This week we celebrated 20 years of Australian Fashion Week with the event held at the central hub of Carriageworks in Sydney and what a week of celebration it was…
47 shows, showcasing some of Australia’s new and most celebrated designers, the work of many makeup artists, hairstylists, the creative efforts of stylists and production, the list goes on!
Many weeks of planning go into this one week and I would love to celebrate some of my personal favourite Fashion Week beauty looks from the week, as well as key trends found over the past 5 days.
Trends
To be expected, the nude trend was big for another year…
We saw lots of barely their foundation, glowing skin looking ‘lit from within’ – a look that I love, to be able to see a little realness, rather than a covered or masked look.
We saw the rise of skincare brands partnering up with designers, to treat their models to a mini facial application before going into makeup, like Skin Inc for Michael Losordo and Skinstitut for Bec and Bridge – a treat I’m sure the models loved!
Skin is so important for any makeup look, so it is no surprise more care backstage is being taken for that perfect prep!
We also saw a slight reduction in heavy contouring and shading…
From last year where we had quite visible shading, this year seemed more invisible, there, but is it really there?
I think we are slowly toning down a heavy handed sculpted look and bringing back a softness and feminine style of application…
Shading where needed for a light lift without being a feature itself.
Eyes
Apart from the ever so creative looks of Romance Was Born, designed by Nigel Stanislaus from Maybelline, colour on the eyes was kept to a bare minimum… But how good are the gold brows and this eye wash of colour – it’s a nice change (and fun) from the always-nude eye.
Shading
Light taupe, caramel, and even a touch of mustard ruled the eye factor, mainly applied in the socket area to create a lift.
These tones may look dull when seeing them in their packaging alone, but they actually are beneficial when placed on the correct area.
Loved the mustard tone called ‘Camel’ from Bobbi Brown for Steven Khalil…
Plus that gorgeous ‘anyone can wear shade of nails from Essie called ‘Spin the bottle’
MB PRO TIP;
Any tone that is matte and deeper than your skin tone when applied can create a ‘shade!’ Normally applied in the hollows, like the eye socket, it can lift and recede the area giving a sharper feature…
So their is method to this nude trend madness and for me personally, it is a great base to any makeup, as you can then add a liner, lash or even a touch of gloss on your eye lid to finish the look, but without that contour shade, the eye will not have as much shape.
Look from Kate Sylvester – Hair by Redken & Makeup by M.A.C Cosmetics
Winged Liner
One look I loved for the eye was from by johnny, striking graphic winged eyeliner, a real statement look that gelled so well with the new collection of geometric designs…
Nicole Thomson from M.A.C Cosmetics created this masterpiece eyeliner and it takes a lot of precision, but ever so striking and eye lifting.
Anyone can take this look and make it their own for everyday life…
It’s all about measuring where your winged liner will start and finish, which must be mapped out before applying and is better done with the eye open, as it allows skin to sit naturally, not stretched as it is when eyes are closed…
If you apply your winged liner with your eyes closed, you can often get a dip in your liner, but we want that perfect, diagonal line from the outer corner of the eye to the end of your brow.
MB PRO TIP;
If you find it difficult to free hand your liner, (once mapped out with your eyes open), one tip is to dot your start and finish points once mapped, this will assist in just simple drawing the dots together.
If you are still having trouble, add some sticky tape to the outer eye up along to the brow finish point and this will protect your look for any shakes hands – if you slip up, it’s on the tape, which is peeled away to leave a perfectly angled line.
Lips
The nude trend continued for lips from just moisturising balm, to creamy beiges shades, and generally matte, yet highlighted lip edges ruled the week.
I did love the blurred edge wine coloured lip from Jayson Brunsdon, a lip that is applied more concentrated in the centre of the mouth, then slightly blurred to the outer edges – a real lived in, stained effect!
(Applied with your fingertip works best)
But, my lip of the week was from Manning Cartel, a powerful glass red lip, and the perfect pop to be the focus on the face.
M.A.C cosmetics mixed two pigments together – (Magenta Madness + Neon Orange) – to create this fantastic shade, then adding gloss on top to catch the light.
Red lips can be hard to wear, but once you find the shade right for you, you don’t know how you ever not wore red!
MB PRO TIP;
If choosing a red for yourself, think about your skin tone…
A fair skin usually has pink tones through it, so my suggestion is to try a more warm, summery red and then for an olive skin that is more yellow, liven it up with a more cool, winter red – it’s all about balance!
Body
While most shows showcased light skin, all shows gave glow, a real light focused touch, which gives a well-nourished look.
I was lucky enough to be working with St Tropez as their ‘Skin Finishing Expert’ for Bec and Bridge and We Are Handsome, both shows giving glow for an active lifestyle theme.
We added warmth to the body by using St Tropez instant tan and then adding pops of light on the highlight points with the St Tropez Skin Illuminator, just as we would on the face – everyone loves a healthy glow and I think in real life, the body gets forgotten, but it is an extension on the face and out outfit for the day.
Models at We Are Handsome – Hair by KMS, Makeup by Maybelline
Models at Bec and Bridge – Hair by KMS, Makeup by M.A.C Cosmetics
Hair
Gone of the days of perfectly styled hair, or so it seems this week, with dry texture and lived in looks with slight styling ruling the week.
Yesterday’s hair today is a great concept, but you still want to put in a little effort and it really all comes down to the product you are using.
We saw very few sleek styles, although by Johnny had a very styled up do by Renya Xydis for Wella, to balance out the focus of the graphic eye…
Toni Maticevski also choosing to slick the hair into a bun style with the ghd team, with those amazing designs, you can be pulling focus with big hair!
My favourite lived in look was the hair at Aje, think low pony but with lots of texture and movement, not sleek at all…
Created by the Goldwell team, it was loosely pulled back, added height at the crown to not flatten the head and colour dipped pieces added for a little extra definition, just love the feel and shape it gave.
My hair of the week has to go to Steven Khalil’s sleek, braided style – love the detail and the shape given from the front and back of the head.
Once again from Goldwell and it really allowed Steven’s incredible gowns be the focus, an all round chic look.
6 Step Weekly Wrap
– Fresh, nude skin showing real beauty is in – get onto a great skincare routine adding hydration and you’ll be set
– Nude, contoured eye sockets are winner to give great eye shape… What you do next is up to you – add gloss on the eyelid or a pop of colour, but the taupe/mustard shades are a winner for lifted eye sockets.
– Statement eyes is winged liner, measure when eyes open and then apply
– Lips are nude, nude, and more nude with pops of red and wine shades when wanting a little statement.
– Bodies are glowing, moisturise, and add highlights like the face to attract light
– Lived in, yesterday’s hair tomorrow in texture, nothing over styled
I think we can all handle that?
It is great to see makeup and hair looks that are very wearable and easy to create, play with product, no your shape and you will have an on trend look…
Until next year fashion week, that’s a wrap!