An Ordinary Day...

Wednesday, April 12th started off as an ordinary day. The alarm sounded off at 6:00 a.m. like it always did. Reggie did his work day morning ritual, showering, grooming, selecting a suit and accessorizing with the perfect accents for Read more

Why are some people mean?

Why are some people mean? I'm not talking about a little mean, but bazaar, go out of their way to be mean. Recently I've encountered a few mean people, I remind myself that these situations will make me a stronger Read more

Maldives

Our last trip of 2016 was to the Maldives. Last year was one full of excursions, We traveled to Cameroon, Paris, Bali, Hawaii, New Orleans, New York, Chicago, Lake Tahoe, Atlanta, Napa, San Francisco, Dubai, and I must say Read more

Quote

It's okay to venture out of your comfort zone... Lately I've been doing it quite often. This weekend is going to be one of renewal, my personal Super Bowl. What are your plans? I will be working today and tomorrow. Happy Read more

Do you enjoy yourself?

Both of my kids are in New York, my son is in school in the Hudson Valley and my daughter is living in Brooklyn and working. So we are officially empty nesters, and have been so for a while Read more

make-up

Makeup? or Cover Up?

Posted on by Gigi in friendship 2 Comments
monique

monique

In my photography business I use a professional makeup artist on almost all my shoots. I tend to form strong relationships with the artists I work with, hence professional relationships often creep over to friendships. Monique Woolley was one of those, she was a delightful young woman that could easily have been my daughter. She came into my  business at a time when my other makeup artist had a medical emergency, and was going to need time off to heal. The first time she worked for me she came in with her platinum blond curls, and her stylist diva mom Amour, the 2 of them waved their magic wand and transformed my sister Romanna, not only physically but mentally.

Monique

Monique

I got to know her family, and she got to know mine. She loved her little adorable 7 year-old boy Noah, we would adjust our schedule so she could always tend to her mommy duties. She always updated us on the current Noah story, while drinking my signature tea latte that I would make for her. She talked about her family a lot, her brothers, her sister and her mom and dad.

Monique & Noah

Monique & Noah

 

Over the year and a few months that I got to know her, we shared lots of laughs and stories about being a celebrity makeup artist in Hollywood, and interesting tidbits about how some clients you had to talk to their assistants while doing their makeup, because “they” did not want to speak to a “lowly” makeup artist directly. She was a perfectionist, always going beyond to please our clients, everyone who she touched loved her. She had a way of putting everyone at ease who sat in her chair, even the ones who were unsure about the “makeup” process and what the outcome would be. She could please the young ones, and my diva clients who were set in their ways and not open to new trends. I’m now learning moment by moment that behind that beautiful smile was a sad woman, a woman who was battling depression. Just like the makeup she so skillfully applied hiding blemishes and imperfections on my clients she was a master in concealing her pain.

Monique

Monique

I started thinking about how most of us are hiding our blemishes daily, with our own “makeup”, including moi. It becomes so routine, like the concealer, I never go out without, tapping a little bit on to camouflage those little annoying dark spots that never go away completely.

I can’t help but to wonder is there something I could have done. How could I have missed her sadness, and then I think about myself and how I am a master of hiding my emotions, while I’m an open book for the most part we all have the little shit that stays in the crevices.

I questioned why is it difficult for me to emote and I came to the conclusion that I’m a good listener and everyone can “dump” on me because I’m so “together”…Really?  Not at all…I conceal a lot of what is going on in my life. I’m stressed about my business, I’m stressed about results from medical tests, I’m stressed about my kids, the list goes on and on. I don’t talk about it much, mostly I listen to others, most who are clueless to my struggles.

What to I do about it? I meditate, practice yoga and make sure I do “me” on a regular basis. Going forward though, I am going to share my feelings, listen to others closely, because at the end of the day we all want to know that someone genuinely cares about us and our well being. If you are feeling pain…reach out to someone you trust, don’t hold it in…we do care.

RIP Monique you will be missed by so many…

The last day I saw Monique

The last day I saw Monique…

 

 


NATURAL WOMAN

Posted on by Gigi in Aging, Beauty 6 Comments

I’ve always loved make-up and glamour, as far back as I can remember, always trying to paint my face. My mom never painted her nails or wore much make-up and has never colored her hair, not sure where I got the glam gene from.

Gigi & Mom

Gigi & Mom

Beauty is so personal and subjective, wearing makeup, is not an attempt to hold on to my youth, but it is something that makes me feel good, I like looking at my painted nails and batting my mascara-ed lashes. Of course I have days where I go out and about “bare-faced”, but that is not the norm. I genuinely like the process of putting on make up, shopping for it and experimenting with new looks and techniques, I’m the customer who will gladly try the new whatever.

True

True

 

There are some who feel women should be “natural” ie. no make-up, weave free, let hair grow wherever, let the lines and wrinkles reveal the life of the face, no nail polish, no surgical alterations, no filling, botoxing, or lash extending. There is even a movement in photography going toward non-photoshopped, no make-up images of women. While I don’t like overly photoshopped images ie. faces flattened all the character erased away,  I love seeing clients transformed and their natural beauty enhanced.

makeup-no makeup

makeup-no makeup

If a long weave makes you feel fabulous, rock on- same as if sporting a TWA, whatever makes you happy and feel good about yourself. Your beauty choices should reflect you and those that may be critical- oh well.

Rossano Ferretti

Rossano Ferretti 310 598-6780

A few days ago, I got my hair colored, I love highlights and have been sporting them for the past 10 or so years. Lisa Oliver, at Rossano Ferretti  (345 N Canon Drive Beverly Hills 310 598-6780) has been highlighting my hair for a long time, at least ten years. My grays are starting to become a little more aggressive, but I can still get away with coloring my hair once every 8 months, one benefit of the way I wear my hair it is very “gray” friendly and forgiving.

hair color

hair color

Nov 18 1996 Gigi with dark tresses

Nov 18 1996 Gigi with dark tresses

fresh highlights

fresh highlights

Perhaps one day, I will explore my grays in the future, but right now I’m digging this. My grandmother had dark tresses until she departed this earth in her early 90’s, so I will see what feels right for me when the time comes.

What are your thoughts on makeup? Hair color? Do you feel women are bombarded by images in the media, and are pressured to try and achieve a certain level of beauty as a result? For the grown and sexy, as you mature do you feel “glam-ing up is not as important? I’m curious…on what your thoughts are…

Happy Monday,

Xoxo,

Gigi


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