Head to Toe Glam | Black Tie Affair

I absolutely love springtime in Arizona. Mainly for the warm weather, spring training and March Madness, but there is also a gala season that occurs here in the Valley during this time of year that is so much fun to be a part of. It seems that most nonprofit groups in the Valley have an annual event to raise fundraising and awareness for their cause. There are so many amazing causes that I’ve been able to learn about and support through these type of events. Aaron and I have been fortunate to attend as a guest of the employer we work for. Sometimes the invitation would come a few days before the event takes place. If you work full time and have other commitments like children, school, dinners with friends, meetings, etc., it’s hard to find the time to prepare for a black tie event on such short notice. In case this happens to you, don’t fret! You can easily prepare within 48-hours notice.

First things first! Book your beauty appointments. This time of year is super busy, so you might not be able to get the time that you’re looking for. Professional makeup artists and hairstylists are trained to provide makeup and hairstyles that will stay on for 12+ hours, so if you have to go earlier in the day that is okay! Opt for neutral makeup, with a nude or light lipcolor that you might have at home in order to re-apply. That way a red lip or dark lip doesn’t smear during the day and you don’t have to buy a new lip color unless you want to. As for hair, go for an easy updo. You won’t have to worry about your curls going flat and sometimes the messier it gets the better it looks – trust me! The Sparkle Bar and Gossamer Salon is my glam squad from this shoot and my go to for when I need to get glam ready. If they are booked, search for a makeup counter at the mall where you actually need to purchase makeup from. Typically when you get your makeup done, you are required to buy something. As for hair, you can always try a blow dry bar, but if you’re heart is set on an updo or on curls, make sure that they offer updos or styles with hot tools. Some blow dry bars only offer washes and blow drys. Don’t make the mistake I made and be left with flat hair an hour later!

Appointments are still booked?! Go on YouTube. Search for “easy hair tutorials” and find the one that looks within your experience level. Use the video as inspiration. It’s okay to not look exactly like the photo. No one is grading you, so feel free to change it up and make sure the end result is altered to your liking. Same thing with makeup. Don’t go too crazy! It’s fun to dress up, but you don’t need to put pressure on yourself for the perfect cateye if you’ve never actually put on eyeliner before. Pick up a pair of fake eyelashes from the drugstore and eyelash glue and use that to add some va-va-voom to your look. Since you’re doing your own makeup, use your red lipstick and make the focus be on your bold lips and long lashes. You’ll look like you had your makeup done with those two items!

I haven’t even mentioned the dress yet…. Finding a gown within 48 hours can be tricky, but feel out your friends first before hitting the mall. Some people have a floor length gown just sitting in their closet that they wore once to that one wedding two years ago and feel guilty about not wearing it since. You might be doing their conscience a favor by borrowing it. A little secret, the dress I’m wearing here I purchased on sale from Nordstrom in early November 2012. I was planning ahead for a black tie wedding in April 2013 and decided that if the dress really didn’t work that I could always return it couple months and try my search again. A week later my boyfriend at the time proposed, so I called Nordstrom and ordered two more of these dresses in another size. I have a thing for cobalt blue, BCBG and for saving money. This dress was such a great sale and I knew my maids of honor (I had three) would look stunning in this dress. Plus, one of my girls wore the same size as me, so instead of making her buy another bridesmaid dress, I decided that she could wear my dress after I wore it to my friends wedding in April. No shame in recycling dresses here! By the time our wedding rolled around in January 2014, the styling for the maid of honor look was completely different from what I wore that no one ever noticed. This dress is so classic and easy that I still pull it out and pair it with a different pair of heels, jewelry, hair and makeup and it’s like a new dress. If you have the opportunity to plan ahead, look for the sales around fall/winter and the holidays, there are typically some great floor length gowns on clearance around then. If you don’t want a long gown in your wardrobe arsenal because hey when will you really wear it, try out renttherunway.com. That way you can rent your dress for slightly cheaper, wear something that is trendy now and not have to worry about letting it collect dust in your closet.

All of these tips can be repurposed for black tie weddings this spring too! Comment below with your spring plans that you’re getting dressed up for… what is it for, where are you going and what are you thinking about wearing? If you need any help styling your head to toe look, please head to TFK Styling Services here.

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Other Details…

Kate Nelle Photography | Website | Instagram

Make-up by Leiah at The Sparkle Bar | New customers, get $20 off your service by clicking here! | @thesparklebar @leiahscheibel

Hair: Gossamer Salon | Use my name or The Foxy Kat blog as a referral and receive 20% off all services during your first visit! | @gossamersalon @l.a.dub

Be you, bravely.

The Foxy Kat