Dear StyleList,

In a city where the weather changes as often as Lady Gaga's hairstyle, your beauty routine should be ready for anything. A Chicago girl's arsenal has to contain everything from waterproof mascara (spontaneous snow storm, anyone?) to the perfect frizz-fighting hair accessory.

I went over to the MAC store to chat to local MAC makeup artist Rommy Najor about what she's seeing in makeup trends. She says Chicagoans are veering towards girly touches and hints of glam. While maintaining their Midwestern sensibility, local ladies opt to keep it simple, like celebs Blake Lively, Nicole Richie, and Zoe Saldana.

Hair: Windy City girls are giving their blow dryers a break this season and turning to haute hippies like Nicole Richie for inspiration. It's all about embracing the hair's natural essence, keeping the length long and the texture tousled. To take the look from au natural to luxe, an uber-trendy braid is woven in, from the hairline to the side, stylized with a fishtail or a French.

Nails: Claws are out and short nails are in. Dark hues, like OPI Lincoln Park After Dark, are starting to gather dust as bright shades of blue, orange, and purple are grabbing the spotlight. Daring designs surface at the first sign of warmth, an undoubted homage to hometown girl, Kid Sister.

Lips: Pretty pouts are all the rage, in every hue from natural pink to bright apricot. While some girls are still glossing up, the most popular lip looks have come from a tube. Lipstick, the product associated most with grandmas everywhere, is making a serious comeback. For girls looking to make the switch to a stick, Najor recommends trying MAC's Twig, a matte, pinkish-brown shade that looks great on just about everyone.

Eyes: "The days of piling on shadow are gone," says Najor. Like everything else it's about no muss, no fuss. For everyday, ladies are wearing subtle shadows, two shades lighter than their skin tone, to delicately highlight the eye. At night, the focus has turned to the lash line, where drama can be turned up in minutes with a flirty cat eye or classic smoky eye. Girls looking to glam it up are quick to stick on a set of false lashes for a night on the town.

Here in Chicago, we may be prepared for any weather, but we're also serious about our style! Who says you can't be both glam and practical at the same time?

Love,
Monica

Beauty Letters showcases top trends happening right now in cities across the country. Visit Seed.com to find out how you can contribute.