Dirty Dozen J’ouvert – Jericho 2015. Image via DDJ
By this time, Carnival in Trinidad & Tobago is in full on beast mode!
This was a very short season, as Carnival came very early this year, so everything was jammed together. There is a whole host of stuff happening between now and Tuesday evening, including Canbouley, Dimarche Gras, Soca Brainwash etc etc….yuh know de ting!
Anyway, shout out your band below! Who are do you want to win the Panorama finals on Saturday? Who are you playing J’ouvert with?
Check out my latest Carnival LOTD and I would love to see your interpretations.
This Carnival season in Trinidad & Tobago has been a very short one. From the day after Christmas to the Carnival Monday is about 6 weeks! So all the fetes and other cultural events jam up next to each other. Talk about hectic! So this is my Carnival makeup look for 2016.
Usually I take inspiration from a pretty mas costume from one of the bigger mas bands, but this time, I just kinda played it by ear and this is what I came up with!
Carnival 2016
Black and smokey gray rhinestones
Multi coloured and sized rhinestones
I wanted the sequins and rhinestones to be the centre of attention without too much makeup anywhere else. Also I incorporated some strategic highlighting of the skin, minimal foundation and a couple of lip options. There is usually so much going on with your costume – the head piece, beads, feathers etc. that I wanted the look to be super pretty.
Before starting, especially for Carnival, make sure to moisturise and add a really good SPF. The sun is usually blazing and wearing sequins will give you a funky tan if you do not protect your skin. Apply the SPF just before applying your foundation. A foundation that is water-resistant and contains SPF will also help. Finally make reapply sunscreen every couple of hours. This is why I suggest wearing minimal foundation.
This is my first “Whey de lime” Friday for 2015!! Can you believe that we are already in February, and already previewing Fall/Winter 2015 clothing? It’s NYFW again and it’s the last time that it will be held at Lincoln Centre.
Children dressed up as traditional Moko Jumbies!
Also this is a huge weekend in Trinidad & Tobago and Brasil! It’s the final stretch to Carnival!! I can’t wait to see who is going to win Band of the Year and King and Queen of the Bands! I am excited for all the colour!!
Today is Carnival Monday in Trinidad & Tobago!! It’s also Carnaval in Brazil!
In honour, check out this recently released nail polish collection by OPI, Brazil by OPI!
From PR:
Brazil by OPI brings the colors of tropical rainforests and warm sandy beaches to nails and toes forSpring/Summer 2014. This new collection features a palette ranging from bright hues of red, pink, coral, orange and yellow to earthy tones of taupe, sienna, mocha and jungle green. In addition to 12 nail lacquers, the Brazil launch includes a set of four limited edition Beach Sandies Liquid Sand™ mini neon nail lacquers in bold purple, pink, turquoise and yellow shades with a textured, matte finish.
“With sun-soaked shores, tropical fruits, and lush flora/fauna, Brazil is such an inspiring locale,” exclaims Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Co-Founder & Executive VP. “I wanted women around the world to embrace the energy and playfulness for which Brazilian women are known. Through the Brazil collection, with shades drenched in color and charged with shine, women can express themselves, showing off their sexy, mysterious, fun and exciting natures.
“On spring runways, models were seen wearing lots of black and white, with bold accents of orange and yellow and muted elements of taupe and clay,” continues Weiss-Fischmann. “Brazil by OPI provides vivid hues to add a pop of color to a neutral-toned wardrobe, as well as earthy tones that easily transition from day to night.”
Brazil by OPI is available now for USD$9 each and available at opi.com and at professional salons, Ulta and other retail outlets.
Yes man! We in de thick of things for Carnival!! Just a couple of weeks away and there is plenty to do! This week alone, there was Panorama Semi-Finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah (Steelband competition), and the finals of the National Stick Fighting Competition (bois! allyuh ban’ yuh belly!), the National Junior Calypso Monarch Finals. And there’s plenty, plenty bacchanal to come, like Canbouley Riots Re-enactment at the Piccadilly Greens, National Extempo Finals, Soca Monarch Finals, Kiddies Carnival, King and Queen of the Bands, Dimanche Gras, J’ouvert (shout out to Dirty Dozen J’ouvert!) and of course de Parade of the Bands!
If you ever have the chance to visit Trinidad and Tobago during the Carnival season, you should go to at least one Carnival fete. Nowadays, these are all-inclusive events that with your admission ticket, there is unlimited access to various cuisines, drinks fuh so and performances by many of the most popular calypso/soca artistes. Is just ah massive party! Food and music, what more could you ask for? In the last 2 weeks before Carnival, many of the big names hold their fetes including Army Fete, Brian Lara All-Inclusive, Neon Fete, Canyaval Anya The Fete (hosted by Project Runway’s Anya Ayoung-Chee), Insomnia, and Soca Brainwash Fete. And chances are you will be going to multiple fetes in one night, or you will start your fetin’ before dawn!
I decided to create a relatively simple makeup look that will give you a bold effect that will take you from fete to fete to fete!
Here’s the look!
Carnival fete LOTD
A bright double winged liner! This is look that you can have fun with and pick any colour that you like. I chose a brilliant, intense blue colour, but this will work with purples, yellows, greens, oranges. I also used a matte shade, but shimmers and metallics would be fine as well. This look with get you noticed! This can be achieved using eye pencils, cream liners, eye shadows, pigments, just use whatever you have and use your imagination! NYX Jumbo pencils are sold in Long Circular Mall and they come in a ton of colours. And NARS has a stunning turquoise liner, Eye Paint in Solomon Islands.
