6/11: Hair Raising Experiences

Whether it’s curly, straight, long, or short, a majority of Americans are consistent with their hair styles.  56% of U.S. residents say they have had their current hairdo for at least two years.  This includes 29% who have worn their hair the same way for more then ten years.  On the flip side, 24% have changed their style within the past six months, and another 20% have altered their look within the past year.

Women and those under 45 years old have had a more recent urge to have fun with their hair.  31% of women compared with 16% of men have changed their style within the past six months.  And, in fact, the proportion of men who have had the same haircut for more than ten years is more than double that of women.

Not surprisingly, the younger crowd is less set in their ways.  One third of Americans younger than 45 years old has changed their hair during the past six months compared with 16% of those 45 and above.  On the flip side, 38% of residents 45 or older say they have had the same hairstyle for more than ten years.  Just 17% of their younger counterparts report the same.

Table: Current Hair Style

Marist Poll Methodology

6/5: It’s All in the Makeup Bag?

Is less really more when it comes to wearing makeup?  At first glance, yes.  When asked how often they wear makeup, 56% of Americans report they never put it on!  14% say they pull out their makeup cases for special occasions while 11% put a little war paint on when they go out for work or with friends.  10% say it’s whenever they leave the house, and just 9% say they always apply it.

Are those results surprising?  To really understand those numbers, one needs to take a closer look at just who’s pulling out their lipstick and mascara.  Men tip the scales in the opposite direction with very few men wearing makeup.  Just 2% say they put on makeup for special occasions.  97%, on the other hand, say they never wear it.

Women are the total opposite.  81% of the fairer sex says they wear makeup at least some of the time.  This includes 18% who always apply it, and 19% who won’t leave home without it.  The same proportion — 19% — break out their makeup cases when going to work or out with friends while 26% wear makeup for special occasions.  Just 19% of women never apply cosmetics.

Table: Wear Makeup

Marist Poll Methodology

Related Stories:

6/5: Makeup for Summer

Additional Resources:

Makeup Alley

Makeup 411

Makeup Tip

6/5: Makeup for Summer

What are the hottest makeup trends for summer, and how can you incorporate them into your every day look?  Celebrity Makeup Artist Vincenza Carovillano offers her tips in an interview with The Marist Poll’s Mary Azzoli.  Read the transcript below.

Mary
So, Vincenza, let’s just get right down to it.  The Marist Poll recently asked Americans how often they wear make-up, and 56% of the entire population, both men and women, say they never wear make-up; but when we look at just women, only 19% say they never wear make-up.  Does this surprise you?

Listen to the Interview, Part 1

Vincenza
Wait, only 19% never wear make-up?

Mary
19% of women say they never wear make-up.  So, does that surprise you?

Vincenza
No.

Mary
Why not?

Vincenza
Because… So, that would mean… Because, I think most women feel good wearing make-up and even though people think… Even natural because even to look natural, you have to wear make-up, and it makes us feel good. You put your best face forward, so make-up is powerful and makes you feel positive and when you look good, you feel good.

Mary
Great.  So, when it comes to beauty and fashion, we always talk about seasonal trends.  So, what are some of the upcoming make-up trends for the summer?

Vincenza
Well, the hottest make-up trends now, I like to call it, “The Tropical Getaway,” because when I go to the stores and I research it, it’s like fantasy make-up.  So, we want fantasy, honestly, with everything – - the stress of recession and everything that’s going on in life.  It’s affecting everyone.  So, in beauty, the colors are very much tropical, like bright aquas.  It’s bolder, brighter colors, because they just make you feel better, a lot of glimmer, sparkle, dewy.  So, if you add that into your make-up, it’s a good, easy way to just make yourself feel better by putting color into the make-up.

Mary
You know, you did bring up the recession, and you said that is reflected a little bit in terms of the color.  So, how else are we seeing the make-up industry or make-up trends impacted, if in any way, by the current economic situation?

Vincenza
Well, definitely, I mean retail stores are definitely not doing as well as they were.  I can see that.  A lot of the drugstore brands like Maybelline, Revlon, Max Factor, have really upped their products with like the hottest new colors and trends. I mean you can get anything now [in the] drugstore.  What I recommend doing honestly, even for us, like even our budget for make-up personally has gone down.  So, we go see what the hottest new thing is and then we match it with a brand that’s less expensive.  So, you can still get the look but you don’t have to buy the expensive YSL, Dior; you just match it, go see what’s new and happening and then go to the drugstore and match it with something that you can afford.

Mary
So, are you saying that professionals too are now kind of moving toward less expensive brands?

Vincenza
Yes, yes. I mean I, full-time; I’m at truTV, and our budget has gone down, and everyone’s affected by it because we don’t… One thing that I would never skimp on is foundation but color, lip gloss, it’s seasonal. You can have fun.  I mean you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a cherry lip gloss.  We could go to Maybelline, and they’ll have a cherry lip gloss.  Then, you’re done with it in two months.  So, definitely, it has affected everyone, all of us.  If you can’t afford that, then go see… Research what’s happening, and the stores will always tell you.  If you go into any of the great department stores, they always have the newest hottest things, and then go match it up with something you can afford to buy.

Mary
Okay.  Many times we see trends in magazines, and they can be overpowering, maybe a little bit too much for the office.  So, how can the average person incorporate some of these latest and greatest trends into their everyday look without going over that top?

Listen to Part 2

Vincenza
I love it.  When… I say it now honestly, Mary, that it’s like a Crayola box like when we did runway.  I felt like it was a Crayola box: lime green on the eyes, pink on the lips, fuschia, red.  I mean it was like great on the runway but not for life.  So, the best thing to do is take one thing.  So, if you like to pop the eyes… I love an aqua liner, so I do a nice bronzy natural make-up and then I put a turquoise eyeliner on instead of black; and it gives me that pop. I feel bold and fun, so it’s like… If you can picture that Crayola box, pick the one color and one area, either the lip or the eye, and just pop it there. You can’t do the whole runway.  You’ve got to take one thing out of that, which feature you want to pop and you want to have fun with and focus on that, not everything.  If you’re doing bold… Bold red lips are really in now, too.  So, you’re not going to do dramatic eyes and bold red lips.  Keep the eyes soft, maybe just clean black liner and then bold red lips, tone it down.

Mary
And, Vincenza, should age influence your use of these trends?

Vincenza
No.  Make-up is fun.  I’m so — love to break the rules.  I think age influences more like in foundation and powders and dewiness.  The skin should look fresh and dewy.  I think that’s more affected by foundation. I mean, of course, I don’t know.  I wouldn’t put lime green eye shadow on my 69-year-old mother.  You know what I mean?  So, I mean the younger you are, the more you could do real fun, trendy colors and that… But, it depends on the person.  You know, we meet some very interesting people and who’s to tell them, and especially in fashion, that they can’t wear something bold.  So, I don’t think so.  I don’t think age has any soul about who you are and how you want to express yourself.

Mary
You also brought up the “rules”.  Are there any hard and fast rules when it comes to applying make-up, when it comes to the types of colors you use?  Talk to me a little bit about the “rules.”

Listen to Part 3

Vincenza
The rules, I mean for me personally or maybe I don’t know if it’s rules, mistakes, or my pet peeves, are foundation, matching skin tone.  Now we see… For me and my talent and my celebrities, the talent that I do, summer hopefully is coming, so foundation color changes.  As the skin gets darker, the foundation has to change. You can’t wear the winter foundation.  If you really look at women, most of them are always wearing the wrong color foundation.  There’s that cut on the chin.  It doesn’t match.  Their neck and their body looks like it’s detached.  I mean so if there’s any rule, I mean I’d rather see women not wear it, than like have different color skin or the wrong foundation color.  With season, you have to change it just the way you would change your boots to flip-flops. It’s the same that you would change your foundation.

Mary
I know that a lot of times you can go to the store and you can be really overwhelmed by the selection of even foundation colors.  So how can you, or the average person, make sure that she buys the correct foundation for her skin tone?

Vincenza
I would definitely… You have to test it to your body or look at your chest, look at your arm, not necessarily just the face because the face is a different color. Most women… I’m an advocate for sunscreen, so my face is always lighter than the rest of my body, but I love to tan.  So, I match my face to my body, even though it may look like it’s wrong; but then when it’s on, it’s right.  So, you have to really…  I would recommend going to… That’s one thing I would recommend spending money or find out going to someone what tone you should be wearing.  Are you warm?  Are you pink?  Are you cool?  So you have a good match; and once you find it, you should stay with it.  Foundations, that one staple product that you don’t go look for the new thing that’s happening.  If you found the right color and the right texture, you should stay with it.

Mary
Are there any other mistakes that you see people make in terms of their make-up?

Vincenza
I would say make-up, applying blush.  A lot of times towards the end of the ear where it’s not on the apple of the face, I like to see like where we would naturally blush; a lot of times women put it towards the back of their face towards… Like if you picture the ear versus on the apple where you’re smiling and you naturally would blush.  If you had a glass of wine and you looked in the mirror and you got all flushed, that’s where blush should be. If you look at a natural little child and the way they’re happy and blushing, well most women… Or the colors too, Mary, people wear brown blush.  Who blushes brown?  I mean even bronzers should be golden, and blushes should always be rosy colored and should be… If anything, you could get really cheeky and do something that looks very blushed but no one blushes brown or those kind of tones.  I mean that’s a contour color but that’s not something that women really need to do in life.  So, on the apple, keep it rosy, keep it to the color that you would naturally.  Then just look in the mirror, smile, and pop it on those apples.

Mary
I have one more question for you.  Women aren’t necessarily the only ones who wear make-up.  In our poll that we talked about earlier, 97% of men say they never wear make-up; yet a very slim proportion of men, 3%, say they do wear make-up at some point, whether it be going out for work or with their friends or for special occasions.

Listen to Part 4

Vincenza
I love it!

Mary
As a celebrity make-up artist, I would imagine that you have to advise your male clients on how to wear make-up appropriately.  So, if there are men out there who do wear make-up or who want to wear make-up, what advice do you have for them and what would you tell them?

Vincenza
I love it!  I say that real men wear make-up, number one, I love it.  Yes, we do make-up on all the men and the same with them.  Most of the time, men should bronze the skin.  If they’re putting on make-up, it should be either for a blemish and powder.  A lot of times, they’re very shiny, like the most distracting… Even in life, I mean I love to do weddings and stuff, and I beg the grooms to let me powder them because that shine looks like sweat.  It just looks terrible so I would say powder would be fabulous.  It would give a smoother look to the skin and it takes down that shine.  Then also with discoloration, so if there’s any one product, I would probably say concealer and powder for a man.

Mary
Are there products specifically made for men and men’s skin types?

Vincenza
Not really, honestly.  I don’t recall right now, but there was… I want to say maybe it was Gaultier that had made a specific men’s line but no. It’s the same; skin is skin.

Mary
Okay, Vincenza, is there anything that you would like to add?

Vincenza
No, I’m so excited!  Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen, very important.

Mary
And what about sunscreen, I mean what kind of SPF should you be looking for?

Vincenza
Oh my God! I do like Helioplex SPF 70 with no… I would say no fragrance, lotion, and put it underneath.  That should be the first thing that touches skin because the damage of the sun, you cannot turn back.

Mary
Okay, great, Vincenza.

Vincenza
I think everyone should start with a great sunscreen and then have fun with make-up.

Mary
Well, Vincenza, I thank you very much for your time today.  It has been very informative.

Vincenza
Thank you, Mary.

** The views and opinions expressed in this and other interviews found on this site are expressly those of the speakers or authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Marist Poll.

Related Stories:

6/5:  It’s All in the Makeup Bag?

Additional Resources:

Makeup Alley

Makeup 411

Makeup Tip

6/2: Deep Pockets for Shoes?

How much are Americans willing to spend to put their best feet forward?  On average, the most U.S. residents have spent on a pair of shoes is $90.62.

And, while women often get a bad rap for their shoe addictions, men, on average, are willing to spend more!  The greatest amount men have paid for a pair of shoes is $107.88.  Women, however, have forked over $74.23 on average.

Income is an obvious factor affecting the overall findings.  Americans earning less than $50,000 annually say the most they have spent on a pair of shoes is $79.69.  This compares with $111.87 shelled out by those making $50,000 or more.

And, maybe, it’s the boots, but Americans living in the West have spent more on footwear than those in other parts of the country.  Westerners, on average, have spent $111.74.  Those in the South come in a distant second dishing out at most $89.08.  Northeasterners and those in the Midwest have paid the average amounts of $82.35 and $80.47, respectively.

Table: Most Spent on Shoes

Marist Poll Methodology

Related Stories & Links:

‘Sneakerheads’ Pay Big Bucks for Rare Kicks

Shoetube

MEN: What Are the Most Expensive Shoes You Ever Bought?

How to Find the Perfect Vintage Shoes

Most Expensive Shoes in the World

4/7: Springing Into Color?

Spring is here.  Yet, this doesn’t necessarily mean Americans are yearning to don the colors that are blooming around them.  According to a recent Marist Poll, 48% of Americans describe their favorite colors for spring as neutral and traditional.  Many, however, do look to this season for sporting fresher colors as nearly one-third of Americans (32%) favor cool and light tones and one in five loves bright and bold colors.

So, who is most likely to prefer vibrant, hues this season?  Southerners take top honors while those in the chilly Northeast pull up the rear.   27% of Southerners plan to step into brighter colors this spring compared with 13% in the Northeast.   And, one-quarter of women compared with only 15% of men prefer bright and bold colors in their spring wardrobes.  Income also emerges as a predictor of color choice as 40% of households with an annual income of more than $50,000 favor cool and light colors while significantly fewer (28%) Americans earning less than 50K feel the same.

Spring Colors Table

Marist Poll Methodology

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Accessorizing to Make Clothes Trendy

Accessorizing to Make Clothes Trendy

I’ll just come clean with it: I’m addicted to shopping. My weakness isn’t stuff for the house, shoes, or even clothes.  For me, the obsession is accessories — jewelry, belts, headbands, makeup — anything new and affordable that can make an old shirt, pants, or dress look new, fresh, or trendy. Since I tend to agree with the plurality of Americans (48% in a recent Marist Poll) who favor neutral and traditional colors for Spring, now is the perfect time to liven up those muted colors with accessories.  And, the best part is that it’s affordable.  Let’s face it, in today’s economic climate, going on a mass shopping spree might be tough.  Not to worry though, you don’t have to, and I’m going to tell you how, but first, a personal note.

My accessory addiction is really not my fault (addicts always look for someone to blame, right?).  In fact, I’m convinced I have a genetic predisposition to this as evidenced by the Home Shopping Network, QVC receptionists and FedEx deliverers who know my grandmother on a first name basis.  Always looking fabulous and perfectly accessorized, my grandmother is my style icon.  So, inspired by Grandma Loretta’s timeless look, here are a few of my basic tips for accessorizing.

1. Look in unexpected places. Accessories can be pricey but, if you’re patient and open-minded, you can find a great deal if you look off the beaten path. In fact, I’ve found some of my favorite accessories at drug stores, flea markets, or stores that didn’t even plan to carry “accessories.”  What I mean by the latter point is that I’ve found pieces that were intended for one use that also work great for others. Think of a scarf — from the waist, the neck, to your head — they can accessorize an outfit in countless ways.

2.  Don’t overdo it. I’m always so grateful that Grandma isn’t one of those women who wear huge earrings and the matching bracelet and the cocktail ring and the even more enormous necklace all together. Instead, choose one prominent, focal piece (or two pieces, such as earrings and a cocktail ring, which are farther away on the body) that complements the style of your clothes. Just remember the saying that sometimes more is less, and you don’t have to spend a fortune!

3. Introduce splashes of color. Since I tend to wear a lot of black — often in a monochromatic outfit — a large, brightly-colored accessory (perhaps a belt, scarf, or jewelry) can make a boring and simple outfit look different every time.  If you’re wearing a few colors, pick the one, least-prominent color from your clothes to highlight in your accessory.  And, don’t be afraid to use make-up in the same way. Sometimes just a bold, red lipstick can add that pop of color a plain color palette needs.

4.  Use your head. This is probably my favorite place to accessorize — especially on weekends or for evening looks. It’s amazing how much the addition of a jeweled headband, hair clip, or hat can do for an outfit.  (It can also take a look from day to night quickly!) Or, just change your hairstyle if head accessories aren’t for you.

5.  Don’t compete with the clothes. Your accessories shouldn’t take away from the interest of your clothes. For example, say you’re wearing a top with an elaborate neckline, don’t wear a large necklace that will compete and create “clutter” all in one place.  Instead, go for earrings and a bracelet or skip the jewelry all together and throw something in your hair.

6.  Forget some of the old rules. Somewhere along the way, I remember hearing that you should never wear silver and gold together, that you can’t wear white pants after Labor Day, and that red and pink don’t match.  Done tastefully and in the right shades, you should feel free to forgo these dated conventions.

7. Accessorize appropriately, please. I recently bought a thick, metallic gold, glitter belt. Tacky sounding, I know. But trust me, it really looks great with an off-white or black outfit for a fun night out. That said, I think my colleagues would, rightfully so, question if I got dressed in the dark if I wore it to work.  Although many accessories, when worn with the right clothes, can be non-discriminating between day and evening, others simply won’t work for all occasions. So, just give some extra thought to whether that fun, leather headband with the enormous pink flower on it will be client-friendly.

8. Have fun!  With few exceptions, you really can’t go wrong with the use of accessories. Try new things and, hey, the worst case is after a few funny looks, you can just take it off!

Also on This Site:

Springing Into Color?

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Top 10 Fashion Colors for Spring 2009

Spring 2009 Trend Reports

Pricey Pair?

Look up “blue jeans” on MerriamWebster.com, and the term is simply defined as, “Pants usually made of blue denim.”  Ah, if it were only that simple!

On average, Americans say they’ve spent, at most, $44.50 on a pair of jeans.  That’s according to the latest Marist Poll.  That number jumps when looking at younger Americans and those who make more money.  U.S. residents under the age of 45 say the most they’ve spent on a pair of jeans is $52.51, and Americans in households with an annual income of $50,000 or more say they’ve purchased jeans for $52.88.

Wear Jeans Table

Average Dollar Amount Spent on Jeans Table

Marist Poll Methodology

Blue Jeans: A Reflection of the Times

The Guinness Book of Records lists an original pair of Levi Strauss & Co (USA) 501 jeans aged over 115 years old as most valuable.  It was sold by Randy Knight (USA) to an anonymous collector (Japan) for $60,000 (£33,230) through internet auction site eBay on June 15, 2005.

What accounts for consumers’ willingness to shell out their hard-earned cash for this fashion staple?  Perhaps, the answer lies in the past.

Although, nineteenth century businessman Levi Strauss is credited with designing the first pair of blue jeans, the origin of the term, “denim” remains cloaked in mystery.

As Levi Strauss and Co. historian Lynn Downey points out on the company’s website, there are a couple of theories about the origin of the word.  Downey notes that the material could be related to a fabric, partly made of wool, called “serge de Nimes,” which existed in France prior to the 17th century and was also found in England at the end of the 17th century.  Downey concedes that we may never know how a material made of silk and wool could  become associated with denim — a fabric made of cotton.  However, she speculates that it may have something to do with the fabric’s weave.

In addition to “serge de Nimes,” there was a material called, “jean.”  Jean, which was imported from Genoa, Italy into England in the 16th century was made, at least partly, of cotton and was known for its durability.  Jean and denim were quite similar.  However, they differed in the color thread used to produce them.

Fast forward to 19th century America.  Denim and jean had different connotations associated with them.  Jean was used for finer work clothes while denim was the fabric of men doing manual labor.

Enter Levi Strauss.  The Bavarian-born Strauss set up a dry goods business in San Francisco in 1853.  Nineteen years later, a tailor by the name of Jacob Davis, who had been making riveted clothing for miners around Reno, approached Strauss with a business proposition.  He needed a partner to patent and manufacture a new type of work clothes, and out of that partnership was born copper riveted “waist overalls” or what would later become known as jeans.

Blue jeans have evolved with our changing culture.  According to DesignBoom.com, a fashion design website, cowboys depicted wearing jeans in the movies became popular in the 1930s.   In the 1940s, soldiers fighting in World War II introduced jeans to the rest of the world.  And, Downey,  says the end of the war heralded another major change for this article of clothing.  Jeans broke from their association with work clothes and were considered to be more recreational attire.  Levi Strauss’ creation also took on another meaning by some during this time.  In the 1950s, jeans were viewed almost as ‘bad boy’ clothes  and were even banned in some schools.

Their anti-conformity reputation continued into the 1960s and 1970s.  The style evolved to include bell-bottoms, and anti-establishment activists saw jeans as a sign of protest.  The following decade signaled another metamorphosis.  Major fashion designers were jumping on-board the jean craze in the 1980s.  According to clothing brand, “R.A.G. New York,” everyone, including celebrities, wore designer jeans which, at that time, were affordable.  However, at the turn of the millennium, designer jeans became a status symbol, and the prices went up.

So, what’s next?  If the past is any indication, jeans will ride the wave with the changing times.  In fact, a recent blog on “The Wall Street Journal” website shows venture capitalists are turning to the blue jean industry during the recession.  It’s part of a move toward small, high-end consumer goods. But, one thing seems clear, no matter what shape jeans take, it will likely be a long time before blue jeans disappear from the market place.

Resources:

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/modern_society/fashion/most_valuable_pair_of_jeans.aspx

http://www.levistrauss.com/Heritage/History.aspx

http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/denim2.html

http://www.ragnewyork.com/blog/the-evolution-of-designer-jeans/

http://blogs.wsj.com/independentstreet/2009/03/17/are-designer-jeans-the-vc-investment-of-the-future/

Related Stories:

http://www.forbes.com/2005/11/29/most-expensive-jeans-cx_sy_1130feat_ls.html

http://www.denimblog.com/

http://www.iht.com/articles/2003/08/15/trlevi_ed3_.php

The Perfect Fit

Finding a pair of jeans that fits just right can be a challenge!  What can you do to make the process a little easier?  Here’s some practical advice from The Marist Poll’s Mary Azzoli.