Fashion week is all about the latest fashion trends but have you ever noticed the incredible makeup being worn on the runway? The makeup you see throughout fashion week is highly indicative of upcoming seasonal makeup trends. Unbeknownst to us, the makeup artists and designers work closely to curate each runway look weeks before the show. Makeup inspiration is based off of the theme, style and vision of the designer. There were three looks that really stood out to me this past New York Fashion Week: glitter, metallic and winged eyeliner.
A lot of these makeup trends seem ideal for the runway but impossible for real life. I couldn’t imagine going on a dinner date with my husband wearing glitter eye shadow or winged eyeliner. But Au contraire…there is a way to wear runway makeup trends in your everyday life, you just need to know how to apply the makeup properly! I recently met with the one and only Jason Ascher the resident makeup artist at Barney’s, to discuss this seasons latest makeup trends. Jason showed me which products to use in order to get that perfect runway to real life look.
Glitter is HUGE this season! It was absolutely everywhere on the runway and one of the biggest trends amongst some of the top fashion designers. The models at the Nicholas K show wore gold liquid eye shadow on their upper and lower lash line while the models at Emporio Armani were decked out in glittering chrome eye shadow and Barbie pink lips. Elie Saab opted for a more dramatic look as the models had smoky eyes with a layer of gold and silver glitter. This was one of my favorite runway looks during NYFW but how could I ever pull this off?
I don’t know about you but I am not a huge fan of wearing glitter. I love the way it looks on the runway but not on my face. Jason proved me wrong and showed me that glitter is fall’s most wearable makeup statement. He applied a base cream Chanel eye shadow, followed by Kevyn Aucoin’s loose shimmer shadow. Jason finished off my glitter look by lining my eyes with a shimmery Chantecaille gel liner pencil. This look is ideal for a night out on the town!
Metallic eye shadow is another trend that swept across NYFW. Many designers used Metallics as a beauty statement of strength and girl power. At the Alexis Mabille presentation, models wore metallic gold from head to toe; eyes to nails to foiled gold boots. Naomi Campbell opened up the La Perla show with an impressive fuchsia metallic eye that could be seen from a mile a way. It was stunning! In order to get this effect, the makeup artist had to layer the eye with a lip liner, a matching lipstick plus two additional metallic shadows (there is NO way I have the time, energy or expertise to even attempt this look). The well-known Italian designer, Genny, opted for a more subtle use of metallics. The models had simple makeup with a beautiful silver shimmer that swept up to the brow bones. The shimmer could only be seen under certain light, which gave the models an ethereal look. Again, these are stunning looks but if I thought glitter was hard to pull off, bold metallic eye shadow seems impossible.
Jason to the rescue! Metallics are hotter than ever and I can say that every makeup line at Barney’s has a metallic palette. In order to get the desired metallic look, you really have to focus on applying the products correctly with the right tools. Jason started off by using a cream powder eye shadow by Chantecaille. You first apply the cream powder with your finger, pressing it lightly onto your eyelid. You then line the bottom of your eye with a metallic pencil (also by Chantecaille) and finish off the look using the fabulous new Givenchy mascara.
Winged eye shadow was taken to another level this NYFW, especially the look worn by Balmain models. The Balmain woman was made to be wild this season as Olivier Rousteings collection included exotic furs and textiles all made in a palette of metallic and ornate prints. The only word I can come up with to describe the makeup is “fierce”. Models wore copper eye shadow with heavy black liner that swooped across their lower and upper lid giving them an intense/bold look. The makeup was absolutely striking, giving the models a look of strength. Yves Saint Laurent pushed boundaries this season and makeup artist Tom Pecheux had to do something he had never done before. As each model lined up for the finale, he changed their entire makeup by going from a bare face to one with a wing of messy black liner on their top eyelid. The fact that Pecheaux was able to recreate the models looks within seconds is incredible.
Although all of these looks were a bit extreme, wearing a winged liner is easier than I thought. Again, Jason showed me which products I should be using in order to get that perfect winged effect that can be worn day or night. The key to succeeding with this makeup trend has to do with the brushes you use! You will definitely need to use a sharp brush in order to achieve precision. Jason explained that liquid eyeliner is often difficult to use so he highly recommends a cream liner or pencil. Both of these options are much more forgiving than liquid liner because once you mess up liquid liner, there is no going back. Jason used a By Terry eye primer followed by a black Chanel cream liner. He used a sharp brush and showed me how to get that perfect “wing”. It’s all about smudging the liner before it sets. Who would have thought it would be so easy?
All in all it is easier than you think to get that runway makeup look in real life. By using the correct products you can easily achieve a toned down version of what you saw on the runway. Runway to real life is much more attainable than one would think (especially with the help of Jason Ascher).
