55 Secret Street

Backstage Makeup and Hair: Make Up Forever at Mara Hoffman Spring 2012

Make Up Forever Alliance key artist Lottie working on model

 

Make Up For Ever Alliance key make up artist Lottie described the inspiration for the look as a “Mexican woman.” Lottie wanted the models to look like “strong powerful women” so the look featured strong brows, contoured cheeks and face. “Think Frida Kahlo without the unibrow,” Lottie said of the bold brows.

 

 
Make up For Ever Alliance team sculpting the brow look

According to Lottie, the make up look was “more about contouring than color."  The Make Up For Ever products and techniques used to achieve the look:

 

Face and Cheeks: Lottie used  Make Up For Ever's HD Invisible Cover Foundation to the face to give the models a flawless canvas. Cheeks were sculpted using MUFE eye shadows in #76 and #98. The complexion was illuminated using MUFE Uplight Using with MUF Star Powder #902 and #974.

 

Eyes:  Lottie shaded the eyes using MUFE eye shadow in #76 topped with MUFE Star Power in #930 and #974. Next, she lined the eyes first with Kohl Pencil 1K in black and then added MUFE Flash Color #111MAKE UP FOR EVER 12 Flash Color Case ($216 Value) 12 Flash Color Case for a slightly worn messy look.  A thick coat of MUFE Smoky Lash Mascara was used to complete the look.

 

Lips: Rouge Artist Intense #39 was used on the lips to create a light shade of peach pink and glossy Full #10 was added on top for shine.

 

HAIR

 

Nick Irwin of Tigi and team worked magic on the hair. The sculpted look started with a single ponytail, then the hair was twisted and pined on top of the the hair. Pieces of synthetic hair and fabric from the collection (pre woven) were sculpted to created large sculpted top knots. I watched them as they created the hair pieces and I was was so intrigued I was tempted to grab some hair and start twisting with them.

 

 
Hair stylist Nick Irwin sculpting hair design.

 

Tigi team works on twisting synthetic hair with Mara Hoffman fabric.

 

Final hair look

 
Photos by Nicole La Mons

Backstage Beauty: Make Up For Ever at Cynthia Rowley Spring 2012

 

A strong brown and bare lips was the focus for Cynthia Rowley's make up look during the Spring 2012 Collection.  Make Up For Ever Alliance lead makeup artist Lottie explained the goal was to give the models a “masculine look”. Lottie drew inspiration from Cynthia’s collection to create a “sporty fresh look for Spring.” The look was very clean, cool and hints of sweat and glowing skin.

To achieve the look:

 

 

Cheeks: Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation was added for the base and slight contour was created using Make up For Ever Eye shadows in #76 and #98. Skin was illuminated using  Uplight Face Luminizer Gel #12 along with Star Powder #902 and #974 To give the skin a dewy, glistening finish, she sprayed the face with Make  Up For Ever's Sweat Effects Gel (I need to try that stat).

 

 

Eyes: To give the brows a look of being lower, Lottie added shadow into and under the browns in #17 or #98 depending on the skin tone. The eye lids were kept simple and bare and yes were finished with a thick coat of Smoky Lash Mascara in #1 black and #3 brown.

 

Lips: Barely there lips were touched with a hint of MUF's Moisturizing Lip Balm

 

Finished look

 

 

 Photos by Nicole La Mons

Backstage Makeup and Nails: Ohne Titel Spring 2012

 

"Light-hearted, elegant makeup" was the inspiration behind the make up look for the Ohne Titel Spring 2012 Collection. Lead makeup artist Lisa Butler for MAC Cosmetics and the MAC Pro Team created the look by bringing the focus to the brows while leaving lips nude.

 

To achieve the elegant look of "clean natural skin," skin was primed with MAC 'Prep + Prime' Skin Brightening Serum. In place of foundation, Studio Finish was used only where needed. The statement brows were achieved by brushing brows outward using MAC eyebrow brush #205. Brows were then given shape with warm brown shadows in Espresso, Bark and Brown. Lips were kept looking bare by finger tapping on Pearl & Nude Cream Color Base to create a soft texture.

 

 

To achieve the elegant look on the eyes, Graphblack Technakohl Eye Liner was applied on the eyes lids in between lashes, blended with MAC's #316 brush. Gray eye kohl in Phone Number was applied and blended with the #228 Mini Shader Brush to achieve a soft effect. A light coat of Brow Set (above) in clear was applied to the lashes to finish the look.

 

Finished look

Pritti NYC was on hand to add an elegant touch to nails using a soft matte gray custom color made for Ohne Title show  in Moss Champion.

 

 

  
Photos by Nicole La Mons

Duro Olowu Spring 2012

 

I missed Duro Olowu's show last season and I vowed not to make that mistake again.  I arrived just in time to see whirling models selected by modeling legend Bethann Hardison bring the Nigerian-British designer's collection to life.  The vibrant blend of graphic prints (floral and leopard) and satiny textures were inspired by Jacque Henri Lartigue photographs of women lounging on the beaches of the French Riviera in the early 1930s.

I also had a chance to meet Solange Knowles (and her hair!) and celebrated artists Kara Walker and Lorna Simpson, a nice bonus due  to the presence of Olowu's wife Thelma Golden.  Anna Wintour and several Vogue editors stopped by, as did my friend Constance White, Essence's new Editor-in-Chief. 

Sigail Currie and Nana Keita

By the way, that's Georgie Badiel slaying in the purple.