REAL v DEAL: Miu Miu v Topshop

REAL: python-trimmed bouclé-tweed coat, $4585, by Miu Miu available at NET-A-PORTER.com
DEAL: double-Breasted Checked Vinyl Coat, $179, by Topshop

BEAUTY CONFESSIONS: JOHN STAPLETON Mac Senior Make-Up Artists

John Stapleton has been working as make-up artist for 18 years. As a senior artist for the MAC, he's traveled around the world, applying and teaching his techniques and trends. You might have seen his work on the runway, in magazine or on the red carpet. I chat to John about fall/winter’s beauty trends and working with Kelly Osbourne.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FALL/WINTER BEAUTY TREND?
Honestly I really like the concept of the ‘beautiful and damned’, to us it’s really focusing on a black element in make-up or dark element. So to me any girl or women can add some interesting sinisterness to her make-up. Either a black liner or a really dark lip, maybe not necessarily a black lip but a lip with a wine undertone. And I think there is something really strong and arresting about that. When you think of Lorde with that dark lip that she’d done. Her make-up by Amber D, who works for MAC, actually came up with that look. To me, it’s just so powerful has a lot of strength to it.

WHAT’S EASIEST FALL TREND TO ACHIEVE?
I think the lip trend, that sort of 70s look for the lip would be easy to achieve. I think a lot of people feel that they have to go out and buy everything that’s new on a cosmetic counter. It’s really about buying additions that you can add to your beauty wardrobe. Just like when you pick up a new sweater or a new purse or a new pair of shoes. You may not buy everything because you couldn’t probably afford it, it’s expensive. So you’re changing one or two items, to me a lipstick is a great way to do that. For a red wearer, this season we’re doing something rustier so add a some brown to it, add a little bit orange to it and play with that. Remember your make-up wardrobe is a heck of a lot cheaper to change than your clothes wardrobe. Those shoes and bags they add up!

WHAT’S YOUR FAV LOOK FOR KELLY OSBOURNE?

A black liner, impeccable eyebrows and then a bold lip, it’s her signature look. The one thing I would say, as I’ve worked with Kelly for ten years, is that I always choose an outrages lip to make a statement. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again she’s a mouthy broad, and so to me her strength is in a lip, which really speaks to who she is as a person. I always like doing a bright color and Candy Yum-Yum [$17] was the lipstick I put on her once that became a hit. And she’s the one really that I credited with that being such a huge hit because she put it on, and people were like retweeting it and asking her what she was wearing.

Stapleton and Osbourne

WHAT’S YOUR BEAUTY ADDICTION?
Honestly for me, I’m going to take my advice from the Koreans and Asia, I’m a sunscreen, addict. I live in Los Angeles, I like a nice hydrating sunscreen, but I will tell you my big secret weapon, what I usually do, is I put a little of our Strobe Cream ($33) on the apple of my cheek. Because I am forty-wonderful and having a little of volume there by putting something with a little bit of sheen in it makes me look a little bit younger. It makes my skin look vibrant like I’ve just had a facial.

Strobe Cream

WHO’S YOUR BEAUTY ICON?
I look to all the classics I love everyone from Audrey Hepburn to Dorothy Dandridge. I think the first woman any man falls in love with is their mom. My mom has always been so special to me; she’s olive dark haired, and I think so striking. And she only did a little bit of lipstick and a little bit of mascara time to time. But what’s been cool is that as time has gone on, and now she’s in her 70s, she learned technics from me, and I thought her how to enhance her beauty. I love seeing her when she has her make-up on because I hear people ask her ‘what are you wearing on your skin?’ and it makes me feel good. Because she is really very special to me and everything I test I always try it on my mom first.

WHATS THE LAST FILM YOU WATCHED?
I just saw Spy with Melissa McCarthy. It was hilarious, silly, and it made me laugh. I got to work with her before [for] Entertainment Weekly. We did a spread called ‘The New Queen of Comedy’ and I did Melissa as the Queen of England, Queen of Hearts and the Drag Queen Divine. She was so much fun to work with, she’s a gorgeous woman but what’s funny about her that I loved, she told me “I love ugly, I love characters, I love ugly wigs. I like to play so the more the better”. So I had the full range to paint her [up] to a crazy degree.

IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN A MOMENTS NOTICE, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?
I would go to Rio tomorrow, I’ve been there four times. I love Brazil, and I love the Brazilian culture I love the Brazilian people. Every experience I had there has been magical every time I've gone I’ve had such a wonderful time, from the beach to the boulevards to the really nice restaurants. I think it's an interesting culture that’s so rich and beautiful. There is something that attracts me everytime; I love everything about it.

YOUR TOP 3 GO TO ITEMS FOR THE FALL?
Studio Waterweight Foundation ($33) because it really does look like skin. It perfects the skin, but it still has a sheerness. You know you can see freckles a bit but if you need to hid flaws you can build it up. Can’t say enough about it, it’s gorgeous.

Then I would say going for a gray pencil, I use Phone Number pencil ($16.50). You can put it in the inside of the eye, or you can use it on the outer corner of the eye, and then smudge it with your fingers.

Lastly pick a Lipstick like Chili ($17) or Viva Glam I ($17) which are a rusty-based reds. If you have those three items in your purse, you would be set for this season.

Studio Waterweight Foundation, Phone Number, Chili and Viva Glam I

NEW WORK: Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO TRIBUNE, Fragrant Comfort

LEFT TO RIGHT: Diptyque, Limited Edition, Essences Insensées Eau de Parfum, $175 for 2.5oz, nordstrom.com. YSL, Black Opium Eau de Parfum, $90, sephora.com. Krigler, Sierra Vista Eau de Parfum Spray, $230, mcssl.com. Donna Karan, Liquid Cashmere Black Eau de Parfum, $62, donnakaran.com. Marc Jacobs, Decadence Eau de Parfum, $70, Sephora.com.

FASHIONABLE INVITES: October

COMPASSION, FASHION & COCKTAILS 2015
A Charity Event Celebrating Fashion & Philanthropy.

Supporting:
Israel Idonije Foundation
"IIF Programs focus on further developing 5 keys to social & emotional connections in the hopes that every child achieves their goals."

When: Thursday, October 29th

Where: The Godfrey Hotel Chicago | I|O Urban Roofscape - 127 W. Huron St. at LaSalle St., Chicago, IL

Time: 5:30 - 10:00 PM

VIP Ticket Private Cocktail Reception with Israel Idonije: 5:30 - 6:00pm

General Ticket Private Cocktail Reception with Israel Idonije: 6:00 - 7:30pm

Hosted by the Godfrey Hotel Chicago | I|O Urban Roofscape

Runway Fashion Show: 8:00 PM
By Zadig & Voltaire

Light hors d'oeuvres will be provided by a collection of local restaurants

A wine tasting by advanced sommelier Jim Bube from Heritage Wine Cellars

Tickets:
$50 when purchased before 10/26
$65 at the door
$100 VIP Patron Ticket (Includes private meet and greet with Israel Idonije, gift bag, 5 raffle tickets and reserved seats)

Purchase Tickets at Eventbrite.