Recently we had the opportunity to spend the day with Hollywood Makeup Artist “Artemis.” She is a fabulous Hair/Makeup Artist and has made quite a name for herself in the plus-size community. This past season our team had the pleasure to work with Artemis on our Spring/Summer Collections photo shoot. She made myself as well as plus-size models Denise Bidot and Shameyka Thompson look incredible and mixed it up for every look. She was extremely helpful on the shoot and showed off some amazing skills so I decided to bring her in for a little interview so that our readers could get to know a little about her.

Our readers want to know about you….tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started as a Makeup Artist?

While in college, I was a theater major. One summer, we put on Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible. I played Harriet Putman in Act I & Sarah Goode in Act IV. The cast needed a makeup artist to transform a bunch of kids into a variety of characters, and I volunteered to learn. So, I taught myself a bit of age makeup and thus fell in love with the art of makeup. When I graduated, I had desired to go to makeup school, and unfortunately, did not follow my heart, and ended up as a teacher for a couple of years. After 9/11, when I lost my teaching position due to NYC’s budget cuts, I suddenly found myself unemployed. I bumped into a woman who introduced me to Mary Kay Cosmetics, and soon my reintroduction to the world of beauty began. I fell in love with makeup and skin care all over again. I credit my experience with this company with giving me the guts to realize my dreams and my true God-given potentials. Because of this, I now live my dream as a makeup and hair artist here in Hollywood.

You are known as one of the top MUA in the Plus Industry and also for your incredible Beauty editorials in Plus Model Magazine. Tell us how you made your way into the Plus Industry and was there any one particular shoot or gig that paved that way for you?

Firstly, I had always admired and desired to be a Plus Size model. But, as I am barely 5’2, I am definitely not the industry standard. The first Plus model to test with me was Mica Habarad. Soon, I was being contacted by various Plus models and photographers to hire me for shoots. I was on a shoot for PLUS when Maddy asked me about being a Beauty Editor for the magazine. Since I have a creative writing background, I was very eager to marry two things that I truly love, writing and beauty.

I have had the pleasure to work with you on numerous projects and you are always on top of the trends and are always so pleasant to work with . How do you stay on top of the trends and so positive in such a competitive industry?

I stay on top of trends by following a variety of magazines and fashion shows simply being in the know. It is my job to be in the know.

I stay positive in this competitive industry because I truly believe that my work speaks for itself.

Do you have a favorite look or style/era that you absolutely love creating?

I have many looks that I love to create and recreate. I have always been a fan of the elegant 1940’s and the fabulous 1950’s. I love creating artistic looks and have become well known for the fantasy images that I help create. I also truly love creating the no makeup look, allowing the face to look fresh and to glow.

It never fails that before a very important audition or shoot I get a huge pimple. What do you suggest for those unexpected/unwelcome breakouts?

I usually suggest a salicylic acid or a sulfur based acne product applied directly to the blemish. Also applying a little of Visine to it will also cut down the redness, as it would for your eyes. Do not pick at it because it will scab. It is challenging to cover up a scab or a bleeding blemish.

Here is how to cover it after you have applied your acne medication:

Apply foundation as usual. Using a pointy concealer brush, dab concealer directly to the blemish. Powder face as usual. With a Q-tip apply a very tiny amount of oil free moisturizer (solely to moisten the bump). Then with the other side of the Q-tip, apply some powder to it. With your concealer brush, paint over this with concealer, alternating with the brush and tapping your fingertip around the edges to blend it in to your face. Finish with loose powder on the area. Doing this, will last most of the day, but I do suggest keeping your tools with you, in case you need a small touch up!

What are your absolute favorite products for the following, and why:

Hair- No Frizz Living Proof. I use this product to enhance my natural curl with minimal frizz.

Nails- OPI Nail Color in I’m Not Really A Waitress. This is my absolute all time favorite red nail polish.

Skin- Mary Kay TimeWise Age-Fighting Moisturizer. It has retinyl palmitate in it which is a vitamin A derivative. I have been using it for years and love how my skin looks and feels as a result. Anyone I recommend it to is also happy with it!

Eyes- Max Factor 2000 Calorie Xtreme Waterproof Mascara. I often have allergies and this mascara stays in place when my eyes tear up.

Eyebrows- Tweezerman tweezers. Ergonomically designed to easily pull stray hairs without cramping your fingers when you hold it! I have a pair in pink! Tweezerman gives a lifetime guarantee and will sharpen them for free.

Lips- Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose. Gives me moisture and a beautiful red stain to my lips.

What advice would you give to any aspiring makeup artists who are looking to build a solid career in the industry?

Start shooting right away. You need photos of your work in order to get more work. Become an expert in your craft and always strive to be better and better and never stop dreaming of who & what you can become.

Do you have any “Words of Wisdom” for our readers?

I have some words of beauty wisdom. There are only a couple of rules that I believe one should follow when she is applying her makeup.

1. Foundation must match your skin-tone exactly! You do not want to look as if you are wearing a mask. Your skin should always look like your skin, just a bit better.
2. Start with a little so that you can add and always be in control. Logically, it is easier to add on product rather than to wipe it down and start all over
3. Blend! Blend! Blend! And did I say BLEND! Your makeup will look more flawless if it is all blended to perfection.  Blending creates a beautiful soft focus effect.
4. Creating color harmony is necessary to beauty. Do not match your eye shadows to what you are wearing (this is very dated). Instead, your lips, cheeks, and fabric closest to your face will look best if everything is either cool or warm.

Lastly, my list of random questions for our readers to REALLY get to know you….

Who inspires you? God. My marriage. Life in general inspires me.

What is your favorite scent? Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb

What is your favorite color? I have many – generally all of the colors of the rainbow!

If you weren’t doing makeup what would you be doing? Writing poetry and painting while living in a house on the beach.

Who is your favorite Plus Size Model? besides me LOL – Kate Dillon has been my favorite since I remember seeing her in MODE.

If you were stranded on a dessert island what 1 thing would you want to have with you? Lip balm

What would you eat for your last meal? An authentic Greek gyro from Trikala, Greece (my husbands home town where they make them very special)

Favorite book or favorite read? Like Water for Chocolate

Favorite song or band? Annet Artani’s “Alive”

Special thanks to Artemis for spending the day with all of us here at Swak Designs. We absolutely loved having here and enjoyed learning so many new things about the Beauty World. If you haven’t ever had the pleasure to meet or work with Artemis please feel free to check out her work on her website www.makeupbyartemis.com, introduce yourself and show her some love.

I don’t know about you but I live in denim. My wardrobe consists of denim jackets, vests (yes vests), shorts, Bermudas, crops, and jeans of every fit imaginable. Denim is an essential in the basic, laid-back California wardrobe and I love it. My favorite outfit for Fall would have to be a great pair of plus size dark denim, clean skinny jeans paired with a classic blouse, cardigan, and finished off with an awesome pair of high heel boots. Ask anyone who knows me and this is what you will find me in on any given day.

This season denim plays a huge roll in plus size fashion and comes in some great new cuts and styles that I know you will love. Here is a list of some of the top trends in denim for Fall 2009. Enjoy!

Wide-leg, Trouser style Denim- The Trouser style jeans are generally high-waisted and snug in the hips. These look incredible on pear shaped women and are great for work. When shopping for this style look for classic washes, simple detail, with a shoe-skimming hem.

Skinny Jean- The dark wash skinny jean is the perfect jean to go from a day-to-night look. Just throw on a jacket and change up your accessories and you are ready to go from work to an evening out with the girls. These simple, elegant, legging-like jeans are an absolute essential for Fall. When shopping for the perfect skinny jean this season, look for a style that fits well at the waist-line and does not give you a muffin top. Perhaps find a style with stretch that will work with your curves. You want the legs to fit tightly and bunch a bit at the ankles. This is how a skinny jean should look and feel.

If you are looking for a style of skinny jeans with a little high fashion detail, look for styles that have a motocross/biker feel. These styles have quilted or funky stitched knees and details that give off a high-fashion, seductive street vibe.

Shredded, Destroyed Jeans- A bit of a rebellious style these jeans come in a variety of frayed styles to all-out destroyed. This look is mostly for a daytime look and looks great in a variety of washes. The most figure flattering silhouette for this style is a slim cut, with fraying down the legs or pockets, and ankle-length paired with simple flats. Avoid styles that are baggy or too long. We don’t want to look like a hobo, but rather cool and chic. If you have found a great pair of shredded plus-size jeans, please let me know….I am searching!

Studded Jeans-These embellished, punky style jeans are a bit rough, funky, and glamourous all at the same time. With this look any style jean goes. So you can have studded skinny jeans, boyfriend, or bootcut. Be sure to find styles with large, hefty studs that focus on the waistband, along the pockets, or down the leg.

These are just a few of the “whats hot” styles for Fall. You are sure to have a fabulous Fall wardrobe with a few of these key denim pieces.

So it’s back to school time, which for most of us Moms that means back to reality. I don’t know about you, but this summer has been quite an adventure for my family and I. Vacationing was very limited for us this year due to the state of our economy and it’s effect on our pocket book. It made vacation planning pretty tough and I spent alot of time searching for the best deals everywhere we wanted to go. Fortunately, even with a super tight budget we were able to enjoy some really great places this summer like New York, Miami, San Diego, as well as numerous days spent at good ol’ Zuma Beach. Oh how nice were the days of relaxing on the beach and reading all the latest gossip magazines. Now that back to school is here it’s time to get not only the kids, but yourself focused on the new school year ahead and off of the vacation schedule. Here are some helpful tips to make this the smoothest transition possible.

#1. Check before “Back-to-School” shopping: August is known for being the second largest sales month for retailers everywhere and most retailers begin their back to school sales in July. So needless-to-say it’s smart to shop during that time, but are you truly ready then? A little word of advice I live by:

“An informed shopper is a savvy shopper”

so always be prepared before you shop.

-Start by assessing each child’s back-to-school clothing needs.

-Empty drawers and closets of outgrown or worn-out clothing, and either store or donate the discards.

-Clean and organize clothing storage before adding any new garments.

-Create a “back-to-school wardrobe needs” list for each child.

-Discuss the “needs list” and your budget with your children before you shop and you will avoid any in-the-store tantrums that may occur.

The same goes for back-to-school supplies. Be sure to ask the school for a classroom supply list before shopping for school supplies. Again with the back-to-school sales beginning in mid-July, last minute shoppers may have a tough time locating needed supplies for their children so shop early.

#2. Create a Calendar Board: The school year is filled with a large variety of activities and it’s easy to become overwhelmed if all of these activities are not listed in one central location for the entire family to review.Nothing will calm the school year chaos down more than creating a calendar board. This board should be for all family calendars, schedules, after-school activity flyer’s, school programs, and whatever else you feel pertains. Buy just a basic cork board, add a pre-printed white board calendar to it, place in a central location in the house and you are on your way. This is the biggest step in creating organized family time management and a stress-free school year. Remember form is less important than function so choose a calendar format that works best for your family.

#3. Ease into the “Back to School” schedule: During the summer vacation we all tend to fall off of our typical school year schedule. We tend to stay up late and wake up even later. To help everyone in the family start off the school year with a bang, 2 weeks prior to the first day of school start going to bed at the time you would on a “typical” school night and wake up each morning as if you were waking up for school. This will help get the entire family back on routine so that first day isn’t so stressful and the kids are well rested for their first day back.

The new school year definitely quickens the tempo of family life so I hope that some of these tips will help bring a new focus and pleasant harmony to your home. Keep in mind the less stress you have the better health and happiness for all.

Happy Back-to-School!

What do we see when we look in the mirror? Do we see someone else’s idea of what we should look like or do we see our true selves? I often wonder why Snow White’s stepmother didn’t see the true image looking back at her. That made me think about how I had missed my own true image in my reflection for a long time growing up. Everyday I would fight a war with the mirror and I didn’t like the person looking back at me. I was my own worst enemy and I simply didn’t see the truth that beautiful women come in all shapes and sizes.

For myself, I now truly see a beautiful, tall, confident, full-figured woman. But despite my confidence and hard won self esteem, I still have to be careful what I listen to out there, among a society that seems to believe we should all be a size 2, tan, and ageless. So the one thing I try to accomplish in every article I write is to affirm, over and over, that we are ALL beautiful.

Some of my favorite commercials were those put out by the Gap a few years ago where some amazing looking, but very “un-traditional” people, proclaimed their own beauty. I would sit and look at those images on the screen and know that ALL of us struggle to find personal worth, and all of us struggle with body image.

We have to remember that some of the most slender people in society worry 24-7 if they are thin enough – and they grace endless magazine covers everywhere we look. So worrying about weight and size is in no way limited to my fellow full-figured fans and fav’s. I think that CLAIMING my right to be recognized as gorgeous is MY job, and it only goes wrong when I expect others to fill that role.

So what can I do to make sure that I’m taking care of my “truth with self” (which is the literal meaning of confidence)? First of all, I sit for just a minute or two, before I rush out the door, and remember that owning my beauty empowers OTHERS to do the same. Sadly, the opposite is also true. If I create conversations where I put myself down all day, I leave that seed everywhere I go. So loving myself is really a service to everybody I meet all day long (and it feels great, too).

Second, I spend the extra few minutes a day to look great. As recently as ten years ago, plus size women simply weren’t invited to the “fashion party.” They couldn’t participate in great fashion trends like everyone else, and they did not have more than one or two retailers to shop at. There was even a very exclusive chain of stores for plus size women called, “The Forgotten Woman.” Well, good-bye “forgotten woman,” because designers and retailers everywhere finally woke up! We aren’t forgotten any more. From plus size camisoles to plus size evening wear, the selection is exactly what it should be — abundant.

We can fill our wardrobes with stylish plus size choices for every day and every occasion. We can update those styles for each season, and we can claim our right to turn heads when we walk in a room or down the street. Along with my insecurities, I have tossed out my need to hide my body. I have a beautiful, curvaceous, plus size body, and I’m showing it off in a variety of plus size fashions every chance I get. I have a closet full of great plus size evening wear, and a drawer full of sexy plus size lingerie to go with it to make me feel beautiful and sexy from head to toe.

Why is this important? Because on top of everything else, this is my one life – and being distracted by low self-esteem or a lack of confidence is exhausting. On the other hand, being filled with a right-sized dose of knowledge that I am beautiful and one-of-a-kind is invigorating!

So today, I invite all of you to put on something comfortable and lovely and walk out of your door feeling beautiful and confident. Life is short so own it and love it.

Danielle Line, Plus Size Model & Guest Writer for www.swakdesigns.com

Don’t ask me how I missed this one but recently Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman has been hailed as “hugely brave” after calling out leading designers who force fashion magazines to have to use “size zero” models. She said that the clothes created by designers for the catwalk which were then sent to magazines as samples for photo shoots had become “substantially smaller” and “minuscule” and that Vogue now had to “retouch” photographs “to make the models appear larger” and by larger I’m guessing she means more healthy looking. How crazy is that? I’m calling her “my hero” because finally someone actually working for an extremely well known fashion magazine is speaking up and we are not just hearing it from the public.

In a letter sent to some main fashion houses including Prada, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel, Shulman wrote: “We have now reached a point where many of the sample sizes don’t comfortably fit even the established star models. Instead, we have had to use girls with jutting bones and no breasts or hips, to fit them.” She added: “I am finding that the feedback from my readers and the general feeling in the UK is that people don’t really want to see such thin girls.”

Eleni Renton, a leading model agent who has pioneered the use of healthy-looking girls, said: “It is about time that somebody stood up to the designers, and it is hugely brave of Alexandra to come out and say there is a problem. “I have had girls turn up to shoots and not be able to fit into the samples and these are model-size, slim women. It has become ridiculous and for too long, designers have been getting away with making clothes that are simply not designed for normal women.”

Hilary Alexander, the Telegraph’s fashion director, said: “I totally support Alex and addressing this issue is long overdue. Her call now needs to be backed by all the other glossy magazine editors, who must join the chorus if they want to see a change within the fashion industry. One lone voice will not be enough.”

Emma Healey of Beat, the charity that supports people affected by eating disorders, said: “This is very welcome. The whole controversy over size zero models has been a wake up call. It is very encouraging to see Vogue taking a stance like this.” Telegraph.co.uk, 2009

This is all hard to take in considering I just recently participated in the first ever Full Figured Fashion Week in NYC where the women were encouraged to flaunt their curves on the catwalk and the average model was a size 16/18. The fact is that in America alone, there are 40 million women over size 14, spending $25 billion a year on clothing, or a quarter of all clothing sales, according to American Demographics. So why is one of the top selling fashion magazines like Vogue still featuring clothing on models that are a size zero? I’d love someone to answer that for me.

Another interesting fact is that many plus size clothing stores and websites still use models that are considered “straight size” rather than using “plus size” models. I searched the web and retailers such as J.Jill, Jessica London, Roamans, OneStopPlus, and Silhouettes fall into this category while offering plus size clothing starting at size 14W up to a 34W. How can a retailer offer plus size clothing to its customers effectively and not show it on a plus size woman is beyond me. Are they falling into the same situation as Vogue, where like the magazine, the retailers are receiving smaller samples from their manufacturers so therefore they are having to use smaller models? I know for a fact that this is not true since I have done fit modeling for numerous plus size manufacturers and retailers in my career and the average plus size fit model is a size 18. Needless-to-say the samples are made in a size 18, so this cannot be possible.

Hello world? Can we get this right? It seems simple enough to me that as a retailer you should show your merchandise on “real size” models that are the same size as the women you are targeting. So to retailers such as J.Jill, Jessica London, Roamans, OneStopPlus, and Silhouettes, my name is Danielle Line and I am a plus size model that is a “real size” 14/16. Feel free to get in touch with me or my agent if you are interested in using a “real size” model to work for you. Until then, I will spend my money with the retailers that do use “real size” models like me such as Lane Bryant, Torrid, Ashley Stewart, IGIGI, Hips & Curves, Kiyonna, Junonia, and SWAK Designs. For these stores, keep doing what you’re doing because you are definitely doing it right in the plus size community. As for Vogue, let’s hope we see some changes in the near future. I’m keeping my eyes open.

Danielle Line, Plus Size Model and Guest Writer for www.swakdesigns.com

It’s finally here, a full figured fashion week coming June 25-27, 2009 to New York City. I can’t believe it’s really happening! I have long waited for any type of plus size fashion week to occur and showcase fashionable clothing that can fit MY curves on the runway. It is like a dream come true! I don’t know how they did it, but it is really happening and the team at Sealed with a Kiss Designs would not dream to miss a second of it and is going to be part of it.

Fact: In America alone, there are 40 million women over size 14, spending $25 billion a year on clothing, or a quarter of all clothing sales, according to American Demographics. So, why isn’t there a Fashion Week dedicated to full figured women’s fashions? Who knows, but now thanks to DeVoe Signature Events (DSE), an events management company with an extensive background in the production of plus size fashion related events, plus model training and management there will be.

If you visit www.fullfigurefashionweek.com it states that a partnership of independent fashion designers, retailers, event producers, models and plus industry businesses, Full Figured Fashion Week was created to increase economic development in the area of plus size fashion design, clothing merchandising, and plus modeling. Their goal is to highlight the very best in plus size fashions – both retail and independent designers, while providing an inaugural showcase of talented designers, models, stylists and plus industry businesses that serve the plus size consumer.

It is estimated that the Full Figure Fashion week held (June 25-27, 2009) will debut before an audience of over 1500+ plus size fashion enthusiasts, style mavens, models, boutiques, vendors, and the media. The finale showcase, which will take place on Saturday, June 27th, will feature the runway collections of high-end plus size fashion boutiques, retail stores, and independent designers.

This event is going to be amazing and I pity any plus size diva that is not going to be part of it. This is history in the making and we need to come together and support the plus size community. If you are attending the event please be sure to check out our new Plus Size Summer Collection in the finale showcase modeled by the face of Sealed with a Kiss Designs, Plus Model Danielle Line. We hope to see you there!

Special thanks to everyone involved especially De Voe Signature Events for bringing such an amazing event to NYC. For further information and a schedule of events please visit www.fullfigurefashionweek.com

Stacy Montgomery, VP Sealed with a Kiss Designs, trendy plus size clothing maven www.swakdesigns.com