Urban Opulence: The Cece Smith Premiere Collection // Sneak Peek

Yet another reason to be juiced about the upcoming Empresario Holiday Trunkshow 2011.  Naturally, I am looking forward to the prospect of rejoining the team as official makeup artist.  Even more so, I am thrilled that my good friend Agee Stella Dee will be showcasing the premiere collection for her brand Cece Smith at long last.

The brand aims to reach out to women in the metro that represent generations of rich values, strength and femininity. In fact, the line was named after (though with a twist) a woman that greatly influenced Agee and the women of her family - her grandmother.  With a lot of persistence and passion, perhaps Cece Smith will be one of the few homegrown brands that make it to the high fashion scene here and everywhere.  It shall all commence on Saturday, November 12 at M Cafe, Greenbelt 4 at the holiday show.

We recently did a shoot to give ladies an idea of what to expect.  Take a look at some bits and pieces of the premiere collection:

Credits

Models: Rita Kashinamilunda, Aian Miller, Kiera Garcia 

Makeup: Monique Jaramillo-Seneres

Hair & Styling: Agee Stella Dee

Photography: Dianna Capco

Shot on location at North Greenhills, San Juan

Women in different shapes and sizes, perhaps even backgrounds, but with the common bond of what Agee Stella Dee refers to as urban opulence.  "Representing women through generations; WOMAN OF THE WORLD".  Show your support this November and experience The Cece Smith Premiere Collection.

Empresario Presents...Artists Playground - 2011 Holiday Trunkshow

This November, Empresario returns with a trunkshow featuring seven of Manila's budding fashion entrepreneurs and designers - The Aziza Collection, Ylla, Erzullie, Bonnie, Pazzy Navarro, Cece Smith, and Seven107.

I am, on so many levels, proud to be a part of this team's movements once more as their makeup artist. Their full-on efforts to provide a platform for artists and entrepreneurs to exhibit their works is truly admirable. I keep saying this over and over again, but I honestly believe that there are so many great talents over here that have internationally competitive works.  They just need the proper promotion and support.  It is amazing seeing Filipinos make names for themselves worldwide and Empresario operates in furtherance of this vision.

Now, on to makeup talk. As you may know, holiday collections are all about lush, opulent colors and textures.  The same thing applies to makeup really. When it comes to runway, artists often opt for intense, gray smokey eyes and deep red lippies or perhaps brown and golden smokey eyes with bold, chocolate lippies. In other words, eyes and lips are equally bold and rich over clean, flawless canvasses.

I have a few ideas that I'm fine-tuning at the moment and I am still undecided on color palettes (hence, the absence of color in my draft seen below), but I have come up with an eye makeup technique that I've been trying out and am nearly set on using for my team. I feel this somewhat avante garde style will look gorgeous on the runway, (trust, it looks even more alluring on a model's face) enough to make a statement from afar, but not so bizarre or loud that it would take focus away from the clothes.  In fact, the full effect is really seen up close.

I have roughly 3 weeks to finalize my look so between now and then, I'll be testing out palettes and possibly even other looks. Nevertheless, I can't wait to share documentation of this momentous event and of course a completed template with products and techniques used for all of you.

See you on November 12, 2011, 7:00pm onward at Museum Cafe, Greenbelt 4 for Empresario's Artists Playground - 2011 Holiday Trunkshow!

The Run-Down on My Runway Makeup

Credits
Fashion Show Photography: Art Alera
Backstage/behind-the-scenes photos: MJ Izon and Edzen Pineda
Assistant Makeup Artists: MJ Izon and Nybie Ng
Hairstyles: LuxAsia team
Fashion: Dimple Lim/OHM Playground
Accessories (jewelry): Anica De Guzman for LAURA
Accessories (bags): Reshma Chulani for Trosseau


Last July 27th, I was blessed with the opportunity to creatively direct and exhibit my makeup style for a spectacular trunk/fashion show called Empresario.  The event also featured the works of some of Manila's freshest, most impressive entrepreneurs from different art fields like Art Alera for photography, Raoul Olbes & David Rapaport with Vice Ink Tattoo, Anica De Guzman with LAURA for jewelry architecture, and Dimple Lim with OHM Playground for fashion design (to name a few).

When hearing the word "empresario", you'd assume that it is just a fun spin on the word "impress", but it actually means "entrepreneur" in Spanish.  Nevertheless, what these entrepreneurs did do throughout the whole planning and launching of the event, was truly impress me.  So you can imagine how nervous I was trying to keep up with these guys.  With an amazing team, though, and a whole lot of confidence building from the Empresario organizers, I was really happy with the overall makeup presentation.

Here are some shots of the models as well as my exhibit space at the launching night (Note: apologies for the order, blogger isn't quite working with me today):

There was a brewing typhoon that day so the wind kept blowing my tarp around

Profile done by Empresario Manila

Some of the models backstage before changing into first outfits

The stage and a portion of the exhibit area.

To give a little run-down on my runway makeup, I was (and still am) obsessed with the trending metallics seen everywhere in fashion and beauty so I decided to make use of bold, metallic eyeshadow in an almost mask-like manner.  In order to make a full impact for the show, my team and I agreed that strong eyes and strong lips would work.  So we paired the dramatic eyes with lush, berry lippies.  I figured with the exception of the eyes, my look and how to achieve the same is pretty explanatory.  Therefore, I will provide just the products used on the eyes and steps on how to achieve the same.

Here are all the products that were used for eyes:
-L'Oreal HIP cream shadow paint in Witty
-Gun metal gray eyeshadow from the Coastal Scents 88 matte palette
-Black eyeshadow also from the Coastal Scents 88 matte palette
-White eyeshadow from Makeup Forever
-Clear tape
-Thick false lashes
-L'Oreal Contoul Kohl Eyeliner in Black
-L'Oreal Liner Intense (liquid eyeliner) in Black
-Silver glitter glue

Now, steps on how to recreate my look:
1. Place clear tape from below your upper lash line until your hairline
2. Then get another piece of clear tape to place from the tip of your eyebrow tail also to your hairline so that it meets with the tip of your other piece of tape in a > shape
3. Paint cream shadow over your whole eyelid until your brow line and within the > shape
4. Extend cream eyeshadow downward on sides of nosebridge
5. Contour eye crease using the gun metal gray shadow and blend outward along the lower piece of tape
6. Add some smoke to the corners of the eyes (I did not apply the usual techniques on eye types and instead enjoyed seeing the same effect on different eyes) using the black shadow and again, blend outward along the lower piece of tape
7.  Line eyelids with liquid liner, but do not add "wings"
8. Place thick, false eyelashes and re-line as needed
9. Add "jewel" accents on the cream shadow in the nose bridge area/corner of eyes (it is up to you how many you would like to put)
10. Line outer to middle of water line with kohl eyeliner and lightly smudge
11. Finish off with white shadow along the brow line and under the inner corner of water line

There you have it. Obviously, I wouldn't expect any of you to try this look out on a regular day, but it is definitely something fun and whimsical to see at special events or for concept shoots/shows. I'd like to reiterate how jittery and scary the idea of putting myself and my ideas on blast was at first, but now that the event had settled in my mind, I was ready to share.  What I would truly appreciate is feedback on this look for improvement purposes in the future and of course, photos of your adaptations if ever.

Thanks and enjoy! <3

Empresario Launching Night

I feel that art, in all its forms, are somewhat synonymous with one another. They are all mediums of self-expression and they are each born from inspiration based on the artist's loves, passions, and perceptions.  In fact, one artform can inspire the next.  So much so that I often find myself drawing ideas from the passion I see in others as they execute their works whether it be music, design, paintings and other types of visual art, etc.  That said, I am very blessed and honored to have my own works of art put on focus amongst those of extraordinary individuals.

8 days from now on Wednesday, July 27 at 1Esplanade (beside SM Mall of Asia) beginning at 6:00pm, Makeup by Monique Jaramillo-Señeres (MJS) will be featured in what I'd like to refer to as a hybrid trunkshow called Empresario.  It is a "trunkshow redefined", because of its unique lineup of Manila's up and coming entrepreneurs from different areas of art.  You can expect a fashion show and exhibits from clothing designer Dimple Lim, jewelry designer Reshma with Trosseau, Vice Ink Tattoo, photographer Arturo Alera, and more.

You should all definitely check out this one-of-a-kind event, not just to support me (well, yes for that reason of course hehe), but also to learn about and support the outstanding entrepreneurs and their businesses.  Aside from our exhibits, we will also be doing live demos (in my case, also makeup for the fashion show beforehand) and be giving out goodies/gift certificates/you name it.

For inquiries or concerns, you can can contact the Empresario team through the following:
(02) 964-2326
marketing@empresario.com
http://www.empresariomanila.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Empresario-Manila/167421129981777

BTS for the launching night video teaser

"Great brands don't chase customers; customers chase great brands" -Gary Friedman