Oh, How Bittersweet! Last Day of Fashion Week...

I am forever in eternal bliss attending fashion week this week and having the opportunity to experience a totally different world from what I am used to. I think I've expressed this before that I love all things fashion and it was great to see how shows are prepared first hand. I've met so many people (Jay McCarroll, Nigel Barker, Martha Stewart, Andre Leon Talley, Vanessa, Angela and Russy Simmons, Kelly Osborn, Jay Alexander...to name a few), and made great connections and I think going to Fashion Week not only opened my eyes on how designers and their team prepare shows, but also opened the door for me to pursue my career in fashion. I am eternally grateful.

Thanks Ana, and Heather for being great point-people and making me feel comfortable in a mound of chaos called "Call-time", thanks to Guido, John Ruidant, Hanan, Yannick, Italo, Odile Gilbert, Christian McCulloch, Pat McGrath, Fulvia, Polly Osmond, Ayako, David Cruz, Diane, Rodney Cutler, Nancy Morena for being such great participants when asked, "So...what's the look?"

All-in-all I had a great time, brushed up on my interviewing skills, and grew tougher skin--Fashion Week is definitely not for the weak and/or "inassertive".

For the Sophisticates: Carmen Marc Valvo

The hair and make-up for the Carmen Marc Valvo show was very different from earlier shows that I've attended. In an earlier post I remember writing that being a minimalist for Spring '09 is the way to go. Well Tom Pecheux, lead make-up artist for Carmen Marc Valvo showed that striking dark eyes for Spring is still in and beautiful! "Fashion is back to sexy women," says Pecheux. Pecheux made the face matte except for the lips and eyebrows, and made the eyes dark and dramatic.



Hair coincided with the make-up, very sleek and sophisticated. Odile Gilbert, for Redken, sprayed damp hair with Redken's iron silk 07, due out in November, before straightening. She then pulls the hair back into a tight pony-tail and makes a sleek chignon in the shape of an "O". She secures the chignon with a clamp, and sprays the hair with Redken's forceful 23 to diminish fly-aways.

Phi Show Photos

Here are photos from the Phi Show:

PHI Fie Foe Fum: Effortless Beauty

PHI's backstage area was really cool. The show actually took place at the showroom, so I was able to see where a lot of their garments are made. There were sewing machines and mannequins everywhere--I don't know if I'm weird or what, but I love mannequins! I think they're really cool!


I had an opportunity to speak with Guido, Creative Consultant for Redken, to get the inside scoop of the hair for the show. It is a very simple blow-dried style, that looks very natural. Guido first dampens the hair and applies blown away 09, which will be available in November, to the hair and then blow dries. "You don't always have to go crazy with you hair to make a statement," Guido says. Duly noted.


Make-up coincided with hair. "It's more about the skin," says lead make-up artist, Diane Kendal, "I want to enhance their [models] natural beauty." She gave the skin a "dewy" look, and applied a soft brown contour eyeshadow to the lid. A thin black line to the eye to look like the model's not wearing any make-up, a tad blush and the look is complete!


The trend I've noticed for hair and make-up these past couple of shows is very simple, and clean. Spring and Summer is all about light-weight make-up and fabrics. No dark eyes, lips and definitely no bright red cheeks. A little shimmer, and gloss is perfect for Spring '09!

Betsy Johnson Photos

Check out my slideshow of photos I took at the Betsy Johnson Show:

Dollhouse Rock!!

I have to say, out of all the shows I've been to so far Betsey Johnson's sure does take the cake...wait--she gave cake! Cupcake that is!! Backstage was like a nightclub, equipped with a DJ playing hot techno/electro tunes, balloons everywhere, and illustrated posters! Even though it was a hectic time for everyone, I can tell they all had a good time. To me Betsey is a great, fun, energetic designer that satisfies the fashion eccentric of their unique high fashion taste. Her show definitely showed her fun-loving nature. The theme of the show seemed to be a cross between punk and doll. Betsey starts the show by coming out of the two red French doors separating the backstage to the runway with her two granddaughters, she hands them to her daughter Lulu on the front row, waves to the crowd and then walks backstage.


The models' make-up and hair made them look like life-size dolls strutting the runway. Lead stylist for Redken, Italo Gregorio, decided to give the models a classic bob cut with a twist--colorful wigs. Blue, pink, purple, black and white wigs donned the models accompanied by brimmed hats.

Gregorio first braided the models real hair around the head. Prior to placing on the head, the wigs are first steamed to get bone-straight. After the wigs are placed on the head, Italo then cuts them into bobs stopping right at the chin. Italo then applies spray starch 15 by Redken to flatten out the top of the hair. "You can only achieve this look with certain types of products," says Italo, "Redken's spray starch is great for that." Afterwards, Italo sprays workforce 09 to the hair while blow-drying from the bottom, to make the hair lift up from the chin. The final step is to spray -iron silk 07. Iron silk 07, as well as the re-packaged spray starch will be available in November.


"I wanted to make a real girl look like a doll," said lead Makeup Forever cosmetics make-up artist, Fulvia. Fulvia made the face a patch lighter than the real skin color to give a doll-like look. she then uses white eyeshadow all over lid, with fake eyelashes cut 1/4 in. uncurled. She applies hot pink blush to the cheek, and a soft pink lip in the shape of a heart. She finished the look by drawing four lines on the bottom lid to simulate lashes.

Whimsical Beauty Part III

Gottex's 2009 Swimwear line was lavish. Designer Gideon Oberson used lots of gold, shimmery, and metallic peach fabric for his swimwear. Lead make-up artist for MAC cosmetics, Philippe Chansel, wanted to stay with the golden beach look by not adding any dark harsh colors to the face, like black an dark brown. The models are sprayed with bronzers to give off the sun-kissed look. Chansel applied gold paint to the eye called MAC Pro Pigment to make the eye look like gold metal. Chansel also applied false eye lashes to have the eyes pop out on the runway. A simple, glossy lip plumper was applied to finished the look.


"I want to create an authentic wet, smooth pony-tail," says Hanan Shauriki, lead stylist for Redken. Shauriki applies spray starch 15 to the hair while curling. He then pulls the hair back and makes a side pony-tail. The hair is then sprayed with quick dry 18 and forceful 23 to secure the curls. The pony-tail is then pinned into a bun, and the top of the pony-tail is smoothed-over with Blonde Glam Crystal Flash to create a wet look.

Whimsical Beauty Part II

John Ruidant, lead Redken stylist, styled multiple looks for Chris Benz's Spring/Summer '09 show. "The hair is an All-American, military rebel with and hint of innocence," say Ruidant. Ruidant achieved this look by leaving most of the hair down or in a loose ponytail with a center part. The hair is then sprayed with a little Redken hot sets 22, curled, then spritzed some fabricate 03. For the loose pony-tail look, Ruidant pulls fly-aways to have a more "lived-in" look, "It shouldn't look too much like a hairdresser worked on the hair," says Ruidant.


"Innocent Revolutionary" was the title for Ayako's, lead make-up artist for NARS, vision. She used lots of iridescent oranges and golds on the eye that gives the face an innocent look, with a peachy-nude gloss for the lips. The shadows used for the Chris Benz show is apart of NARS' new season collection that will be available to the public Spring '09.

Products available Spring '09:

• Night Sun eyeshadow
• Multiple eyeshadow pallet "Orgasm"
• Hungry Heart Eyeshadow

Whimsical Beauty

Peter Som's Spring line is all about the woman being airy, whimsical, light and free.To achieve this care-fee look, Redken Creative Consultant, Guido, styled the hair messy with a little height in the front. "It's a sexy beach look," says Guido. "It doesn't matter if you see the bobby pins". Guido first applied spray starch 15 to the hair followed by a rough blow dry to make the hair look not so styled. He then pinned the top half of the hair with bobby pins to secure the look.


Lead make-up artist for Max Factor cosmetics, Pat McGrath, described the models' faces as, "sunny, glowing, healthy skin." She applied light pink and gold to the cheek and a beige/pink gloss. McGrath also applied 2000 Calorie Mascara due out January 2009. 2000 Calorie Mascara actually curls your lashes while applying!

Other products McGrath used:

• Vivid Impact Lipstick - a rich, creamy, moisturizing lip color

All That Sparkles Was Gold at Twinkle Show

Twinkle Show:

• Flowing fabrics in satin, and light linen
• Open-toe booties
• Black and white printed dresses
• Cuffed shorts
• High-waisted A-line skirts