WarPaint International Beauty On 3 Covers of Chicago Style Weddings
Take a peek behind the scenes at this high-fashion bridal editorial, “Hopelessly Devoted”, in which WarPaint International Beauty Agency is featured on 3 covers of Chicago Style Weddings Magazine.
WPI Beauty in Chicago Style Weddings Magazine
When it comes to on-site beauty, WarPaint International is at the top of the industry for brides-to-be, editorial fashion photographers, corporate event planners, and even consumers dolling up to head out on the town. We love to get involved with styled shoots and produce high-fashion content that only showcases the skillsets of our team, but also builds rapport in the diverse vendor community in which we live and work. So we wanted to get involved at Chicago Style Weddings for their 2022 magazine shoot.
Hopelessly Devoted: The Styled Shoot in Chicago
Take a peek behind the scenes at this high-fashion bridal editorial, “Hopelessly Devoted.” You can find this on the shelf, in Chicago, Illinois, in the July 2022 edition of Chicago Style Weddings hits the racks in just a week, so we wanted to share a look into how it all came together. With each issue comes the exciting opportunity to host an exclusive, bridal fashion editorial. To do this, we carefully curate a team of vendors, create numerous mood boards, and pull bridal garments and accessories from all across the greater Chicago area. So on a crisp morning in April, the Chicago Style Weddings team gathered at Wildman BT to make this Hopelessly Devoted vision come to life.
The Vendors
LOCATION: Wildman BT
PHOTOGRAPHY: Stephanie Wood Photography
STYLING: Chicago Style Weddings
HAIR & MAKEUP: WarPaint International Beauty Agency
VIDEOGRAPHY: Phillip Christopher Videography
JEWELRY: Razny Jewelers
GOWN PROVIDERS: Bella Bianca, Bri’Zan Couture, The Crystal Bride, Here Comes the Bride, Kathryn’s Bridal, LBR (Luxe Bridal Rack), Veiled By ChaCha, Volle’s Bridal, Wedding Design Studio by 1440 Event Design
SHOES: Lori’s Shoes, Bella Belle Shoes
MODELS: Carmen Garcia & Alexandria Hill of 10 MGMT
On-site Hair & Makeup Artistry
Great editorials begin with a good base. With two beautiful models, Carmen and Alexandria (both represented by Chicago-based agency, 10 MGMT), Chicago Style Weddings was already off to a great start. WarPaint International Beauty Agency‘s team brought Artisan Eugene and Artisan Jasmine to enhance the models’ beauty and to incorporate trending bridal elements into their looks. Carmen donned timeless loose curls while Alexandria’s blonde cropped hair was styled in chic finger waves. Equal parts in vogue and classic!
All About The Dress(es)
The gowns are also the star of the show! The CSW team pulled over 30 looks from nine Chicagoland bridal boutiques. From Vera Wang to Pronovias to Eva Lendel, gowns of varying styles danced on the garment racks. When pulling dresses from bridal boutiques, their team wanted to style pieces that blended traditional with contemporary. All along the way, they jested that these looks would give off the feel of “cool and fresh, but something your grandmother would still approve of.” We think they did a great job!
The venue, Wildman BT, turned an old boiler and tank facility into a stunning modern event space. So inspired by their “old-meets-new” aesthetic, we pulled garments that meshed timeless textiles with new silhouettes and vice versa.
Lights, Camera, Action!
The team spent a full day styling, shooting, and having a great time. With every look the models put on, the team oohed and aahed with excitement and enthusiasm. It was a really successful day and the results are striking!
Chicago Style Weddings Magazine - July 2022
Watch the Behind-The-Scenes Video of ‘Hopelessly Devoted’
Well Groomed Styled Shoot
There’s often an overlooked component to weddings: The Groom
But not anymore… A vision for showcasing luxurious possibilities for grooms came to life in the hands of Ramsey Prince of Maison Du Prince. Prince is known for turning heads with his recognizable flair and bespoke styling, so these scenes came together beautifully in his handwriting.
With rich orchids, gilded accents, and incredible menswear, a fabulous groom’s weekend at The Thompson Hotel unfolded.
The Vendors
LOCATION: The Thompson Hotel
PHOTOGRAPHY: PhotoRSH
STYLING: Maison Du Prince
LINENS: Lola Valentina Designs
GROOMING: Artisan Anna | WarPaint International Beauty Agency
GROOMS’ FORMALWEAR: PROVENANCE by Diana Michelle; Formally Modern
ROBES: COSOSA
BRIEFS: Richard Dayhoff
The Bachelor Party
Opening up celebrations for the weekend is a bachelor party at The Thompson Hotel’s Nico Osteria. With cocktails in hand, grooms Jason and Daniel don suiting from Formally Modern in stunning jewel tones.
Groomsman Matt (pictured far left) wears a custom look from Provenance, including a herringbone suit jacket, floral shirt, silk pocket square, and Brackish feather lapel pin.
The Morning of…
The Cover
This cover for Chicago Style Weddings was the 3rd of three covers and one of the first in the midwest featuring an all-male cast. The grooming was provided by yours truly - Artisan Anna Giuliano in Chicago, Illinois.
Inquire About Your Wedding Day Beauty
Want to book WarPaint International in Chicago for your wedding day hair and makeup services for you and your wedding party glam squad? Inquire about your date today! 2023 dates are filling up.
5 Simple Ways You Can Make Your Beauty Routine More Sustainable
While it might feel small, making small changes to your daily routine can have positive impacts on both your health and the environment. Even changing just one step of your routine can lead to numerous health and environmental benefits.
Sustainability is the Beauty Trend that will Make a Timeless Impact
The beauty industry is an ever-changing, constantly evolving industry. There are constant advancements happening within the community, especially when it comes to releasing the newest products and implementing healthier formulations for the best results. However, there are unfortunately many companies who still produce and promote products with an excessive amount of packaging, harsh chemicals, and toxic ingredients. Not only does this have negative impacts on our health over time, but on the environment and wildlife as well.
While it might feel small, making small changes to your daily routine can have positive impacts on both your health and the environment. Even changing just one step of your routine can lead to numerous health and environmental benefits. Amongst the countless skincare and beauty trends, green and zero-waste beauty is a growing movement thanks to more people recognizing its importance. You can now easily live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle alongside others with the same passion. Start making sustainable choices in your beauty routine today without changing your entire lifestyle with these five simple improvements.
1. Swap for Sustainable Ingredients
Sustainability in your beauty routine doesn’t just involve switching the tools you use and the ways you go about your routine; it’s also about a change in the ingredients you choose as well. You can start becoming an eco-conscious shopper by learning what makes a beauty product clean. Pay attention to avoiding unhealthy ingredients such as synthetic fragrances, formaldehyde, talc, microplastics, and more. Synthetic chemicals, such as parabens and phthalates, can be found in some sunscreens and artificial fragrances and impact the health of aquatic life. Instead of using products that contain ingredients like these, choose natural and organic ingredients that are only ethically sourced.
As you finish up products you’re currently using and got to throw them away, first ask yourself if these products are really beneficial to your body and good for the environment. Now the next time you shop, you can start making better choices towards sustainability.
1. Opt for Less Packaging
In the beauty industry, new products and restocks are constantly flying onto the shelves. The mass production of how much materials and energy consumption this results in is staggering. To be sustainable is to be less wasteful. Think about how often you stock up on your haircare, skincare, and daily makeup products, and how much unnecessary waste these products cause.
Next time you are shopping for your daily products, look for brands that can give you the same type of product but with more sustainable packaging. Going with sustainably packaged products is especially important if you use single-use disposable beauty products, such as daily eye contacts. There are companies today that offer a variety of contact lenses to choose from, the next time you are in need of new ones make an effort to choose a more eco-friendly brand. Switching to a contact brand with minimal packaging will help you continue to rock your look and feel better about using disposable products knowing you’re contributing to a better Earth.
Some brands including Fenty Beauty and Dior also offer refillable product options such as deodorants, makeup palettes, and lipstick which can further limit package consumption. This method helps ensure you only fill up on products when you run out instead of buying the whole product again, which would include all that extra packaging. You may even want to consider going completely package-free. With a brand like Lush, in some cases, they remove the need for all packaging. Plus, their shampoo bars come wrapped in recyclable paper so you can always feel good when you bring home a new goodie.
1. Discover the Benefits of Reusable Products
Do you ever think about how many cotton pads or wipes you throw away to remove a full face of makeup? Or how many face masks you toss after a spa day? Point is; that there are too many single-use disposable products in the beauty market that are non-biodegradable. We should be taking advantage of reusable products to cut back on waste. Not only will this save you money, but it will also have a positive impact on saving the environment.
Reusable cotton pads for a sustainable beauty routine.
Reusable cotton pads or a makeup cloth are both perfect solutions for removing your makeup and exfoliating your face. When they’re all dirty, simply wash them with warm water and soap or even throw them in your washing machine. Rather than using disposable applicators and sponges, you can effortlessly wash daily makeup brushes by hand or with an electric cleaner solely for makeup brushes. Another good investment also includes replacing your disposable razer with a metal one. These feature recyclable metal blades that help avoid contributing to more plastic pollution. Any amount of these modifications to your regular routine can really make a difference in contributing to zero waste for our planet.
1. Get Creative with Repurposing
Some packaging materials are not recyclable. However, don’t get rid of that finished jar of moisturizer just yet. For cases like these, upcycle it! Once cosmetics are empty, clean out the container and put it to good use. Oftentimes, people love to use smaller items like these as storage. It can serve as a purpose for all your miscellaneous toiletries and beauty goods on your vanity including hair ties, bobby pins, as well as small jewelry. Even better, empty makeup or skincare containers make perfect travel-sized alternatives to your products that don’t come in a smaller container. Reusing your product containers will give your home a unique vibe while keeping plastic out of our landfills.
You can also give your used-up beauty products a new meaning. With organizations like Wands for Wildlife, you can donate used mascara wands to wildlife rehabilitators to groom and treat animals. Furthermore, Project Beauty Share is one of many inspiring organizations that will take new and lightly used beauty products for women and families who cannot afford these items.
1. After Reducing and Reusing, Remember to Recycle
Believe it or not, one of the golden rules of sustainability is often overlooked: recycling. While we can’t always avoid using products in packaging, the simple act of recycling will reduce our need to consume energy and limit the waste in landfills. Place a small bin beside your trashcan in your bathroom for recycling shampoo bottles, deodorants, and cardboard packaging from your products. Make sure to remove any pumps or caps and clean them out beforehand, as any leftover product can contaminate other products and attract bugs.
You can continue to reduce your carbon footprint by only choosing products that have packaging made with recycled materials or materials such as glass that is easy to recycle rather than layers of plastic. Becoming more mindful of the products you use and dispose of can really help you realize how much you may have been wasting before.
Alternatively, some beauty companies including Origins, MAC, Kiehl’s, and more offer recycling programs. They properly recycle your empty products and even reward you with a free product or store discount. for your contribution to saving the planet.
Sustainability involves so much more than just the beauty industry itself. From the production of products, to how we use them in our home; it seems complicated to navigate at first. Thankfully, it is so easy to practice being sustainable each and every day with just a few adjustments to what most of us are used to (ex: throwing recyclable products in the trash, using disposable products, and so on).
Look after your body and the planet, because sustainability in beauty does matter. Feel better about using healthier ingredients and knowing you’re making a difference starting from your beauty routine every morning. Make the switch to sustainable beauty and add it to your beauty trends to try this summer.
Unique Ideas For Wedding Party Bridesmaid Gifts
Bridesmaid gifts can include a whole range of fun and interesting ideas. Today’s brides and couples value experiences over stuff more than ever. So what are our favorite experiences?
Spoil Your Wedding Party with These Bridesmaid Gift Ideas
For most of us, the people that we invite to take part in our wedding day on an intimate level are those people that receive an invitation to be a part of the wedding party. These are presumably the most important people in our lives - our best friends, brothers, sisters, extended family members, or mentors. We want them by our side as we take our very important vows. Asking them to be involved is super exciting for everyone! Bridal party responsibilities can include anything and everything that helps ensure your wedding day runs smoothly. Traditionally, many brides and groom couples want to thank them for that.
Let’s focus on the bridesmaids. Bridesmaid gifts can include a whole range of fun and interesting ideas. You may have been to weddings in the past that handled this aspect of the wedding party more like a task that needed to be completed rather than an opportunity to really say thank you and give something that creates a memory. Perhaps an engraved wine glass or a flask…
Bridesmaid gifts can include things like jewelry, monogrammed clothing, custom-label wine, and other keepsakes. Some brides-to-be have a specific item in mind for each person in their party that shares a special love between them. But for the most part, the bride and groom are selecting something that may resonate with everyone in the group, then sharing that with them. Perhaps a favorite item loved by the bride or groom that they want each person to own.
How Much Should You Spend on Gifts?
In the United States, tradition has evolved over the years specifically with the millennial generation. The giving of bridesmaid gifts has not always been customary. Generations ago, the bride used to be expected to pay for all wedding party expenses, so additional gifts were not the norm. The larger the wedding party, the more well-to-do the bride was as size reflected the status of wealth. Though the idea that the more you pay for, the more it costs still applies today - it doesn’t necessarily indicate wealth or ability to pay. If you’re already paying for your wedding party’s dresses and other expenses, don’t feel bad about not providing gifts. It can be a lot.
Today, however, most bridesmaids pay for their wedding expenses and their dresses. In fact, this is a consideration for most people today in whether to accept the invitation to be in someone's wedding party. After all, it could include the expense of travel, a bachelorette party, professional wedding makeup and hair, shoes, hotel rooms, etc, etc. Gifts have become more customary now because of the financial commitment and time the wedding party members have given leading up to the big day, so makes sense to extend thankfulness.
So if this is your wedding party (and it probably is) then gifts are a great way to show gratitude. This really shows that the bride appreciates and cares for the bridal party.
What To Get For Bridal Party Gifts
Modern-day brides-to-be really value experiences over things. And when they value things, they value their favorite brands over keepsakes and trinkets. Or, they may find value in ‘things’ that lead to experiences. So we’ve put together our list of the Top Five things to give your wedding party as bridesmaid gifts.
Sunless Tanning Packages
This one is in the experience category. Sunless tanning has become a common expense that many bridesmaids take on when participating in a wedding party. In fact, some brides will not only purchase sunless tanning packages for themselves but also introduce a skincare routine from an advanced esthetician to ensure that perfect glow. For brides looking to bring an experience to their wedding party, a trip to a sunless tanning spot is an amazing day party. Since it’s typically recommended that you do a pre-skincare treatment and a post tan clothing dress-down, this can literally become a full day of girl time for the entire wedding party that is all about relaxation.
How do you perfect this day? If the bride is looking to pay for and provide something that she and her crew will remember for years to come, here’s our best advice…
Book group sunless tanning packages for a day leading up to the wedding day.
Provide pre-tan products and instruction for skin prep to make it fun.
Show up together and have a blast getting your sunless tanning applications.
Bring the wedding party back to your place for charcuterie, champagne, and to revel in your experiences together.
*** Have a bigger budget? Book a private lunch at your favorite restaurants for everyone after your tan.
Speaking of the perfect glow, where should you go for your tan? The top sunless tanning experience in the country is a little place called goGLOW. goGLOW was awarded Allure Magazine’s “Best of Beauty” recognition with this comment: goGLOW has elevated a 'spray tan service' into a professional skin service, winning numerous nation-wide awards in the making.”.
goGLOW is a Minneapolis-based company. You can book your appointments at their Edina, Maple Grove, and Burnsville locations. They also have a location in Chicago. But what if you don’t live in Minneapolis or Chicago? That shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the sunless tan products that help prepare your skin for the experience and also extend the life of your tan after you’ve had it done. They ship nationally and can aid in any sunless tanning experience.
Designer Handbag Gifts
We’ve seen this one become more popular! It falls into the ‘thing’ category but again can create an experience with your wedding party on the day of the big event. Brides that love to bestow beautiful things on their bridesmaids love to give the gift of designer handbags. One way to give this gift and have it make a lot of sense is to integrate it into the bridesmaid attire. Many brides today do not dictate what dress their wedding party needs to wear so much as what color or style they must have to fit the overall theme. So gifting a handbag to everyone that suits their needs for the day will serve as a single accessory element that ties everyone’s look together.
What type of handbag should you consider buying? Well… a crossbody bag makes a lot of sense for a wedding day. Your crew can carry it with a strap for the day’s activities and remove the strap for the wedding or the evening reception. One of our favorite handbag brands is Moda Endrizzi.
Get luxury leather goods at a great price! Endrizzi luxury handbags are handmade in Florence Italy by some of the same people that are producing bags that you may know, such as Tom Ford, Jean Paul Gaultier, Roberto Cavalli, and Louis Vuitton. They offer classic designs and are also local to Minneapolis. Want to know how your favorite bags are made? Endrizzi educates us in their article “How Are Designer Handbags Made?”.
Bridesmaid Robes
Another squelching trend these days is to outfit your wedding party in bridesmaid robes. This one also fits into the ‘thing’ category but also satisfies the experiential piece of being together in matching robes. We commonly see this in the early hours of the wedding day while bridal hair and makeup artists are on-site. One national company that offers both bridesmaid robes and bridal robes is called Pretty Plum Sugar.
A WPI wedding party in bridesmaid robes
Lasting memories are what it’s all about, specifically for today’s bride. The day of raging bachelorette/bachelor parties until the wee hours of the night is fading as today’s couples are finding more value in relationship-building experiences with the important people in their life. The Knot Wedding network also published a great guide about bridesmaid robes your squad will love. Check it out!
Wedding Day Hair & Makeup
Of course, beauty is on the list and there is no better wedding day beauty solution than yours truly - WarPaint International Beauty Agency. Giving the gift of bridesmaid hair and makeup can really make the day special and super fun for everyone involved.
The below images were taken by the very talented Shane Long Photography for WPI Beauty bride, Greta.
Many brides often wonder if they should contract a professional beauty agency for their wedding day beauty services. While our answer is biased, we can not encourage you enough to weigh out the differences between hiring a single freelance artist that you may like vs. working with an agency that has processes in place for you and for your wedding party. This can help curate a wedding day experience for everyone that is really memorable. Beyond that, some of the benefits that come from working with professional beauty agencies are:
Background checks. At WarPaint International, our entire staff goes through national background check with Trusted Employees. Though we’re focused on luxury and excellence in hair and makeup artistry, our main priority is the safety of you and your wedding party, and your personal things inside of your private spaces. After all, you invite us into your homes, your churches, and your venues.
Contracts written by attorneys. Protect yourself. You may view a contract as red tape when hiring beauty services, but inside of that contract, you should see some performance guarantees. “What happens if… my artist gets hit by the proverbial bus”. A freelancer will have to cancel. An agency will replace your Artisan with notes and trial images so that you can simply continue with your day rather than have a five-alarm emergency. We have personally helped dozens of brides already this year in this exact situation or who in some cases lost their artist due to a better opportunity. This is all too common.
Large teams. This one goes hand-in-hand with the above. Having a pool of Artists that all work for the same team, that are trained to the team timelines, and have same-standard practices makes your day go extremely smooth. The potential for headache and worry from your beauty professionals will be little to none. Also, if you have a large party, you can likely be accommodated without having to source multiple people, which also can introduce challenges on-site on the day of your event.
WarPaint International books brides in Minneapolis, Chicago, New York City, and Jacksonville Florida. We have experience with thousands of brides for a flawless wedding day beauty service.
Silk Pillow Cases
You may not have thought of this one, but it really makes a lot of sense for your bridal party. Today, women are very personally aware of their beauty and sleep routines. Some women put a lot of thought and financial resources into their hair care routine and part of that will require that they only wash their hair on certain days of the week. So how do you keep your bedhead from snarling up all that hair?
Image: Justpeachy.co
Enter silk pillowcases. Let’s review the benefits… One can not deny the luxurious feel of resting your head on silk, but besides that, you can expect these benefits as well:
Wrinkle prevention. Sleep creases on your face will be a thing of the past. And sometimes they can hurt! Of course, those sleep creases may eventually disappear as the day goes on, but it turns out that repeated compression and creasing of the face during sleep can turn into permanent wrinkles over time.
Skin-soothing relief. Silk offers numerous benefits for your skin. Other than avoiding a sleep crease from forming, those with sensitive skin or delicate facial skin, acne, eczema, or other irritated or inflammatory skin conditions may be especially aided by the smooth fabric. Overall, those that sleep on silk often report less irritation, relief from itching, and reduced inflammation. Sign us up!
Smoother, healthier hair. This is the one we’re after. How do you help keep your hair routine in check when you have full head of long hair? Silk pillowcases ladies, silk pillowcases. Because silk is naturally smoother than other fabrics, such as cotton, resting your locks on a silk pillowcase reduces the friction of any tossing and turning that occurs while you sleep. This provides many benefits for a healthier head of hair, including fewer tangles, less breakage, and reduced frizz.
Hydrated skin. Natural silk fibers repel moisture more effectively than other fabrics. So rather than soaking up all the hydration in your skin, a silk pillowcase can help you retain it. This, in turn, can make your nighttime skincare products all the more effective.
If this sounds wonderful to you, it’s not too hard to find some great options. Companies like Blissy and Night pillowcases offer great products at reasonable prices.