Author: Amra and Elma Beganovich

As we transition from arctic winter cold to milder spring weather, it is difficult to coordinate out makeup and outfits to the erratic weather patterns. Fortunately, Amra and Elma has some helpful clothing and skincare advice to help urbanites face any season fashionably.

How does your makeup differ from winter to spring?

Amra: In winter, I love to use darker colors – smokey eyes or deep red lips. In springtime, I like to incorporate livelier colors; I will use pink-ish blush tones, berry lipglosses, and other colors that remind me of the season. I generally decide on makeup based on my mood for that day; if I am feeling daring, I will use bolder colors. If I am in a hurry, I will stick to my natural palette.

Elma: With my makeup, I am definitely on the lighter-end in the spring; I go from matte maroon lipsticks to peachy hues and lip-glosses. Also, importantly, I start using my SPF 50 Supergoop makeup setting spray. As I grow older, I am more conscious about the sun’s rays and the damage they can do to one’s skin. Lastly, I love to experiment with bronzers (caveat: make sure to blend-in with your skin really well and that the bronzer is not too dark/orange for your skin tone). Bronzers are great to contour my face for an evening party and add some color to my neck and chest areas.

How do you transition your skincare? Does your skin need to recover from the dry winter?

Amra: My skin is very dry in the winter, so I tend to keep it extra moist by using a hydrating cleanser, oil or a hydrating serum and a heavier moisturizer (especially while sleeping). When the warmer weather arrives, I switch to a mild cleanser that is intended for normal skin and use a lightweight moisturizer. I always maintain my nighttime cleansing routine the same by using an extra hydrating sleeping mask or a lotion. However, during the day, I usually wear just a hydrating serum and some tinted moisturizer.

Elma: During the spring, I definitely back off of argan oil; I use Josie Maran’s argan oil face wash and Acure’s argan oil, which is coupled with coconut oil. During the winter, I use argan oil products in addition to my moisturizer. At the end of the day, there is nothing better for your skin than humidity, which allows your skin to plump up and hydrate naturally. Also, I would advise everyone to continue using facemasks; currently, I am loving the Organic Pharmacy’s Enzyme Peel Mask. Organic Pharmacy is a cruelty-free brand that has an array of amazing products, and is not terribly costly either. Hence, definitely, my skin needs to recover from the dry winter, perhaps with a trip to Miami. ☺

What products are you ready to utilize again for spring?

Amra: I recently discovered a skincare line by a brand called MDSUN, and they have become one of my favorites; their Super Hydration B Serum is great, and I also love to wear their Repair Moisturizer as a base before applying any makeup. Diorskin makes an amazing foundation, and I wear NUDE Skin Glowing Makeup in 031. Another great product is Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray for when you are getting out of the gym or when you want to just let your hair air dry. I use this spray to add volume to my hair by spraying it on roots, or when I just want beach waves and have no time to style my hair.

Elma: I am ready to use my bright-colored lip-glosses and lipsticks. I love putting on a dash of shimmer on my eyelids and then adding a bright lip-color. Of course, the light make-up is easy to pull off on sun kissed skin.

Transitioning from winter to spring, NYC has both unseasonably warm and chilly days. What clothing do you have in your arsenal to deal with it?

Amra: I love to invest into pieces that I know I can easily wear from winter to spring, and even summer. One of my staple pieces is a motto jacket; in winter, I wear it underneath a coat or over a thick sweater. In the springtime (and sometimes in the summer), I will throw it over a button down, jean jumpsuit, a dress, or pretty much anything I can. Lately, I have also been into trench coats and love how easily they can be worn with different pieces from my wardrobe. Trendy sneakers are always great, and they work well in the spring and summer just as they did in the winter; I love to wear them in the springtime with dresses and skirts.

Elma: One of my best friends during the transition period is a great leather jacket or a trench coat. On a really breezy day, I like to have a scarf on hand that is easy to throw on and put back in my purse when the temperature rises again. I advise to have in your closet a black leather jacket and a camel trench coat, both of which are easy to combine with pretty much anything in one’s wardrobe.

What styles, garments and prints are you excited to wear for spring?

Amra: I am excited about wearing fun blazers that I can finally show-off; in the wintertime, they are usually hidden away beneath my coat. I also love wearing light colored sneakers and sandals. My favorites for this spring include sneakers in pastel colors and bohemian sandals with studs, fringe, and/or interesting golden/silver details. I am also looking forward to wearing denim skirts and shorts; there is something so liberating in being able to throw on just a tee with a great denim skirt before you takeoff for the day.

Elma: I am thrilled to be wearing fun chokers, off-shoulder tops and dresses, and espadrilles with fun patches. Also, I am looking forward to trying on ¾ length pleated pants, which look like they are going to be a big hit this season, and tops and dresses with lace details are of course a must during the warm seasons.

For more fashionable posts from the sisters, check out their website. You can also follow them on their Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

The ever-fashionable Amra and Elma were all around NYC for New York Fashion Week, attending shows and meeting designers well as industry icons. The stylish sisters let us in on some of their favorite designers and how they got their covetable NYFW looks.

Who are some of your favorite designers?

Some of our favorite designers who showcased during NYFW are Marc Jacobs, Desigual, and Alice and Olivia. They all had spectacular showings and infused art with fashion. Alice and Olivia did this particularly well by having a day in the life of artists living in the late ‘70s. Stacey Bendet used the Grateful Dead memorabilia to draw inspiration, and even had a half naked man painted by a model in her studio to truly give that ‘70s vibe. I think almost all of the designers worked around the clock to bring to life their visions and come-up with spectacular productions from full-blown runway shows to fashion-meets-art presentations.

What are some of your favorite aspects of Fashion Week?

For us, we love meeting with our influencer friends who come to town from all across the world, and we love meeting new people from all walks of life, weather it is other influencers, designers or entrepreneurs. We understand that this is first and foremost a business, many people get caught-up in the production side of it. So to us, the most fascinating part is seeing how all of the business pieces fit together to make what is in effect a large chunk of the fashion industry. Also, you have young entrepreneurs, who are budding and taking advantage of the digital space to become lead designers or major influencers. Lastly, there is the production side of it, which of course is aesthetically fascinating and easy to loose yourself in with all of its glamour and splendor.

How do you choose the perfect outfit for attending NYFW events?

We think of the designer whose shows we are attending, and sometimes I want to mimic that persona while still staying true to my own brand. Thus, it is almost a delicate balance to craft an appropriate outfit for a fashion show. Also, we have had a lot of help during NYFW from beauty salons, designers, and PRs with whose help we put looks together for NYFW shows and presentations. Many designers like to dress-us to keep us in the spirit of the brand; hence, we went to a lot of fittings, which can be hectic if done last minute and a lot of showpieces are already gone. If a designer is not dressing us for his/her show, then another designer readily jumps-in to dress us; so, it can actually be quite hectic with fittings and deliveries in a timely manner. In another words, there is a lot of careful planning going into NYFW wardrobe.



How does Fashion Week in New York compare to those in other countries?

NYFW brings-in a truly international crowd and NYC becomes the “it” destination for the entire global fashion community, i.e., all eyes really are on New York. In contrast, fashion week in other countries may be more of a local nature. Hence, it is not only about the local designers but it is also about the local crowds. This is probably why NYFW is one of the most favored—not only for the scale of the shows but for the crowd that it attracts as well.

For more fashionable posts from the sisters, check out their website. You can also follow them on their Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Stylish sisters, Amra and Elma Beganovich tell Downtown which clothing pieces they will be rocking for the holidays as well as share tips on how they maintain glamorous hair and makeup in the wayward winter weather.

How do you dress fashionably in cold weather?

Elma: I have always been a fan of layering; thus, for me, winter is sort of a special treat because I have the chance to use my creative side to put together (what I hope to be) spectacular looks. Caveat—I would advise layering the right fabrics, which means fabrics that are not too bulky when paired together. For instance, pair a silk blouse with an oversized knitted cardigan to pull off an office look or put together a cream knitted turtleneck with a camel cape to add a bit of casual holiday glamour. Then, who can resist long gloves with ¾ length sleeved coat? This is another touch of Old Hollywood glamour that you can add to that winter charm. Another styling tip for the cold weather is to opt an oversized wide blanket scarf and cozy gloves that are cashmere lined.

Amra: Personally, I believe that cold weather lends itself to more fashionable ensembles; you are able to layer different textures and accessories. Also, you can wear striking shoes like over the knee ones I am currently really into. Oversized cozy sweaters go really well with everything from pencil skirts to jeans. I also love hats, particularly beanies and fedoras. A great scarf can keep you warm but also serve as an amazing statement piece; plaid scarfs are trendy and effortless.

What are some styles that are perfect for a holiday party?

Elma: I would definitely say sheer (if you can stand the cold) tops to go over your holiday dress. Alternatively, I would try dresses with lace details, e.g., dresses with lace sleeves or backs, or a lace boatneck. Also, to get a lot of mileage out of any cocktail dress, I would suggest opting for an LBD with lace detail, which can be worn during (almost) any season.

Amra: When it comes to dressing up for the holidays, I believe that less is more. Elegant simple black, gray, or a beige dress looks timeless when combined with a classic pump or peep toe booties. I am really into simple clothing at the moment with emphasis on few but striking accessories. I also love dark lipstick for winter parties; deep red (or if you are daring “vampy” colored) lips are edgy but elegant.

What are some makeup and hair tricks for the holidays? 

Elma: Makeup tricks for the holidays—always have a matte red lipstick and shimmering face luminizer on hand, and those two are sure to turn heads. Besides using a powder-like highlighter around my cheekbones, I mix my eye cream with a highlighting skin tint, “Feeling Younger” from Lush, to illuminate my brow bones. In the winter, since we spend a lot of time indoors where the air is dry, moisturizing it properly (I use a face cream infused with coconut and argan oil).

Amra: Fishtail braid is my go to hair style when I have about 5 minutes to do my hair and need to look put together; I even did my own fish tail braid for a gala I went to this winter, and it looked amazing. For makeup, I love liquid eyeliner and sparkles. I try and always emphasize one feature of my face: either eyes or lips, but never both. If I go for cat eyes with silver or gold sparkles/glitter on my lids, I will use a nude lip-gloss. Otherwise, I like wearing deep red or purple lipstick with just mascara.

For more fashionable posts from the sisters, check out their website. You can also follow them on their Instagram, twitter and facebook.