The Down Lo: "Flaw Mentors"

OWD — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0400

Laura Nadeau is the creator and owner of Lo & Co Makeup Artists, specializing in creating a fun and fabulous community for brides or any woman who wants to step-up her beauty routine. In addition to her own blog, The Down Lo, Laura shares her insight and advice on bridal beauty secrets right here, for OurWeddingDay.com.

I am asked by my clients to disguise their flaws daily and it has inspired me to add a new category to my blog called "Flaw Mentors". Women constantly pick apart their photographs and obsess about a flaw even though most people have slight facial abnormalities. A photograph is not a true representation of how one looks. It is a frozen two dimensional image of a face that is three dimensional and fluid. Some people are very photogenic and others are not. I am not that photogenic as my right eye is lower than my left and when I face the camera straight on this is obvious. This used to bother me until I noticed that many celebrities - Shannon Daugherty for one - have the same flaw and they still look great. From that point on whenever I disliked something about my face, hair or body shape I would search for a celebrity who had the same issue and they would become my Flaw Mentor. I encourage all of you to try this out. It is surprising how many gorgeous women have "flaws". Heidi Klum (née Samuel) admittedly has a lazy eye and I think that she is doing okay with her face.

Angie sent me an email about her perceived flaws:

Lo,

As you can see, my eyes are kind of different in that the bottom lid sort of
slants up whenever I smile, or do anything. It makes me look like I'm kind
of mean or glaring or something. Also, from certain sides, my face looks
really fat and my cheekbones big. Is there anyway to get rid of that or make
my face look smaller?

Angie,

You have high cheekbones, full lips and beautifully shaped eyes. These are all admirable physical traits that you need to embrace. Your face isn't fat -- it is round and your cheeks may be on the fuller side right now, but they will keep you looking youthful. I had huge cheeks in my twenties and then around my mid thirties, I finally had some cheekbones. You may not like looking younger now, but you will soon. Remember, photos flatten out your face, so please keep in mind that your face is more angular in person. Your eyes may turn up when you smile, but that isn't a bad thing. Take a look at Lucy Liu. Her eyes get much smaller and turned up when she smiles and you can see that her eyes don't exactly match. Regardless, she is stunning. She has also has high and broad cheekbones which enhance her overall beauty.

Angie, I want you to find your own Flaw Mentors and start working your beautiful face. When you appreciate your beauty others will as well - trust me. Nothing is more beautiful than a confident woman who is comfortable in her own skin. I would suggest the following to enhance your natural beauty:

Have your eyebrows shaped: Groomed brows will give you a more sophisticated look and enhance your eye shape.
Wear blush: Blush will add dimension to your face and give an overall boost to your skin
Wear eye liner on your top lash line: Eye liner will pull focus to your eyes and give you a more polished look. Choose a gel liner that won't smudge. See my 'favorite products' post for brand recommendations.

-Lo

Taking Your Husband's Name, Years Later

OWD — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:15:03 -0400

Supermodel and Project Runway Grand Dame Heidi Klum has just legally become Heidi Samuel, taking husband Seal's surname... 4 years after their marriage (or as we like to call it, their "first wedding").

The taking of the groom's surname continues to be a hot topic for modern brides, and we couldn't help but wonder how waiting to change names affects the debate. Is it unromantic, in a 'waiting to be sure' kind of way, or is it incredibly romantic in a 'reaffirming my devotion in a totally unexpected way' kind of way?

There isn't a standard rule of etiquette as to when to take your husband's name, because until recent generations there practically no discussion about whether individual brides wanted to take their spouses names.

What do you think? Will you be taking your husband's name? If so, will you take it right away? Do you think the taking of the grooms name is the "right thing to do," is is it more of a personal choice? How to hyphenated last names factor in?

The OurWeddingDay Blog

The Down Lo: "Flaw Mentors"

Taking Your Husband's Name, Years Later