Boston Chef Trades In Her Apron for Stilettos In a Drop-Dead Gorgeous Photoshoot

Meet Rachel Appelbaum, the Sous Chef at Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks. When meeting Rachel for the first time you are immediately taken back by her gorgeous eyes and calm demeanor (which we have a feeling comes in handy in the heat of the kitchen). If you’ve ever met a chef, you know that their hours are unpredictable and strenuous, sometimes working on their feet until 3am. With this type of schedule, Rachel admits it’s hard to find time to treat herself, so we thought we’d take care of that for her. With the help of some of the city’s top beauty experts, we were able to treat Rachel to a day of much need pampering. Here’s how we did it:

The Process

Stop 1: Custom eyelash extensions by Heather Hickson at Lash Lamour

Stop 2: Cut and Color at by Cristina Viselli at Viselli Salon

The Shoot: Makeover Day 

Rachel’s day of pampering began bright and early at Hotel Commonwealth, located in the heart of Kenmore Square. Hotel Commonwealth is the perfect blend of luxury and urban vibrance, a theme that was carried throughout the day. We were lucky enough to be able to shoot in not one but two of their signature suites – The Loft, and the Executive Suite. We finished off the day shooting in their modern yet timeless lobby, that was decorated for the holidays to feel comfortable and cozy.

At 10am sharp, Chimene Ebode-Messi (a professional makeup artist for MLR Artist Management) begun Rachel’s day of beauty followed by hair styling by Cristina and Kashmir from Viselli Salon. 

For the shoot, Chimene opted for a more natural look, capitalizing on Rachel’s beautiful eyes and gorgeous skin tone. Fun Fact: Chimene has styled for Trina Turk, JetBlue Airways, and most recently giving hundreds of makeup lessons to women at the Massachusetts Conference for Women, held here in Boston.

For Rachel’s color, Cristina did a blonde balayage, followed by a Kevin Murphy treatment to keep Rachel’s hair healthy and soft. On the day of the shoot, Rachel’s hair was transformed into four different styles that changed with each look. Cristina and Kashmir recently lent their styling expertise to New York Fashion Week where they styled at Nancy Vuu, Niiko Ko and Ayanat NY!

The Complete Package

You can’t have a glamorous new look without a new wardrobe right? Each look that Rachel wore was picked and styled with her in mind from Saks Fifth Avenue in the Prudential. Rachel was outfitted to the 9’s, wearing Philip Lim, Dior, and more.

See more of Rachel’s style evolution by scrolling through the pictures below: 

Look 1:

When stepping foot into the executive suite at the Hotel Commonwealth, the first thing you notice is the incredible, chic window seat over looking the ever-bustling Commonwealth Ave. and Kenmore Square (we couldn’t resist a gorgeous shot on it!) Fitted with the Hotel Commonwealth’s signature houndstooth pattern, the window seat was the perfect spot to showcase the “cool-girl vibes” we created with Rachel’s first look. On top, Rachel donned a funky white bomber jacket, that was paired with a black track pant, and crystal white Dior sneakers.

Bomber Jacket – 3.1 Phillip Lim

Sneakers – Dior

For a woman on the go, proper travel gear is essential. This backpack from M0851 on Newbury Street, is the perfect bag for hustling from Rachel’s home in Jamaica Plain to Kenmore Square. M0851, known for it’s leather goods,

Look 2:

Rachel’s next look (admittedly her favorite) was a hooded sweatshirt dress that was paired with a pair of sexy over the knee boots. Perfect for dinner with friends, or even a romantic date.

Our second location was in the industrial chic urban loft. This loft showcases the fresh, young flavor of the Hotel. This suite is a one-bedroom, 1,000 square foot room on the tipty top of the hotel. Furnished with unique and carefully curated furnishings, this loft perfectly captured Rachel’s young spirit.

Hooded Sweatshirt Dress – Public School

Over-The-Knee Flat Boots – Gianvito Rossi

Look 3:

Fun Fact: all of the art showcased in the entire hotel is created by current Boston University students.

To lengthen and thicken Rachel’s natural eyelashes, Heather Hickson from Lash L’Amour applied a set of individual eyelash extensions. These lashes will last Rachel up to three weeks, and left her feeling fresh, wide eyed, and flawless.  

Turtleneck Sweater – Helmut Lang

Cropped Wool Jacket – Helmut Lang

Pleated Skirt – Helmut Lang

Look 4:

For the last look of the day, we captured Rachel’s glamorous side and had her slip into a stunning royal blue dress. Cristina and Kashmir pumped up the hair volume and the drama for a jaw-dropping evening look.

One Shoulder Dress – Solace London

The Glam Squad