From Brad and Angelina to Patti Smith in India, designers at New York Fashion Week drew from a bevy of unique inspirations. Get the inside scoop on Rachel Zoe's '60s rock and roll collection, Michael Kors's brand of sporty American glam, Kate Spade's je ne sais quoi as styled by Brad Goreski, and more — just by pressing play!
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I've sometimes wished a professional makeup artist was on hand for a consultation before my photo was taken. The opportunity for that to actually happen arose this week, when Revlon's Global Artistic Director Gucci Westman volunteered her makeover services. Gucci, who's worked with the likes of Cameron Diaz and Kim Kardashian, walked me through the steps she used to get my visage ready for the camera. She shared some beauty tips — and revealed how she's prepping to survive another Fashion Week — just before a portrait session with photographer Michael Fine began.
I presented Gucci with a relatively bare face, which you can see at right.
To read Gucci's tips, and to see the results of her hard work, just read on.
As is the case every season, Revlon Global Artistic Director Gucci Westman created a makeup look for Rag & Bone. It's a show dear to her heart, since she's not just a makeup maestro, but is also married to the line's codesigner David Neville. Backstage, she said that she initially toyed with doing a strong lip look for the Spring 2012 show, but ultimately went with a nearly nude lipstick instead. "I just wanted it to be super easy," she said, adding that the neutral makeup palette didn't compete with the clothes. (Get the look with Revlon Super Lustrous lipsticks in Demure and Silver City Pink.) And it's clear that Westman is a fan of the collection. She confessed to falling in love with a pair of Rag & Bone trousers, then taking them home — and unbeknownst to her, they happened to be destined for the runway. "David called me in a panic yesterday," she admitted. "Busted! How embarrassing is that?" In the end, all was well: pants were returned, the models looked fresh, and Rag & Bone looks destined to continue its string of enthusiastically received collections.
Is Robert Palmer having an effect on fashion runways? Both Temperley and Stephen Burrows featured bright red lipstick — and what's more, this matte hue flatters a range of skin tones. Temperley's models, at left, sported a smoky purple eye along with Revlon Just Bitten lip stain ($9) and Revlon matte lipstick in Really Red ($8). Stephen Burrows's look featured gray shadow on the eyes, using Iman lipstick in Red Luxury ($9) to bring attention to lips. Might as well face it: it's a new look to love.
To complement Rag & Bone's Lawrence of Arabia-inspired collection, makeup artist Gucci Westman developed a soft nude hue of Revlon ColorBurst lipstick. That's nothing out of the ordinary, except that the shade, Fashion's Night Pout, is now officially one of the most difficult lipsticks to track down. That's because it was available only at Rag & Bone during Fashion's Night Out, where a $50 donation to the nonprofit Jenesse Center earned women a mini-makeover, a photo with Halle Berry, and the lipstick. If you didn't score a lipstick during FNO, there may be one other way to pick up this straight-from-the-runway shade: watch Revlon's Facebook page, where a few of these goodies will be given away throughout the month.
Think runway makeup is all about expensive brands? Think again. At the Diane von Furstenberg show, lead makeup artist Gucci Westman used Revlon on top models like Jessica Stam and Coco Rocha. Westman has recently been named Global Artistic Director for the brand, and I've gotta say, she's already making me think differently about drugstore makeup.
Case in point: this '60s-inspired Veruschka-on-a-safari look. Models wore khaki tones punched up with a shot of bold color — in this case, a flash of yellow on shimmering black eyes. (For day-to-day wear, leave the yellow aside and instead use matte eye shadow; Westman used Revlon matte eye shadow in Rich Sable, Peach Sorbet, and Vintage Lace.) The mod lip color isn't lipstick; it's the Peach Sorbet eye shadow mixed with white Matte Lux eyeliner.
So will we see a Gucci Westman makeup collection from Revlon anytime soon? "Eventually," Westman said, adding that she's already giving input on products being made now. "Everybody is excited to bring back that iconic woman — like the Charlie girl, but a modern take on that." For now, though, I'm off to figure out how to make this whole eye-products-on-the-lips thing work off the runway.
Celebrity makeup artists can command upwards of $10,000 a day for their services. Multiply that by all the days in the year, plus double-duty when it comes time for awards seasons, and you've got yourself one outrageous salary. All of these artists have loyal celebrity clients that request their company across the globe, wherever it is they may be working. Can you guess who some of their famous-faced clients are? I think that Paul Starr is a genius, and I love the natural effect that Nick Barose achieves. Who is your favorite celebrity makeup artist?
>> BLOWING THE COVER — Earlier this week, a German fan caught up with Keira Knightley in Berlin, and got Mario Testino to take a camera phone picture for him. But I'm more interested in what's going on in the surroundings: Mario Testino, makeup artist Gucci Westman, flame-haired Vogue creative director Grace Coddington . . . Hello! says they're all in town for a British Vogue cover shoot, but with this team, I'm thinking it's for the mother Vogue. [Hello!]
Makeup mastermind Gucci Westman rose to fame as the international artistic director of Lancôme. After leaving that position earlier this year, she's been busy with photo shoots and fashion shows. Now, she's announced her new position — and it's huge for you drugstore divas.
We already know that Revlon hasn't been doing so well lately, but now Gucci is the brand's new global artistic director. Quite a score for Revlon, in my opinion. She told Fashion Week Daily:
There's never been more pressure to deliver better product for less money. Based on my experience with Lancôme, which was really, really, great; I learned a lot about how a global prestige brand works. I realized that with Revlon, it's working with more a mass brand and a completely new consumer, but the woman still wants something she'll be happy to pull out of her handbag.
As artistic director, Gucci will develop new products, work alongside Revlon spokesmodels such as Halle Berry, and participate in Revlon's philanthropic efforts. After seeing Gucci's work (some pictured below), I have no doubt she'll refresh and revive this brand. Cannot. Wait.
