Wendy Kimmell of Visage Joli; Wendy at work.
Wendy Kimmell is owner of Visage Joli in Chicago and an experienced makeup artist. From 1987–1996, she was the guests’ makeup artist for The Oprah Winfrey Show. She has also done makeup for national commercials including Kraft, Head & Shoulders and Pizza Hut. She was 1st Assistant to Key Makeup on the movie Rudy. And since 1993, she has been the senior makeup artist for CBS 2 Chicago.
I can personally vouch for Visage Joli: Wendy and her team did my bridal makeup and hair two years and it turned out fabulous. She and her team helped me start out my wedding day relaxed and stress-free—which any bride will tell you is truly appreciated. She even made sure I ate lunch!
Visage Joli is an award-winning on-location bridal makeup & team hair. We are comprised of pros from the television and film industries with 25 years of experience. Our makeup artists are airbrush-certified and their expertise is based in fine arts education. Our hair stylists can do anything a bride and her mom and attendants desire, from a simple blow dry to the most cutting edge up-do. We pamper and relax bridal parties and have lots of fun with them.
Because this is my business, I can choose the quality of the hair and makeup artists who I work with. We can work directly with the brides so that they can get to know us, and see that we will give them the best service possible—all the way up to and including their wedding day. What I love most about my work is enhancing women’s natural beauty!
I have been fortunate to work with some wonderful media figures & celebrities. My favorites were Hilary Clinton, James Earl Jones, Anne Rice, the cast of Friends (loved Jennifer Aniston & David Schwimmer!), Clint Black, Rosie O’Donnell, Tom Hanks, Martha Stewart & Michael Douglas.
I think the best qualities that a small business owner can have are flexibility and patience. Brides are very often overwhelmed, so what they may like at their makeup trial can change after they “live with a look” for 12 hours. Being agreeable with what a client wants or with sudden changes are very important to the success of a business.
The most fun project that I have worked on recently was The Blues Brothers Revue produced by Judy Belushi. The actors who play Jake and Elwood were fabulous and sweet. And I got to make-up Paul Shaffer and “Father Guido Sarducci” from Saturday Night Live! It was a very enjoyable day.