Beauty Trends: Gorgeous Greetings from Washington D.C.

by Celena Gill (Subscribe to Celena Gill's posts)
Posted Aug 6th 2010 at 7:00AM

AOL Photo Illustration

Dear StyleList,

On a stroll through the streets of metropolitan Washington DC, you would witness a mosaic of fashion styles: The smartly suited K Street execs, the conservative Capitol Hill crowd, the U Street urban fashionistas, and the trendy college set. We may be all over the political map but we have at least one thing in common: We're serious about fashion.

The "bedhead" look rolls out at fall Fashion Week. Photos: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Hair: The summer look wouldn't be summery without the standard bronzy or blond highlights and lowlights. The newest and most surprising trend this season is the "bedhead," where the goal is to look like you weren't even trying to do your hair. (No surprise that this is found mostly on the younger set!) For those who prefer a more polished look, the Brazilian blowout has become a hot choice, according to Ashleigh Taylor, a stylist at the Corte Salon. This keratin-based treatment smoothes the hair and leaves it silky straight for about two months. "No chemical treatments needed and my clients can blow dry their hair super straight at home by themselves," Taylor said. "They love it!"

Lips: Though bright pink and bold are still deemed appropriate kissable couture, the biggest trend for lips this summer is barely-there. Whether they're nude lips, shimmery lips, or extra glossy, less is more.

Eyes: The sun-kissed look is always a summer staple, with a bronze glow matched by a smoky bronzed eye. For extra flair, ladies are adding a glittery glow to rim the eyes. Of course, the natural barefaced look is still quite popular - especially in these record-setting 100-degree days, when your "makeup face" can turn into a "makeup meltdown."

Katy Perry's patterned Minx nails. Photo: Jason Merritt, Getty Images.

Nails: Everywhere you look are press-on nails with a funky flair. "My business is booming lately," said Natasha Ray, certified Minxologist. "New and existing clients love the way that Minx looks on their hands, the low maintenance, and the funky colors and patterns." Some women have even taken to wearing Minx toenails. "They're a conversation starter and definitely attention grabbers," Ray said.

DC's main dish may be politics - but there is always a side of fashion. Capitol style seldom disappoints and always surprises.

Love,
Celena

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

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Filed under: Beauty, Hair, Makeup
Tags: beauty, beauty trends, beauty trends usa, BeautyTrends, BeautyTrendsUsa, bedhead, brazilian blowout, BrazilianBlowout, DC, fashion, glittery eyes, GlitteryEyes, makeup, minx nails, MinxNails, nude lips, NudeLips, trends, Washington, washington dc, WashingtonDc

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READER COMMENTS

(9)Add A Comment

ihitemup000, 8-08-2010, 10:19PM

Everyone looks good in DC.

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DL, 8-08-2010, 10:46PM

Oh good god.. What part of DC have you been hanging out in... The style and fashion is ALWAYS a good 5 years behind, LA, NYC, Miami..

DC rates number two as the most unattractive people in a concentrated area, and women's number one store is Ann Taylor for god's sakes..

I think Celena is delusional

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Yon, 8-08-2010, 10:49PM

Bedhead for the harried or lazy. Deodorants for the unwashed and smelly. Ethics for the politicians. Promises for the suck...er... voters. Counting pennies for the people.

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NYCNikki, 8-09-2010, 12:25AM

Is this writer serious? Has she ever even BEEN to DC?

This is the WORST place for fashion. I lived there for 6 years and never once saw anything remotely fashionable about that place.

The women love to buy expensive clothes for the label, but do they have taste? Absolutely not.

You could take all the expensive stores out and they'd be happy with Marshall's there.

Women there love the Crocs. Enough said. Ick.

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Shannon, 8-09-2010, 8:37AM

Hi Nikki,
I live in DC and I hate crocs! The most "designer" thing I own is one Coach bag that was a gift. Now I admit, things are more conservative in DC because it is a political city so it is mainly suits Monday through Friday. This series isn't about "the most stylish towns", it is about what is popular in a city right now whether that city is DC or Podunk, Iowa. Also, I have been to New York about 20 times now and haven't been impressed with the way people dress there either, every outfit looks the same and is pretty boring.

Ps: Usually only the tourists to DC are the ones wearing crocs. I guess they want to be comfortable when they walk around to all the monuments and museums all day long.

Nicholas, 8-09-2010, 12:34AM

I've been to DC, didn't enjoy it too much. A lot of beautiful woman, but somehow I always felt under-dressed even in my best clothes. It is a very segregated city, on the way home back to Wisconsin we were perhaps 10 minutes out of the main area of the city, and had 5 people asking us for cash. I do not really want to go back. I will visit California before I ever visit that cursed political city again.

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William Bischoff, 8-09-2010, 1:28AM

I can't imagine why anyone would think "bed head" hair is attractive, unless the girl is trying to "attract" someone else to share her bed by indicating that she doesn't even take the time to "brush" between visitors. Unkempt tends to make one think of "unclean", and that is far from "attractive".

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Cathryn, 8-09-2010, 1:51AM

Bracewinslow said: "...After all, the vast majority of jobs in Washington are occupied with lazy ass blacks."

Bracewinslow, please preface future comments with "Hi, I'm a bigot, and I'm surprised ...."

By the way, have you ever considered permanently moving back to your country of origin? If you haven't noticed, some of us are trying to move into a more enlightened, embracing and accepting era called the 21st century. You won't be happy here in the "new" America.

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NYCNikki, 8-09-2010, 11:33AM

Hi Shannon,

I lived in both Dupont Circle in Kalorama and also in Alexandria in Old Town. I drove a BMW and owned every pair of 7's and Citizens there were. I now live in Manhattan and rarely put those things on. No one else here does either.

The best part of living in NYC is that everyone is free to be who they want to be. The trendy thing about NYC is that EVERYTHING is trendy. Being yourself is trendy.

In DC, trendy is trying to emulate what everyone else in the world says is popular. Not having your own style, not being comfortable with yourself, but making sure the ugly jeans you're wearing cost more than the ones the girl you see in the mall does. It's really about how much you spend in DC, which has absolutely nothing to do with taste. It was freeing to get out of that place after 6 VERY long years.

I say if you really want to see taste do NOT go to Washington, D.C. I'm shocked at this article. Anyone who knows anything about that place knows DC is not the place to go for fashion. Most of all, the people who live there!

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