Style Spotlight: Miami Makeup Guru Making Women Beautiful One Face at a Time.

You've heard the horror stories. Girl goes to get her makeup done. Girl asks for something fabulous. Girl walks out looking like a circus clown. Girl cries and off comes the mascara. 

In a saturated market where many "artists" claim makeup supremacy, only a handful can actually stand by their work. It takes a very skillful and gifted artist to know exactly what will work best on you without taking away from that very natural beauty you want to enhance. Not every makeup artist can do that. But when Jessie Diaz, Founder and CEO of Makeup Artistry By Jessie, takes a makeup brush to your face, you can rest assured that the final product will be a work of art. 

I call Jessie a makeup guru. She's someone who sees your face as a canvas and creates a beautiful masterpiece that can often seem unattainable. Let's face it. We can try and try to do that cat eye or that smokey look on our own, but the end result is usually hot mess of eyeshadow and eyeliner smeared across our face. When Jessie brings your makeup vision to life, she gets excited with you. And this excitement comes from a place of genuine passion because she truly loves what she does for a living. 

With a schedule that has booked through the summer, it was hard to tie down one of Miami's best to answer a few questions for this blog. But being a client and a friend has its advantages. Jessie's infectious and straight up funny personality is easily detected when she chatted all things makeup with me, the Freshly Squeezed Fashionista! 

Read on to get the scoop.

FSF: I am so glad this interview is finally happening! I have been dying to share you with the world! Not that you don't already have a crazy legion of fans, but you should  have more. You're like my very own Pat McGrath and the world needs to know about you! Do the compliments ever get old? 

MABJ: Haha, no they don’t.  It’s an honor to be your Pat McGrath.

FSF: Makeup has been a hobby of yours for such a long time. But when did it become the front and center in your career?

MABJ: I always worked a regular 9-5 job and did my bridal trials at night. On Fridays, I would leave the office early so that I could make it on time to make up my brides. Saturdays and Sundays were my time to shine! Makeup has always been front and center in my life. I basically worked 7 days a week for many many years. I built my business, made a name for myself, and loved every single minute of it! In 2010, when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, I decided that it was time to refocus. Being a mom was going to be a tougher job than anything I had ever done before, so I left my office job and never looked back. Within a few months, I went from being a one-man show with an assistant to having a full staff of professional makeup artists and hair stylists working for me.

FSF: When did you know you were actually good at what you did? 

MABJ: I always knew. I was born with the talent…really!  Since middle school, I was painting all my friends' (and even some dolls' ) faces. In high school, everyone wanted me to do their makeup. I was the go-to girl. I remember when I was 17, I charged someone $20 to get their makeup done, and they paid it! I remember thinking, "WOW, this is nuts! I can actually get paid to do what I am most passionate about." It was beyond me!

FSF: Anyone that meets you knows you have a big personality. Why is that important in a job like this? 

MABJ: People like to feel comfortable around the people that surround them, especially on such a special and intimate day. My outgoing and candid personality allows me to provide that comfort for my brides. I love people, weddings, and makeup. It's the perfect combo for me! When you love what you do, it always shows and exudes a positive energy. My clients feel that energy and are attracted to it.

FSF: You're big in the Miami wedding scene. How did you get started?

MABJ: After I graduated from Florida State University in 2001 and moved back home to Miami, I began working for my family business because I needed a job that would pay my bills. That's when I started peeking my way in to the wedding industry. People started finding out that I was back in Miami, and in several months, I was getting booked for months out. Word of mouth is a pretty powerful thing.

FSF: What is your most favorite thing about working on brides?

MABJ: I am wedding obsessed! When I meet a future bride, I instantly become part of her life. I become immersed in her journey toward the biggest day of her life. I get phone calls, texts, and emails asking what photographer I like to work with or who is the best for floral arrangements. I've even been asked to be their wedding planner! But that's where I have to draw the line. Weddings are full of happiness, joy, and laughter, and I LOVE that! I don't usually see a bride's bridezilla side. I am the one that makes them look and feel beautiful, so it's always happy times with me. 

FSF: You have also done commercial, fashion, and television gigs. Which has been the most exciting for you?

MABJ: I don't have a favorite. For me, it's always exciting to see a face I've made up on TV or on a runway. It's like having my masterpiece on stage for the whole world to see! 

FSF: Let's talk beauty tips. What's one makeup trend that doesn't work on anyone? 

MABJ: I don't think there is one particular trend that doesn't work for everyone because every faces is unique. Everyone‘s face structure and skin tones are different. Something that might look terrible on one person might look absolutely fabulous on another. The key is to know what works well on each person individually and then execute it beautifully.

FSF: Have you ever had to tell a client that something isn't working for her?

MABJ: YES!!  I am really really honest with my clients. If something doesn't look good on you, I will tell you and then recommend something that does look good. I feel like I would be doing a disservice to you and to my myself as a makeup professional. I would hate for someone to let me walk out on the street looking like a clown and not tell me.

FSF: What makeup tools should every woman own to get her through the day? 

MABJ: A good blush applicator and blush. Please use blush. It brightens up your face and makes a world of difference.

FSF: What do most of your clients ask for? I'm going to guess it's the smokey eye. 

MABJ: Yes, everyone asks for a smokey eye. The funny thing is that the word  ”smokey” means something different to almost every single woman. Some girls end up with a black eye and some with a soft earth tone eye. My job as a makeup artist is to find out what it means to them and provide the best version of what they ask for.

FSF: What's your beauty routine when it comes to your face? 

MABJ: There's a Spanish saying which really doesn't translate into English well at all, but here it goes, “en casa de herrero, cuchillo de pala.”  I think the English saying is ”the shoemaker’s son always goes barefoot”. It's a lot funnier in Spanish, though. Pretty much the saying says that a skilled or knowledgeable person fails to use their skills for their own benefit or the benefit of their family. In my case, I don't wear too much makeup in my day-to-day life, but when I do, I make sure I have a lot of blush on.

FSF: What makeup trends are we going to be seeing for spring? 

MABJ: Corals, corals and more corals!

** For more information on MABJ, visit her website at http://www.jessiesierradiaz.com/

Style Spotlight: How Two Wedding Obsessed Friends are Bringing Budget Friendly Luxury to Blushing Brides

Hello my freshly squeezed fashionistas!

I am very excited to launch a weekly style spotlight on local movers and shakers in the South Florida area that are making fashion forward headlines and bringing their dreams to the masses. With time, I hope to expand not only within beauty and fashion, but also into the food and nightlife scene that continues to make waves in the growing metropolis of Miami. 

I couldn't have done my first spotlight without a little help from my friends. Literally. It gives me great pleasure to get to talk to two very dear friends, who left their day jobs, took their vision of luxury bridal consignment, and made it into a booming reality of over 300 dresses. And what bride doesn't love a good deal on a name brand wedding dress? 

I sat down with Viviana and Jenise, Co-founders of La Vie En Blanc, to dish on all things budget, brides, and their big day! 

FSF: First off, I love the fact that I'm interviewing two of my dearest friends, so this is going to be fun right off the bat! How are you guys doing? I always picture you guys drowning in a sea of wedding dresses. Am I right? 

LVEB: Thanks so much for taking the time to get to know us a little better - well, at least the La Vie En Blanc side of us. We're actually doing great! Your imagination is fairly accurate. We feel fortunate to be doing something we love and are so passionate about. We joke that we bleed white. 

FSF: Walk me through a typical work day at LVEB. What does it look like? 

LVEB: Well it's hectic and we love it.  Between meeting with brides shopping our collection and visiting bridal shops and individual consignors to pick up gowns, we keep pretty busy.  We respond daily to brides looking for specific designer gowns and hoping we have it for less. There are the visits to luxury properties throughout South Florida to plan our upcoming trunk shows.  We also manage to squeeze in some champagne and mani/pedi meetings which are definitely our favorite! 

FSF: How many dresses are currently in your inventory? 

LVEB: At any given point, we have about 300 bridal gowns on hand. And on top of that, we have a collection of veils, accessories and special occasion gowns too.

FSF: Alright, so before we go any further, lets talk about how LVEB was born. How did bridal consignment come about? And why bridal consignment? 

LVEB: We had both been in half a dozen weddings and planned our own weddings knowing the pain of that "wedding budget". We realized there was a void in the South Florida bridal market. There were brides compromising on some aspect of their dream wedding to have an out-of-budget designer gown they just had to have.  We knew if we could get these gowns for less, brides would line up for them! And we'd also be helping past brides who had invested so much to get some money back or help bridal shops who were stuck with samples make room for their new collections.  It was always important to us that a bride wouldn't miss out on the luxurious experience of buying her wedding dress. And that's really what we love most about La Vie En Blanc - we provide a luxury experience for all brides, regardless of the their budget.

FSF: What do you say to potential brides who might be hesitant about purchasing a consigned dress? 

LVEB: It's so important to us that brides are 100% sure when they say yes to the dress! Some brides may be hesitant to buy a dress that's not being ordered directly from the designer for them, but once they see the condition of our gowns and the savings they are getting by shopping La Vie En Blanc, they are quickly believers! Who wouldn't be when you are getting a Vera Wang or Pronovias in new or like-new condition for a fraction of the price!

FSF: I feel like for me, consigning a wedding dress is a no brainer. Most wedding dresses don't get reused or passed down like many brides like to think. Do you often come across brides that have a hard time letting go of dresses? 

LVEB: When brides contact us, they are usually looking to clear up some space in their closet or maybe pay off a credit card! We encourage brides to keep at least one thing they wore on their wedding day - maybe a veil or a headpiece - something that can be passed down in the family. But most girls realize that every bride wants her own dress shopping experience, so it's not too hard to let the bridal gown go. 

FSF: What bridal trends are we seeing for 2014? In your opinion, what is one thing that every bride should have on her big day? 

LVEB: That's two questions! We are seeing delicate laces, daring necklines, illusion backs, vintage inspirations, romantic looks ... But we also see brides who hold true to classic traditional styles. That's the beauty of what we do - when a bride walks into La Vie En Blanc, it is our goal to get to know her style so that we can help her find the most important dress she will ever wear without breaking her entire budget. 

There's one thing that every bride should have on her big day and that never ever goes out of style - that's a radiant  smile - It's the one day in a woman's life where she truly sets the tone for the entire day.  The look on a bride's face when she walks down the aisle or has her first dance is really the most memorable thing she can wear.  Every bride should feel her most beautiful on her big day. 

FSF: Do you have a favorite dress? It's like asking you to pick a favorite kid, but you have to have one! 

A: Yea, it is a lot like asking a mom if she has a favorite child! Honestly, we love so many of our gowns. We love to play the game of "which gown would we wear if we were getting married now" ... and the answer changes every week! There are so many beautiful and breathtaking gowns plus trends and styles are constantly evolving. That's the beauty of fashion and bridal couture. Right now, we are really loving Jenny Packham and Monique Lhuillier is always on our list.  

FSF: Did you anticipate the success of LVEB when you first started? What are you most proud of? 

LVEB: We always believed in the concept. We also really believe in each other! Most of all, we are fairly certain we have someone up there watching over us every day.  We're proud of a few things, but the most humbling is the overwhelming response from brides and their referrals. We help one bride find her dream dress at a fraction of the price, then she sends her friends and they send their friends. It's a reflection of how satisfied our brides feel when they leave La Vie En Blanc. We can't think of a better measure of customer satisfaction than a bride who is willing to endorse us and send her loved ones to have the same amazing experience she had. It's actually quite flattering! 

FSF: You're friends and business partners. Do you almost feel like you're married after spending so much time together? Finish each other's sentences? 

LVEB: Something like that, yes! It's such a blessing to find a business partner who you trust and respect. Because it is like we are married in a way! We were friends before partners - but never had we imagined we'd be this close. We rely on each other very much. And we definitely have a newfound respect for each other. For us, communication is so important. We really don't hold back; we constantly use each other as a source of inspiration and motivation. What we are able to create and achieve when we are working together increases exponentially! 

FSF: Looking back on both your wedding days, anything you would do different now that you have even more of an inside scoop of the booming bridal industry? 

LVEB: Yes! Buy a reloved gown!!! I always say, "I could have bought new appliances for my new house or taken another vacation as newlyweds."

** FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LVEB, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.VIEENBLANC.COM. FOLLOW THEM ON INSTAGRAM AT @VIEENBLANC. #LAVIEENBLANC **

In Style, 

Kat