordered. Straps and buckles add interest as do contrasting coloured cuffs. Warm browns, deep burgundy reds and jet black are your main colour options. If you can’t be without heels, there are a few versions with mid-height chunky heels.

Snow boots

Not that the UK really gets enough snow to warrant full-on snow boots, the fashion industry has deemed them necessary this season. Fleece and fur-lined with sturdy rubber soles, hook-up laces and plenty of natural materials make these boots not only on trend, but incredibly comfortable. Think of a cross between walking boots and snowboarding boots, add some class and razzmatazz and you are bang on the money. Some boots are knee high, whilst others are merely ankle boots; you have a huge amount of choice within this trend. Colours are natural once again, but the odd bit of Navajo or Aztec detailing won’t go unnoticed.

Shoe boots

Shoe boots are the perfect compromise between the elegance of a heeled shoe and the practicality of a boot. They cover your feet just enough to keep them feeling toasty, yet they have an attractive shape that flatters your feet and legs. This season they continue to play a key role in the fashion stakes. Look for platforms, mid-thickness heels, which add some serious height, and work with colour: shades of green, red, purple and blue are best.

The workshop takes over the entire 5500 sq. ft. men’s floor and turns it into 8 stations: Candy Shop, Toy Shop, Closet (for apparel and accessories), Library (for books, CDs, media, and paper goods), Gallery (for collectibles and specialty items), Jewelry, Boudoir (for candles and cosmetics), and Holiday.  Our favorite pieces included a tiny mp3 player that had Gaga songs pre loaded, a baby sized motorcycle leather jacket, and crazy unique sets of elaborately accessorized press on nails.

-How would you describe your blog in a few words?
Quirky downtown NYC.

-When and how did StyleDefinedNYC begin?
It began almost 3 years ago. I was a big fan of Scott Schulman/the Sartorialist but felt like he wasn’t
seeing “my New York” that is a bit more urban than urbane and has a strong nightlife streak. So I decided
to start my own blog!

-What is your favorite part about StyleDefinedNYC?
Sharing my experience of New York City with everyone else. I grew up at the end of the “club kid”
era and I love giving props to the nightlife peeps and their personal style. At the same time I’m a big fan of
emerging designers so have expanded to include a new section called UP|Coming that profiles them and
that I’m really excited about.

What is the hardest part of StyleDefinedNYC?

Staying true to my vision. I get tons of requests from PR companies to cover their events or products and
I have to be really careful about what I agree to write about. It’s also really important to me to have
all original content –not just grab things from other websites.

Three favorite Fall 2011 must have items in your closet right now?

I’m kind of obsessed with outerwear at the moment, so I’d say a black leather vest with an
asymmetrical hem and big faux fur collar -it’s “instant glam”, a cropped and boxy vintage leopard coat and a
black wool Alexander Wang coat.

-What is the best moment so far that you have experienced as a fashion blogger?

Well the best opportunity that came from blogging happened last summer: J&B Whiskey was having a party in Madrid with a theme of the Manhattan cocktail. They invited me over as an “iconic New Yorker” and had my photos blown up wall sized for the party. I am far from iconic, but it was an amazing experience! That’s one big event. But in smaller ways it’s the daily connecting to different people. I’ve met so many really amazing people simply by taking their photo and I feel I can go pretty much anywhere and see people I know, now.

-Do you have any favorite fashion/ photographer muses at the moment?

My two favorite fashion photographers are Steven Meisel –whose ongoing work with Italian Vogue is off the charts– and David Lachappelle. David doesn’t do fashion so much anymore but he has a great eye for the whole photo and really plays with color in a brilliant way.

- What advice would you give to an aspiring street style blogger?

Decide on a particular “angle” that will make you unique. Advanced Style does this really well! There are so many street style sites and sites that allow people to submit their own images that you have to figure out a point of view. Alternatively maybe you can contact a fashion or style site that doesn’t have streetstyle and offer your services as the street style photographer. That could give you experience and exposure. Finally, you can’t afford to be shy – but if you are just keep doing it and work through it!

-What music are you currently listening to on your iPod?

I have given up the iPod for Pandora and am a total Pandora junkie. Right now I’m switching between
a station I made called “Katya Chills” which is an electric mix of my favorites like Thievery Corporation,
the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and old classic bands like The Talking Heads on it and a Jazz Standards station that
plays Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

-As a street style documenter, what part of NYC would you say has the best style?

Well since I kind of focus on nightlife style I’d say currently I love some of the style I’m seeing at ZigZag – thursdays at Le Bain- but this is always changing up!

-How would you describe your personal style?
Constantly evolving! I am a platform heel addict because I need the height and I prefer jeans –either
skinny or super wide– to skirts or dress although there are exceptions. I recently went to the Daphne Guiness’ exhibit at FIT and found it utterly inspiring. I’d love to be able to dress like her, but since that’s not practical it has inspired me to eliminate t-shirts from my wardrobe. They’re sooo boring!

-Where do you see your blog 5 years from now?

Five years?!? I’m not sure! But I’m interested in pushing the photography angle further. I’d love to do shoots
with some of my favorite nightlife people that are a bit more controlled as well as shooting lookbooks for designers and adding video to the repertoire. But above all I’d like it to be a little time capsule of downtown New York fashion and style.

Make sure to follow more inspirations by Katya on Twitter! @Katya_NYC and check out some original first hand glimps at the street style in New York City on StyleDefinedNYC

As for the rest of the stylish pairs that were up for the voting, and categorized under  this year’s theme”Dynamic Duos” they are as followed, and ranked in order:

1. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
2. Elle and Dakota Fanning
3. Claire, Virginie, Jenna, and Prisca Courtin-Clarins
4. Ruby and Lily Aldridge
5. Poppy and Cara Delevingne
6. Bianca and Coco Brandolini
7. Beyoncé and Solange Knowles
8. Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou Doillon
9. Pippa Middleton and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
10. Kate and Rooney Mara

Metallic bodycon dresses

Metallics are absolutely everywhere this season. From shoes to scarves and everything in between fashion has come over very futuristic. Shimmering silvers and golds, sequins and embellishment take your dress from drab to fab. Ramp it up even further with a bodycon dress; this will definitely get you noticed.

How to wear? 

Styling details to keep you on point can include one-shoulder straps, studding and embellishment as well as bust cups and contrasting metallic belts.  Keep the metallic trend going in your shoes and jewellery. Give the look a bit of an eighties vibe with wrist cuffs, black and gold envelope style clutch bags and chandelier earrings.

Lacy LBDs

The little black dress never fails to impress, but this season you need to spruce it up a little if you want to compete with all those shimmering metallic-clad ladies. The only way to do that this season is with lace, and plenty of it. Whether bodycon, shift, a-line or skater, lace adds a sultry, sexy touch to an otherwise average black dress.

How to wear? 

Lace on the arms, around the neck or layered over the dress are the most fashionable ways to work lace into your outfit, but don’t be afraid to break the mould with lace hemlines and cut-out detailing. Work the grunge trend and go for black from head to toe with colour-matching accessories.

Bright, bold, asymmetric dresses

The colour block trend from the summer is reinvented with richer, autumnal hues such as burgundy, plum, mustard and emerald green.

How to wear? 

A favourite style for these eye-catching dresses is asymmetric hemlines accompanied by one-shoulder detailing. Corsages, Grecian-style drapes and pleats all add glamour and style and give a nod to the disco fashions of the 1970s. Accessorise in contrasting colours and keep jewellery, shoes and jackets larger than life.

Women’s Nights were held in other major cities including London and Tokyo, where shoppers were given personalized denim consultations for their perfect G-Star jeans.  The entire store staff was there and along with our blogger hosts who were head to toe in G-Star looks we really got to see the brand come to life.  With a high-style spin to street wear, some of our favorite pieces included denim jumpers, leather bottoms, and all their men’s jackets.

Sarier, an alum from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp (think Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Martin Margiela, among others)  grew his design roots at a lengthy list of fashion all stars: he worked with Emanuel Ungaro, Giambattista Valli, Haider Ackermann, and Olivier Theyskens before going off on his own collection, and their aesthetic influence definitely shows.

Precise tailoring, perfect ombre dyes, and exquisite draping, and multiple zippers may seem like a lot for a lightweight garment, but he pulls off the looks as almost wearable (although incredibly luxurious) sportswear. Our favorite piece? Delicately embroidered white leggings that wove a pattern between sheer and opaque whites that Sarier told us was meant to  ”reflect oceanic colors and shadows, the idea is to create the illusion that the water is reflecting this pattern on your skin.”

Spike cuff, $28

Faux leather dress, $95

Raincoats Trajectory jacket, $188

Heeled booties, $70

Cocktail ring, $12

Leather clasp color block satchel, $79

OUTFIT TOTAL: $472.00 

For our Uptown Chic/Downtown Sleek look today we are obsessing over these Reiss sequin trousers.  The perfect complement to both buttery smooth silks as well as rough & textured fabrics, their slim line and subtle sparkle make them a wardrobe essential.

Since we use our iPhones for cameras more than anything, this case is the perfect translation of what our phone represents! Cheeky, eco, adorbs, we love it.

I woke up in a pile of drool as I felt the plane touch down in Milan this morning. We arrived tired from a whirlwind 2 days in London filming my new commercials for Astor Cosmetics with my favorite photographer, Rankin! I perked up as soon as I knew it was only a short time until I got to visit one of my favorite stores, attend the always fabulous Versace show and end the night wearing a fabulous gown designed by one of my dear friends.

1pm – Stopped by the Duomo for a little sightseeing.

3pm – When you are in Milan you have to stop by one of my favorite stores, 10 Corso Como. They are known for having the best fashion! They buy things from designers that no one else does!

7pm – Quick stop backstage to see Donatella before the Versace show. Look at her dress! She is as fabulous as ever.

8pm – What a beautiful show. I wanted everything!

10pm – Arrived at the amfAR event wearing a gray strapless dress with a full skirt from Cavalli. I ran into Nina Garcia, Bar Refaeli, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen and the always stunning Eva & Roberto Cavalli.

11:30pm – Just as the night was ending, look who fell into my lap! Chanel Iman

12am – Headed back to the hotel to eat some spaghetti which is always a must in Italy! Some gelato? Bring it on! Can’t wait to fly back to my family tomorrow!!

1. You don’t need any sleep to look radiant—if you have Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick and finishing powder on hand.
The morning I go to meet Ford at his glitzy London HQ, he has had two hours’ sleep the night before. He has terrible insomnia. However, in his immaculate black suit, white shirt, and black tie, he looks crisp and fresh. I would like to know his secret, I tell him.

“Powder under the eyes,” he declares authoritatively. “The only thing making you have bags is the light hitting the high points of the skin. If there is translucent powder under your eyes,” he says—grabbing a gorgeous glossy brown-and-gold compact and, looking in the mirror, dusting finishing powder under each eye—“and you use a little stick foundation, and then the powder in moderation, the shadows are gone.”

Ford is endearingly vain. For a man so famously handsome and successful, he is as insecure as a teenager about his looks. Even though he spends serious amounts of time peering into his magnifying mirror (a compulsory piece of equipment, according to Ford), it’s not to say, “ ‘Wow, I look great’; it’s to think, I’m getting older and my eyebrows are getting longer and they need a cut, and oh, God, maybe I need a little more Botox here. So all I see are flaws when I look in the mirror—initially, until I correct them.”

The point is, whatever the beautiful 50-year-old Ford is doing, he wears makeup. And the starting point for him—and so for his cosmetics line—is flawless skin. As well as stick foundation, the range includes primer and an extraordinarily light “traceless” liquid foundation. When I try it, it seems to magically disguise any unevenness in my skin without being visible. I usually hate foundation because it’s so obvious, but this feels and looks completely different—like nothing is there at all. “Everything about the Tom Ford world is perfect,” says makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, who helped Ford create the line, “and that includes perfect glowing skin.” I tried Ford’s moisturizers and serums—his collection includes skin care as well—over the space of six weeks, and my complexion seemed to spring into bloom.

2. Get a dressing table now.
One of Ford’s favorite childhood memories is of watching his mother do her face every morning at a dressing table equipped with magnifying mirrors and spotlights at their home in the Houston suburbs. “She looked like Tippi Hedren,” he remembers. “She didn’t wear a lot of eye shadow, but there was definitely foundation, a brow, and lipstick with a very orange, 1960s cast to it. She would tease her hair up between sips of coffee, spraying on the Aqua Net, as it’s called in Texas.”

Tom Ford isn’t about on-the-go makeup. When my box of his new products arrives—mahogany-handled brushes (manufactured by the world’s finest brush factory, in Japan), blushers, powders, kohl pencils, nail colors, lip glosses, and lipsticks—the need for a dressing table is suddenly pressing. I have to spread it out all over my bed just to take it in. “You can’t put this makeup on in the subway or in the car ever,” Ford had told me. “Because if you paint your mouth on slightly crookedly, you no longer have a straight mouth, you have a crooked mouth. Why would you do that?”

3. Manners maketh makeup.
Ford is famously old-fashioned about putting on your face in public. If a girl needs a touch-up, he says, she should go to the powder room. There are, though, exceptions. “If you have a gorgeous hand and gorgeous mannerisms and a gorgeous compact . . . there’s a very well known beauty, I can’t say her name, but I used to see her a bit for dinner,” he confides. “She’d lay out a compact, a lip brush, a lipstick, and it was like part of the knife and fork. After each course, out came the compact and the lipstick, and somehow she pulled it off, because it was so much her thing.”

4. Makeup is the new It bag: Change it and you don’t need a new frock.
“You can take a little black dress,” explains Ford, “and put on twenties makeup, thirties makeup, or seventies makeup, and that dress becomes totally different.”

5. Thou shalt wear “full on” color for evening.
Ford has always believed in color in his clothing. His makeup range contains every shade the Tom Ford woman needs for her face: sexy nudes, glamour reds, moody plums, midnight blues, and titanium blacks for night.

After timidly playing with the colors at home, I’m ready to give them a trial outing. The occasion: insanely fabulous tickets to see Alicia Keys at a one-night-only performance in London.

The look starts with nails. I take a bottle of African Violet—a luscious dark-fuchsia—to Coco Nail Bar on Portobello Road, just about the only place you can get a simultaneous mani-pedi in London. The manicurist whispers that she feels “honored” to be using the first Tom Ford polish. Once my nails are done, I feel the beginnings of a Bianca Jagger moment coming on: The exotic dark pink reminds me of the lacquered, lipsticked icon in her heyday.

It seems right to make up my eyes more daringly than usual. I pick the palette of lilacs and purples, Violet Dusk, and gradually layer on each shade, topping it off with the shimmery “sequin” finish. (Each eye-shadow compact contains four shades of varying intensity and texture in a given color harmony, and represents a complete look curated by Ford.) I add a shot of peacock green along my upper lash line, using the Metallic Moss kohl pencil, and gently shade my lips with the muted Pink Dusk lipstick. I’ve somehow managed to pull off an updated disco-chic look, rather than descending into the Priscilla Queen of the Desert territory I had feared.

I throw on a bias-cut, original 1970s black jersey dress, Moroccan gold earrings, gold Manolos, and grab a dark-brown patent clutch with gold trim. I feel dressy and fun with my lacquered nails and glittering eyes. When I run into a makeup-free Phoebe Philo at the after-party, I momentarily doubt my violet eyelids. But only momentarily. It is so much fun wearing brights that I vow to try the tantalizing greens of the Sahara Haze palette on my next night out.

6. If you don’t have a long neck, draw it.
Ford believes you can create any shape of face you want using his Shade and Illuminate palette—a compact containing a brightening “lifting” cream and a darker “sculpting” one. “If I know that one cheekbone is higher than the other, I can put highlighter on the lower one,” he says, showing me how to do it, “and suddenly my cheeks look symmetrical, because the light bounces off the lower one better.” Ford says you can even create a jawline like Linda Evangelista’s. “If you don’t have that fabulously strong jaw, you could basically highlight where your neck is and shade where your chin is, and you would have a really strong look.” In case this sounds a little intimidating, Ford reassures me that Charlotte Tilbury will be personally training the beauty advisers at every one of his counters worldwide so they can show women exactly how to do this.

7. Change your eyebrows—avoid plastic surgery!
Ford is eyebrow-obsessed. He believes eyebrows are the one thing you can dramatically change on your face without going under the knife. To that end, he has included an angular Brow Sculptor, which allows the user to get a much sharper line than with an ordinary eyebrow pencil. The formula is soft, so it’s great for gentle filling.

8. Old Hollywood glamour is the best Hollywood glamour.
Despite his other job as a movie director, Ford admits he often feels the current Hollywood standard of beauty is “tragic.” He says Hollywoodized women—whether they are in London, L.A., or New York—who all look exactly the same are like “Barbies. Real women shouldn’t look at any of it or think about any of it.” Instead, he tells me, “women should do the same as I did when starting my brand: What colors do I always like? What was my favorite period of makeup? What am I comfortable in? What time in my life did I think I looked my most amazing? What was I wearing? And from just thinking about those things, you can start to put together who you are. Then stick with it. It doesn’t mean your shoulder or heel shouldn’t change a little, but it gives you a base.”
9. Bitter Bitch is the new Vamp.
Enough said about the sexiest chocolate-brown nail polish I’ve ever seen.

10. It’s chic to wear jeans and a T-shirt and be made-up.
Ford tells me that the coolest 20-something girls in his London office come to work in high-street clothes and immaculate makeup. “They grew up in the hip-hop moment of nothing, so they’ve reacted against that and want to be glamorous. They want a lacquered lip.” Ford shows me a crimson lip gloss that recalls the Dallas and Dynasty starlets. It’s fun, fabulous, the perfect orangey red. Ford has always loathed lip gloss, so it took him a while to get to the point where he could add one to the line. His strikes me as different, more grown-up: saturated and opaque, yet not sticky.

Putting a face on suddenly feels chic again.

Credit: Fall 2011 Vogue September Issue