Cynthia Rowley’s Spring/Summer collection was filled with colorful, floral pieces. To balance out the femininity and poufy dresses, the hair and makeup went in the opposite direction. “Tough” was one word that Lottie, lead makeup artist from Makeup Forever, used to describe the look. Despite the fact that the girls are wearing these clothes, they’re not to be messed with.
While it seemed like the models weren’t wearing a lot of makeup, their faces were full of contoured shadow with the appropriate amount of shading. Lottie began with Makeup Forever’s Invisible Cover Foundation and contoured the cheeks with eye shadow in #76 and #98 (instead of using bronzer or face powder like you’d expect) to give the skin a flawless look. The key to the look however, was to create a shadow beneath the eyebrows. She used eye shadow #17 and #98 depending on the model’s skin tone. Their lips and lids were left bare with just a hint of lip balm.
Shon, the lead hair stylist, thought this girl should have a beautiful wave in her hair, but look natural with a “sweaty” front. He started by curling each model’s hair with a triple barrel curling iron in various sizes. To hold the waves, he combed them through and sprayed with Amika’s 2 in 1 Styling Agent. He then took the hair into sections and used Amika’s Curl Defining Cream to create the “greasy” effect. To soften the look and make it seem natural, he finished by finger combing the hair. Though everyone else at Fashion Week had the sweaty hair naturally, Shon’s tip to remake the hairstyle without looking like a hot mess is to use the Curl Defining Cream starting at the top of the head at the hairline as opposed to the front. The show was beautiful and the hair and makeup added an edge to the zig zag floral prints coming down the runway.
Well it's here! New York Fashion Week has arrived quicker than summer ended. This season I have two talented team members to help me tackle my busy show schedule. You can expect to see backstage coverage from Rag & Bone, Cynthia Rowley, Jill Stuart, Helmut Lang, Monique Lhuillier, Victoria Beckham, Alice & Olivia, Betsey Johnson, Ports 1961 and Milly (just to name a few) as well as show coverage and exclusive designer interviews.
I have some really exciting projects going on throughout the week including hosting backstage videos and the after party for the Duckie Brown men's show for Conair and covering shows for other publications. Stay tuned for exclusive coverage.
Bri, a blazer obsessed fashionista with a nail polish collection to die for
Backstage at Cynthia Rowley I taped a video for the Style Coalition interviewing the lead hairstylist with Redken, Rita Marmor. As soon as it's posted I'll put it up so you can all see it. I absolutely love doing on camera work!
The makeup was hot. It was perfect for going out late night in the city. I got the scoop from Charlotte Willer, the lead makeup artist with Maybelline on the inspiration and how-to get the look. The perfect skin is compromised of 50% powder and 50% foundation. The main focal point were the eyes. The key to achieving the sexiness a was outlining the eye on the top and bottom on the outside and inside of the eye and blending it with the finger. Spiky lashes were a must and they were created with layers of Maybelline Falsies Mascara.
It's officially New York Fashion Week and you're invited backstage with me! I rounded up my troops – BeautySweetSpot intern, Ashley and former intern, Carly and we're ready to roll.
This is my 12th season covering New York Fashion Week and I have to say I'm very proud of the selection of shows my team and I will be backstage for this year. Here's a few:
Well NYFW has certainly come to an end, and so has my coverage. Til' next season, allow me to leave you with some of the top beauty looks that all transulate from runway to real way. The best part about these looks – you can try them all on in DailyMakeover's 
MAC lead makeup artist Val Garland at Cynthia Rowley was going for an innocent look, so she put the focus on the eyes with 20 coats of mascara on the bottom lashes to give models that ingenue appeal. A smudged red lip provided color, while metallic hair extensions were added to a sleek updo for a punk edge.
The hair and makeup at Charlotte Ronson was sweet meets street. Tresemme lead stylist Jeanie Syfu added subtle texture and a bit of curl to models' hair, then created tiny braids on each side. Instead of tying them off with elastics, she applied Tresemme Curl Activator to the ends of the braids and then clamped with a flat iron to secure.
While a few of the looks at Fashion Week were over-the-top and extravagant, the majority were much more low-key and wearable, like this effortlessly sexy one worn by models at Alexander Berardi. A volumized, side-swept low ponytail and naturally defined eye makeup created a casually chic air that was more real life than runway.
