Getting the Hollywood Confidential look . . .

The prom is only two weeks away, yowza! (The BloggerProm Committee can't believe how fast time flies too!) Still having trouble getting that theme-appropriate look? Here's some pointers to get your Hollywood Confidential glam on for both fellas & dames, from our salon sponsor Studio DNA.

Women’s Hair Styles

1. No matter the length, to achieve any style from the era, you will need to preset your hair in pincurls. For more specific instructions on how to achieve a pincurl, click here.
2. Setting your hair is best done the night before but you can use hot rollers or a curling iron to help set your curls a few hours prior to the event. Spraying your curls with a hairspray that is malleable but has memory is best.
3. If you want tight curls, then set your hair when it is damp. If you want loose curls, then set your hair when it is dry.
4. Heat application can help hasten the process, but don’t get impatient.
5. Once your hair has set, release the curls by removing the pins. Now you can style. Be sure to use a fine comb or a rat tail comb to help smooth out sections. Remember to spray to set your style.

Women’s Make Up

1. Dark eyeliner contouring the eye and accenting the outside points help frame the eyes so they stand out.
2. Accentuate the top lashes over the bottom lashes. False eyelashes add extra glamour.
3. Women typically managed their own eyebrows by tweezing. As a result, you will notice most women had to fill in their brows to ensure the perfect arch. Eyebrows were very feminine though very strong.
4. Red full lips. Be sure to contour the lip with a color that matches the lipstick. Women didn’t typically have multiple colors in their make up kits so your lip color should be flat.
5. If you are feeling particularly exotic, add a beauty mark. They were all the rage thanks to Marilyn Monroe.
6. Remember, make up was expensive for most women and powder was often the way they accomplished their finished looks. The powder was more often, lighter than a woman’s natural complexion.
   

Men’s Hair

1. Watch an episode of Mad Men to see the many variations on the exact same shape.
2. With your hair still damp, apply gel liberally to the front of your hair from root to shaft. Then apply some gel to the back.
3. With a fine toothed comb, slick the hair straight back. Let the hair rest so you can start to see the natural part.
4. From the natural part, begin to separate the hair, slicking the top to the side and then back. The sides should be combed tightle back.
5. Once your hair is in place, take your hands and run the along the side. You can gently lift the cowlicks to give some dimpling. (Click here for additional ideas on video.)
6. If you have short hair, just be sure that it is tailored and tight. It wasn’t until the mid-sixties that we let our hair down (literally).

For more about the history of the Hollywood Confidential styles and how celebrities, then and now, are rocking them out, read the rest of Studio DNA blogpost here (it's also got additional videos with nice DIY style tricks). We look forward seeing you all in your fabulous 'dos and glamorous get-ups very soon!

No Cheesy, No Entry: Strict Dress Code Will Be Enforced

Now we can't express how much we want you blogger prom attendees to take this "prom" theme seriously. We want you to go all out with your outfit. We want you to bedazzle, we want you to accessorize, we want you to shock and awe. We want you to wear something that you would never wear anywhere else. If you don't show up en costume, sorry, but you're not getting in.

That's right, we're going to be hard asses and say that just because you're on the rsvp list doesn't guarantee you entry. If you're not dressed up in cheesy prom attire (not necessarily '80s, cheesiness of any era will do), we're not letting you in. And we can enforce it, too. Check-in for the prom will be in the Andaz lobby. Once you get past us, you will be allowed in the elevator and taken to the penthouse where the ballroom and event are.

There will be a bouncer and two blogger prom committee members who take this event seriously and who will check people off. And no amount of begging, bribing or bullying is going to get you in if you're a plain Joe or Jane.

Everyone else will have made an effort so why shouldn't you? Once you're in, you'll get to partake of all the cocktails, wine, beer and Andaz's fabulous food. There will be professional photographer, Claire Barrett, to capture your promness. You may even get a chance to win one of the many fab raffle prizes and who can forget your guaranteed bag o' goodies? Dressing up is a teeny-tiny entrance fee to pay.

And we want our guests to not be afraid of rocking the cheese, be it hoop skirts, powder blue tuxes, mullets, acid wash jeans, neon tutus, Gunne Sax bridesmaid gowns, etc. So if you were worried, "I don't want to be the only one wearing Prince's purple velvet suit!" Don't be. You are not alone and we'll make sure of that.

If you haven't gotten your outfit yet, check this post for some ideas on where to shop. There's still time to shop this weekend!

-- Caroline on Crack

What To Wear to the Prom

Lots of people have been asking us what they should wear to the Blogger Prom so here it is: Go for cheesy prom attire. Don't worry about being the only one dressed in hot pink with lace tights and huge shoulder pads because you won't be. And I'm not just addressing the ladies.

For some ideas here's what the Blogger Prom Committee is thinking of wearing:

e*starLA: B&W Houndstooth. All over. With black and white feathers in my bouffant. And tick-tack-tackity black fishnets with holes of alternating circumferences, symmatries and shapes. Work.

H.C.: Undecided on whether to do a suit jacket w fancy jeans, vest w slacks and hipstery tie, or a two/three-piece that I will have to diet to fit into (somewhat outgrew the matching slacks).

Marni: I'm going to wear the ugliest dress EVER! Because ugly is the new black? I don't actually have the dress yet, so I'm going to forage through my friends' closets till I come up with something. Or go shopping. Perhaps piece a bunch of outfits together. Doh! I don't know!

Maya: I still have my winter formal dress from high school...it's chartreuse and is poofy! We're going for funny, right?? I better not show up in this thing with everyone else wearing something that's actually, like, fashionable!

Tara: I actually just ordered a poofy, short and ugly dress on eBay that I'm hoping will fit. lol (eBay 80s prom dresses)

Me (Caroline on Crack): I'm hoping by then I can fit into that teal puffy-sleeved prom dress I wore to the Saints & Sinners prom years ago. If not, Forever 21 sure has some cute stuff. That pink dress with leopard or lacey leggings! And e*starLA and I were thinking of getting our makeup done beforehand at MAC. Fun!

BTW, here's a list of suggestions of where you can probably find some great prom wear:

• Forever 21 (Santa Monica store pictured above)
• Jet Rag
• Out of the Closet
• Shareen Vintage
  
• Stores on Melrose Avenue
• It's a Wrap
• Wasteland

If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments!