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THE ART OF LOOKING GOOD
BIEN DANS SA PEAU

Hair, makeup & wardrobe portray an image; makes a statement about how comfortable we feel in our own skin—bien dans sa peau. My system, "The Art of Looking Good" puts a spin on the image we portray by teaching the universal Principles and Elements of Design used by all artists, made specific to the "art of looking good".

  • Imagine being both the ART and the ARTIST . . .
  • The STUDIO is your dressing room . . .
  • You are the CANVAS . . .
  • The image in the mirror is the DESIGN, your creation . . .
  • Your PAINTS are clothes, shoes, makeup, hair clips & products, purses, jewelry . . .
  • Start with the GOAL: "I want to look as good as I can."
  • Add goals as you DISCOVER your Fashion Profile and Color Analysis . . .
  • LEARN the Principles and Elements of Design to create your goals . . .
  • See your inner sense of LOOKING COOL emerge in the mirror.

ELEMENTS of design—clothes, shoes, makeup and jewelry have endless combinations. Sometimes the combination works; sometimes not. PRINCIPLES of design prevent hit-and-miss combinations. Imagine looking and feeling distinctly fabulous every time! Properly applied Principles predict successful combinations of Elements. The following definitions and examples illustrate how hair, makeup and wardrobe are learnable, exciting and rewarding art forms.

Go beyond the basics! Call or email for in-salon appointments

(303) 525-3244    lauraleeartist@gmail.com
 

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

Line  Shape  Size  Direction  Texture  Value  Color

LINE, the most basic Element provides movement, takes the viewer's eye from one point of interest to the next. Lines can be straight, curved, zigzag, intersect and etc. Horizontal and vertical lines compose the human body structure. Women's bodies have more curved lines; men's bodies have more angles. Line is powerful, see how this cartoon delivers a different message with a simple changes of line:

SHAPE, areas enclosed by lines; they are either organic or geometric. Human body structures are organic; hairstyles and fashion are geometric. Hairstyles have round, square or triangle silhouettes—think 1960s Bubbles, military Flattops, 1980s Wedges.

  • Note: toss the "Oval-Face-Shape-Game", which begs the faulty assumption of OVAL as perfect thus setting up the negative thought something is wrong with the non-oval face in the mirror.
  • Note: avoid fruit-named body structures (apples or pears). Each human body structure is alike yet unique. Strive for fabulous wardrobe statements by layering geometric shapes over organic verticals, horizontals and curves (see: Wardrobe Triangles).

SIZE, an Element to respect. SIZE is always relative to Shape. If under "normal" weight/height stats, wear thicker fabrics or fabrics that flow in a larger radius. If over "normal" weight/height, add volume to hairstyle but opt for less fabric expression. If, on either account the goal is to break conventional rules and create edge or drama, be conscious of where the viewer's eye focuses.

DIRECTION. Stay aware, elements can point up, down or all around. Deliberately chose the direction of each element, eventually aim upward, make positive statements regardless of preferences of edge or drama. Think the upward sweep of dramatic eyeliner, or the upward swirl of an edgy tribal tattoo. Be confident in your statement!

TEXTURE refers to the actual surface feel of skin, hair or clothing—smooth, silky, soft, matte, glossy. Texture can be physical (tactile) or implied (visual).

  • Physical/tactile – Skin after skiing or swimming versus after a facial.
  • Implied/visual – A photo sans makeup versus one with photography makeup.
  • Physical/tactile – Natural curly hair versus flat-ironed hair.
  • Implied/visual – A photo of "virgin" hair versus photos of colored hair.

VALUE (LEVEL) refers to degrees and relationships between light and dark. Imagine a black and white photograph—sans color, expressing ten shades of gray from white to black. White represents #10, mid-level grey represents #5 and black represents #1. Dark blonde hair registers at a level #6.

  • Lighter streaks add interest to hair.
  • Contour adds dimension to cheekbones.
  • Extreme contrast adds drama.
  • Low contrast interprets as more natural.
  • No contrast can be powerful—consider "Mafioso" black attire.

COLOR (HUE) refers to yellow, red, and blue pigments. Many fashion statements incorporate endless combinations of hue, temperature and chroma, or none (monochromatic). Consider intent, but play the rules until secure in breaking universal laws of color to create interest, edge and drama.

COLOR (HUE) includes TEMPERATURE (warmth or coolness)—and CHROMA (intensity of pigment making bold or pastel). For example, no matter how fresh or how faded a spray-on tan, it can still have too much yellow for your skin, or not enough.

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

UnityBalanceHarmonyContrastAlternationGradationEmphasisRepetition

Principles prevent chaos in the studio (your dressing room, closet, makeup drawer and hair product bin). Principles help decide which shoes to wear with which skirt, belt or bracelet. Principles prevent overwhelming chaos of too many choices when shopping on-line or in department stores. Properly applied Principles maintain focus on the goal "to look as good as you can" and predict success of your DESIGN as a distinctly fabulous piece of art.

UNITY translates as "put-together". Unity looks like each element somehow belongs in your picture: jacket belongs with slacks, color formula belongs to hair, brows belong to face structure and makeup (or no makeup) belongs with fashion/image statement

BALANCE maintains stability, prolongs viewing. Shoes balance hemlines, hairstyles balance shoulder treatments and color formulas balance skin tones. Excellent haircuts balance fashion profiles as well as facial features, hair texture, time constraints, and geographic or cultural influences.

HARMONIZE designs to ease viewers' eyes and gently accentuate favored features. Color-harmonized slacks and tops translate taller and slimmer. Harmonized makeup colors look like less than what was applied.

CONTRAST creates interest and attracts the viewer's eye. Bold eyeliners draw acute attention to pale irises. Leather belts on cashmere sweaters accentuate waistlines. Create interest by contrasting denim with satin, straight with curly, light with dark, bold with pastel.

ALTERNATE elements to prevent boredom and add variety. Consider alternating stripes and plaids, waves and straight, smoky eyes and nude lips.

GRADATION guides the viewer's eye gently—or dramatically. Sharp A-line cuts add height, bypass chin lines; contour under the cheekbones accentuates temples; gored skirts elongate hips, adds length (make sure shoe treatment is more substantial!).

EMPHASIZE one focal point of your design to lessen style-confusion. Remembering "less is more" quashes urges to go too far. Wear the red dress, but skip the red shoes and purse. Wear the bangle bracelets, but keep the earrings quiet. Wear the false lashes, but mute the lipstick.

REPEAT elements to create a rhythm to your statement—repeated textures, colors or shapes tell a story. Consider the following suggestions:

  • Repeat the metallic shine of a belt in wrist bangles and eyeliner.
  • Repeat the texture of soft curly hair in cashmere sweaters and faux fur lined booties.
  • Repeat the glisten of spray tans with glisten nail polish and glisten bling.