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Reality show to seek new fashion designer

Forget his Nantucket neighbors. Tommy Hilfiger is running with a new crowd this summer, including Miss Minnesota, a professional skateboarder and a stay-at-home mom from St. Louis.

They're among the 16 contestants on CBS's new reality show The Cut, which aims to recreate Hilfiger's own rags-to-riches story. They'll live "Tommy's life in fast forward" and be faced with assignments that test their talent, business acumen, sales and marketing savvy, social skills, resourcefulness and, of course, sense of style.

Hilfiger hosts the show, and the winner will design a collection under his label.

The participants are Felix, 35, a skateboarder from Los Angeles; Jeff, 42, a salesman from Chicago; Deanna, 23, a retail manager and stylist for a trendy shop in Los Angeles; Chris, 26, a San Francisco student and Hilfiger fanatic; We, 25, a creative director from New Orleans; Jessica, 22, Miss Minnesota USA; Vlada, 24, a Russian sales associated who now lives in Chesterfield, Mo.; and Julie, 37, a mother from St. Louis with three children.

Also, Liz, 30, a publisher-editor from Beverly Hills, Calif.; Amy, 26, a fashion stylist from Chicago; Chris, 25, a Nashville restaurateur; Shauna, 39, a socialite and mother from New Orleans; Rob, 35, a graphic designer from Brooklyn, N.Y., who also has five stepchildren; Tommy, 42, a Chicago teacher and aspiring couture designer; Princess, 22, a freelance designer from Philadelphia; and James, 27, from Encinitas, Calif., who works in production for a sportswear company.

The show premieres at 8 p.m. June 9.

"Beach' instead of bleach

Want a head start on your summer look? Brad Johns, the creative director of the Avon Salon & Spa, says you should "beach" your hair.

Beaching is gradual highlights that are lightest in the front and darker in the back, mimicking what really happens to hair when you're sunning yourself, Johns explains.

It's youthful and looks more natural than other color treatments, he says.

Johns, who has performed the treatment for Brooke Shields and Natasha Richardson, was inspired to create the coloring technique after seeing "a beautiful sun-kissed child" on the beach one day.

Brush up on beauty

Beauty professionals always espouse the virtues of makeup brushes, but it's not always easy to pick the right one for the job when faced with a bouquet of soft hair and long, slim stems.

Clinique, which launched a collection of brushes with antimicrobial technology, offers this guide:

* The powder brush has the largest bulb. It has a loose, round dome for application of pressed and loose powder. It helps set the foundation.

* The blush brush is next in size and is shaped for the apples of the cheeks with a flatter top than a powder brush. The large size helps with blending of powder blush without streaking or harsh edges. Start at the apple and blend outward.

* An eye-shader brush should be large enough to cover the entire eyelid and is used more for blending than application.

* An eye-shadow brush is short and stout but soft. It's for application and to highlight the browbone.

* A concealer brush is round with firm yet flexible bristles to provide control under the delicate eye area. It also can be used for spot concealing on the rest of the face.

* The eye-contour brush also has a rounded shape to create contour on the outer corner of lids and the crease, and to create definition or to smudge shadow for a smoky look. Start from the outside corner and blend inward.

* The eye-definer brush has a firm feel and sharp, slanted shape. The angle helps with control when lining the eye with a dark shade of shadow.

All brushes need to be cleaned and stored properly because brushes often are kept in the bathroom where moisture and humidity are constant, factors that can lead to mold, fungus and bacteria.

[Last modified May 17, 2005, 09:10:37]