Dionlee Fashion

I LOVE a smoky eye! One of my FAVE models, the sultry Isabeli Fontana rocks the smoky eye well, above & below.

LOVE this Amy Winehouse inspired editorial by the brilliant Peter Lindbergh.

My friend, uber makeup artist Owen Allison recommends that "This Spring, team dramatic liquid liner with a bright raspberry red mouth and nothing else". Fabulous!

I think my earliest inspiration with with black eyes came from my Mum's old modeling pics from the 60's (Mary Quant style), Lulu, Judy Geeson & the 60's rocker & mod chicks in To Sir With Love (a fave movie - cried my eyes out at the end & the song still brings a tear to my eye!) and Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra. Alexander McQueen's fantastic Mac line was inspired by this spectacular look - and Liz continued with the Egyptian kohl eyes look ever after the film.

As this is a look I've rarely strayed from for the last 20 years, here are my LATEST fave smoky eye tools...

Mac Liquid Last Liner in Point Black. This is truly one of the only liners I've found that stays on like a Vivid (or as you say in Oz, a Texta!). It has a little brush that works well when laid flat against the eye-line to form a guide. I actually just go from the outer corner of my eye for one flick - and only carry on across the lid if I have time/for nights out. Only a good eye makeup remover will get rid of this baby - the same is also required for fixing up mistakes, dabbed on a cotton-bud.

Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack is great to get an all-over thicker line when doing the whole lid, a-la Amy Winehouse.

When I have no time I'll opt for my soft Mac Eye Kohl in Smolder with a smooth pearly finish & just draw across the lash and in the inner lower lid, smudge the lid with my fingers, and go! (My makeup artist friends may balk at using fingers - but it's easy!) Some eye-liners are so hard, you may as well take an HB pencil to your lid - ouchie! Soft smooshy liners enable you to do this and with a thick lashing of mascara, this is an easy quick-fix!

CoverGirl Smoky Shadowblast is a fab product for beginners - just slick it on for a nice easy smoky look that has a bit of sheen, perfect for nights out - easy breezy!

CoverGirl Lashblast Volume is one of my latest faves for a great, long, thick Bambi-like lash!

Here's a good little smoky-eye guide from Covergirl. Try not to go too overboard under the eye or you'll end up looking like Taylor Momsen! The panda look is not good.

And for a raspberry mouth - love Stainiac by The Balm and Benetint by Benefit!

Romance Was Born - Melbourne Fashion week 2010

It's all about COLOUR!!!
Recently I went to my wardrobe to find a nice colourful outfit to wear to Style Pasifika and was aghast to find that my wardrobe has morphed into a mass of blacks and greys, muted colours atypical of New Zealand fashion. Which I love, but I need a colour injection! My recent weekend in Surfers Paradise further confirmed to me that weather, colour and emotions are inextricably linked. The sun, sea & surf with people running around in lolly coloured Havianas and brightly coloured dresses and tops made for a fun, happy, upbeat atmosphere. Just as whilst living as a poor student in grey, rainy old Dunedin it was all about dark subdued colours, brooding goth moods and plaintiff indie tunes. So I’ve decided, this Summer is all about colour! Fruit drops & lollipop bright, saturated unadulterated paint-box eye-popping COLOUR!

Dig-prints! by LoulouBlue

Check out the amazing digital prints that have filtered down from the runways of Alexander McQueen, Diane von Furstenberg, Josh Goot, Basso & Brooke, Christopher Kane and Dion Lee to the High Street.

Alexander McQueen - Vogue UK March 2010

Basso & Brooke, RTW Spring 2010

Christopher Kane, Resort 2011 collection

Aussie star Dion Lee blew the fashion glitterati away during his SHOW AT the 2010 Sydney Fashion Week parading some gorgeous, vibrant digi-print dresses through the Sydney Opera House. Even good old cheap & cheerful Supre is doing some fun little dig print gathered tank tops.

Aussie label Romance Was Born rocked an explosion of colour during the 2010 Melbourne Fashion Week. The show was like a cross between Priscilla Queen of the dessert, Rihanna and Gaga’s wardrobes with a bit of Sydney Mardi Gras thrown in for good measure! I adore the big bronze sequinned cross outfit, the head-dresses and wicked digi-print bikini! Not so sure about the Gaga-esque volcano outfit however!

Colour palettes have brightened up too with any injection of acid brights, many brands doing my favourite colour – tealy, turquoise blue. Tom Pecheux ‘s ‘Blue Dahlia’ and ‘Surreal Violet’ collections for Estee Lauder Fall 2010 are awesome.

The stunning intense green and blues of the Pure Colour eye shadow palette paired with Double Wear Stay-in-Place eye pencil in Midnight Blue looks stunning. Check out my friend Owen Allison (style maestro, photographer, model and National make-up artist for Estee Lauder) working this range for Mindfood mag HERE. I'm also loving Nars fall collection’s teal blue ‘Palladium’ Soft Touch pencil, hot coral ‘Scandal’ lip Gloss and electric violet Daphne Single Eye shadow (inspired by the divine Ms Guinness, in the Nars campaign below).

Now you may balk at this, but I’ve also been loving Katy Perry’s rubber dresses! I mean, why not? She has a fantastic figure and they look fun and colourful and hot! I'm also loving her Californian look. Bright, camp and fun.

Am off to Sydney next weekend and am dying to soak up the sun dip my feet into the sea at Bondi whilst perhaps popping into the awesomely pink Bondi Hotel for a Bondi Blonde, and of course one of my fave stores Tuchuzy. Roll on Summer!!