The ladylike look

From Marilyn to Mad Men, the Ladylike look is the trend to watch – and has been for over five decades.

Cat-lined eyes, alabaster skin and unashamedly red lips… it sounds so simple, but it is an art form (this I know from experience!) So I’ve enlisted Jahi Ireland, Estée Lauder premier makeup artist, to give us the low down on this high-society look.

Eyes:

To create the perfect 'cats eye' look using liquid liner, place little dots into the lash line then join them together to create a line. Once you have a line, strengthen it to the  desired thickness.

Next, from the bottom rim, flick upwards to create a tiny wing and then join to the upper.

'To finish the look I love to smudge black smokey shadow into the lower lid and with an angled brush place shadow underneath lower rim to define,' Jahi suggests. 'This also will help "set" the liquid line.'

'When creating the perfect eye makeup look I generally prefer to do eyes before the complexion,' he adds. 'This allows me to clean up mistakes and is less stressful if you're struggling with the look.'

Complexion:

Dry skins look best dewy and radiant while oily skins will prefer a matte look, says Jahi.

'Ultimately, you want the skin to feel its most comfortable,' when choosing matte, powder or liquid foundation.

Ensure the skin is prepared and hydrated correctly to avoid excess dryness. Using a powder compact makeup and a large brush apply in sweeping motions over the face in 'roll on' movements. This will ensure the product is evenly applied for a flawless look.

Lips:

Different shades of red will throw different tones of colour. If your skin is cool toned, try a warmer red but if your skin is warm, use a cool toned red.

Some gloss formulas are the perfect alternative to a red lipstick, says Jahi. 'For an ultra shine, high glam look try Estée Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Wet Cranberry. Both creamy and colour-rich, your lips will crave more.'

by Emma-Charlotte Bangay