MATCHY MATCHY

Matchy, matchy: understated yet bold 

The backdrop for this project were the beautiful bougainvillea blooms in outback Cloncurry. In a harsh and dry landscape these vibrant paper thin flowers were a stunning contrast. I was so inspired by the colour that I wanted to experiment with pink. It's not a colour I usually reach for in a makeup look, and it's certainly not present in my wardrobe. Yet here, I loved the outcome, and I owe it all to a "matchy, matchy" approach. 

This blog post isn't really deep and isn't very insightful, but I want to show people how you can make "matchy, matchy" a relevant beauty statement, and I want to encourage people to experiment and have fun. This is a great way to incorporate colour into your look in a really seemless and surprisingly subtle way. 

Whether you're looking to elevate a simple outfit with a bold makeup, redecorate your home or restyle an outfit the trick with "matchy, matchy" is textures and hues. In this look I contrasted a bright pink satin lip with a deeper burgundy and violet shimmer shadow on the eyes. I finished the look with a peachy pink blush resulting in a subtle but unmistakable pink statement look. 

"Matchy, matchy" offers a seemless cohesion, and in this look pink was the perfect route to add colour and vibrancy to an otherwise dark and simple outfit. We accessorised with these gorgeous black earrings peppered with shards of pink, violet and icy blue. 

Understated yet bold. 

 By Anke Bezuidenhout

Model: Elné Bezuidenhout

FRESH

simplicity is the ultimate sophistication 

INGREDIENTS

fresh raspberries

smooth ricotta cheese

raw honey 

pane di casa rye bread

METHOD 

1. spread a thick layer of ricotta cheese over the toasted bread 

2. drizzle over a generous amount of honey 

3. top with raspberries 

4. enjoy with a coffee and good book

Leonardo da Vinci once said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication". 

Well, I can't argue with genius.

I've always admired the timeless elegance of simplicity. It requires a certain element of mastery, knowing what to include and what noise to cancel out. 

I've fallen in love with this breakfast toast variation, which I believe epitomises simplistic artistry. There's no need to over complicate this meal because the four key ingredients really speak for themselves, indeed a case of quality over quantity. The colours contrast beautifully and the flavours transition seamlessly into each other, from the creaminess of the ricotta to the tartness of the fresh raspberries. 

I felt inspired to create a makeup look which captured the essence of this meal, and was really pleased with the end result. By using two different red lip products I was able to imitate the different reds in a raspberry and I used golden honey coloured shadows as tribute to the drizzle of honey. The makeup look emulated the colours of my breakfast creation, and I believe was just as effectively minimalistic. Especially in beauty and fashion, simplicity lets the person shine through. The makeup isn't wearing you, but rather you're wearing it. The colours are a touch of creativity, and furthermore, the look simply enhances your natural beauty. 

I love how this rule translates to so many facets of your life. If anyone is looking for an uplifting message today, it's to experiment and have fun. Don't sweat it, keep things simple and consider whether your life needs more quality than quantity. After all, simplicity IS the ultimate sophistication. 

 

  MODEL: Elné Bezuidenhout 

PHOTOGRAPHY, MAKEUP, WORDS: Anke Bezuidenhout