Celebrities at Paris Fashion Week/Fashionista.com
What’s not to love about the twice-yearly Fashion Weeks in the U.S. and Europe? At least for those of us who love fashion and beauty, it is how we keep track of what’s going to be trending, parse out what we really like and will incorporate into our look, and also the chance for a few real LOL moments. Today, we present makeup from Paris Fashion Week, and we think you’ll agree that what we have here are some gorgeous looks, some OK looks, and some that will make you sputter a mouthful of latte all over you keyboard. Ready?
Givenchy/Getty Images
Givenchy: One of those fabulous un-made-up looks that actually takes a practiced hand and some…makeup. We love seeing heavier brows after so many seasons of plucked, bleached and generally overworked eyebrows. No mascara with this look — which has been the case in more shows that you might imagine – but judicious use of concealer, a pretty taupe shadow on lids and below the bottom lashes, contoured rather than blushed cheeks, an d natural lips with just a bit of balm. We loved this one for its bold simplicity, and with this particular model’s bone structure, she looks fierce.
Sonia Rykiel/Getty Images
Sonia Rykiel: This is possibly the prettiest makeup we’ve seen throughout Fashion Weeks, and it’s so summery it seems even more out of place when showing Fall clothes.
No one in their right mind would wait for fall to wear this ultra-flattering, feminine look with gorgeous white-gold and pale pink sparkle eye makeup and a sugar-pink lip colour. Ad in mascara and a well-groomed brow, and it’s “Hello Kitty.”
Balmain/Getty Images
Balmain: Back to the “no-makeup” makeup look at Balmain, with an added grungy shag that says, “Yes, I really am that cool.” Skin is clean and clear, with a touch of ochre-brown shadow, mascara, contoured cheeks (again!) and a natural lip with no shine. Again, a heavier brow is in order, and judicious use of foundation and concealer to perfect the skin.
Christian Dior/Getty Images
Christian Dior: The Dior models were perfectly polished, with arched, defined brows, contoured eye shadow in shades of taupe and brown, mascara, gleaming skin, a smudge of berry lipstick, and a perfectly powdered finish.
John Galliano/Getty Images
John Galliano: A very retro look, circa Clara Bow and the Prohibition Era. Thin, tweezed, rounded brows; heavily shimmered eye shadow with winged cat’s eye liner and tons of mascara; a pink-y powder blush fro the apples of the cheeks and up round the top of the cheekbone and onto the out margins of the forehead, and drawn-on Cupid’s Bow lips in a deeply pigmented berry color. I’m certain we’ll see a modified version of this in the magazine and on the street, although we don’t think anyone is going to go with the exaggerated shape of the lip and instead use the same color to follow their own natural contours.
Now, here’s where things start to get weird, beginning with the hair…
Issey Miyake/Getty Images
Issey Miyake: Models sported tightly pulled, futuristic high ponytails with painted sections. No way. With the rest of the face completely devoid of makeup, rest assured this isn’t a look even the Club Kids are going to entertain.
Jean-Paul Gaultier/Getty Images
Jean-Paul Gaultier: A towering backcombed beehive that’s one part Marge Simpson, one part often grey-haired British socialite and heir, Daphne Guinness. We could see a highly toned-down version of this, as its basis is a classic, classy updo. Its nicely balanced with strong brows, natural makeup, and a “your lips only better” mouth. Again, not a hint of gloss. In fact, Galliano is one of the only houses to show any shine on the mouth.
And even weirder with the makeup, from the “oh my” to “oh, no way” …
Thierry Mugler/Getty Images
Thierry Mugler: Looking heavily influenced by the film “Black Swan,” models walking for Mugler strutted a highly structured, almost masque-like black smoked shadow and the palest white complexions.
Gareth Pugh/Getty Images
Gareth Pugh: Models wore metallic “eye accessories” and some even flashed LED mouthpieces. Um, no? Even for a runway show this is pretty off the avante garde charts.
Vivienne Westwood: We consistently love her clothes (Helen Mirren , Helena Bonham Carter, and other wore her gowns throughout the 2011 Award Season), but we cannot fathom what this look was supposed to achieve.
Vivienne Westwood/Getty Images
Smears of black and charcoal on the face must have taken some of the attention off the clothes, no? What would we even call this look? The Chimney Sweep?
Viktor & Rolf: We may love Flowerbomb, but what can we say about Viktor & Rolf sending a cherry-red model down the runway, besides “don’t try this at home”?
Haha hilarious roundup, I love it! All designers have an inspiration for their show, but it seems like the “no makeup” look has caused more talk this year than the “chiminey sweep” or the oompa loompa look! I know they are trying to recreate a vision, but its not really bringing the right attention to the clothes!