Seasons have the ability to creep up on us faster than Edward Cullen in a Bella emergency. You walk into a store in mid-August in full summer mode and there they are—displays of denim, burnt colors and light sweaters—fall already!? It’s not that we don’t love a fresh new season with endless beauty possibilities—it’s just a bit of a buzz kill to look so far into the future instead of capitalizing on the current season. Here at MDC we totally get that. So let’s take a break from reviewing what is happening at New York Fashion Week and planning for spring 2014 and show some trends we are seeing that you can wear on right now.

The Ever Amazing, Effortlessly Chic Top Knot

Hairstylist and Garnier spokesperson Tommy Buckett broke it down for us after we fell in love with the top knot (again) at the Kate Spade Spring 2014 presentation. “We are not reinventing anything. The team at Kate Spade wanted to achieve an accessible look that a normal girl would wear,” he said.

Start with Garnier Fructis Power Putty Surfer Hair in wet or dry hair. Apply a little to the hair and tip upside down. Use your fingers or a brush, really get the back tight, and secure with elastic. Wrap the hair around the pony tail base and secure with 4-6 bobby pins. Apply hair spray around the nape. For the perfect amount of “messy” make sure the pony tail is very tight and after the bun is secured, rub the palm of your hands on the crown of your head back and forth to rough it up just a little.

Not enough hair for a top knot? Buckett recommended pinning an extension into the pony tail. Add a touch more surfer putty and spray some Garnier Fructis Volume Extend Dry Shampoo for texture.

 

True Navy Nails

Spotted at Costello Tagliapietra: a matte navy must-have manicure. Manicurist Michelle Saunders coined this nail look the “1-1-1” one coat of essie midnight cami, one coat of essie mademoiselle and one coat of matte about you. She said that navy can be an amazing neutral so don’t be afraid to wear it anytime, anywhere, especially with this stylish matte texture.

Saunders recommended starting each shade on one pinky and once finished with the other pinky, the 10th finger, you can start on the next color. She said to be extra cautious using the matte about you top coat: “Matte can be very tricky. It may look dry, but it takes longer so wait an extra few minutes to be sure.”

 

Classic Cat Eye

Makeup artist Gabriel Almodovar created a beautiful, drawn out cat eye at the ELLE FashionNext Awards, which recognizes and awards up and coming designers still in school. A look that seems to be popping up everywhere in all kinds of crazy ways (Have you seen our wild take on the cat eye yet?), Almodovar wanted to bring it back to the basics.

He used Maybelline Master Drama Cream Pencil in Midnight Master and an angled brush. To create the perfect cat eye wing, Almodovar recommends imagining the curvature of your bottom lash line continuing. That is the extension of where the wing should be for you personally. Once the liner is applied, he used the angled brush to pull it out for slight exaggeration.

To let the cat eye take the spotlight, Almodovar used Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes Mascara only on the top lashes; no eyeliner or mascara underneath—only concealer.

 

Now it is time to start trend-setting! By the time Spring rolls around you will have these looks mastered. Which one will you try first? Tell us by commenting below!