Why we like this look: Xenia Viray, a trendy shoe store manager shows off a low updo that looks aloof-cool, but we know that it probably took a bit of effort to create.
Try: The sides are twisted down into a low side chignon. It's definitely a haphazard look that shouldn't take a ton of effort and doesn't require specific "steps" -- the idea here should be: don't be afraid to just twist and pin hair into some sort of shape you like. As long as it feels secure, it will last as long as you like it and you'll be able to pull it off.
With the explosion of reality TV and the popularity of gossip sites and magazines exploiting "stars" like Kate Gosselin or Kim Kardashian, we all have an undeniable fascination with real people. So this year at New York Fashion Week, we thought that instead of showing off beauty trends seen on models, we'd share our favorite hair and makeup looks seen on real women.
After all, real women either inspire or get inspired by fashion and beauty trends that models display on the runway or on the pages of a magazine -- and we're the ones that have to make them work. Since trends seen on models or celebrities seem somehow less attainable, it was refreshing at New York Fashion Week to see everyone from makeup artists to public relations professionals to photographers recreating looks they had seen at a fashion show the day prior, or stepping up their usual hair and makeup routine in the spirit of the fashionable week.
As we approached these real women, some were slightly frightened when we pointed our cameras their way, some flattered, some confused, some annoyed, but after the initial awkwardness of approaching them passed, we think most of them felt pretty flattered. The makeup looks you're about to see range from a perfectly executed red lip to avant-garde eye makeup, and the hairstyles you'll find span from zig zag braids to dreamy waves. To top it all off, we also share real woman sporting of-the-moment nail colors and formulas. If nothing else, we hope these photos will provoke you to try a new hairdo or lip color, and we offer up steps, tips and product suggestions to help you recreate these looks.
