With the biggest week of Spring Racing upon us, I thought it best to share all the hot tips for putting your best face forward, styling it of course, to each race day.
With the traditions of Derby Day, the fun of Melbourne Cup and then to the splashes of colour at Oaks Day, it’s important to have your entire look balanced from head to toe— head being a very focused on area, so lets get it right ladies, with my advice for a successful race season in beauty!
Image: Fabulous Femme
The races is where both men and women can have a little fun with fashion…
Add accessories, wear clashing prints and be a little more ‘loud’ with colour. But, there is a fine line with a ‘Hit’ or ‘Miss’ moment — it’s all about balance!!
When your outfit is loud, should your makeup be?
If you wear one solid colour, with minimal accessories, should we keep our makeup neutral?
These questions should point out that thought needs to go into what you display on race days as your makeup does depend on your outfit of choice, otherwise it could be too much, or not enough in the balance department.
Let’s go through each race day and see what the do’s and don’t’s are for Spring Racing makeup.
Derby Day – Classic, Black and White theme!
This is one of my favourite race days, as I love the ‘Black Tie’ style dress code. It’s just so chic!
I can sense a very Gatsby inspired feel at this years Derby Day, as elegance and class is immediately thought of when a Black and White theme is portrayed well.
You may think of colour when you think of the races, but in terms of fashion, it is very traditional at Derby Day.
With fashion being less flamboyant and more chic sexiness present, to me, there is only one look for this race day…
The modern smokey eye!
Derby Day is the day to create some edge with makeup, strong contouring to give your face the biggest lift and shape, with a nude tone lip for a little extra bit of fierceness! It’s Black Tie, It’s Gatsby, It’s Derby Day!
Ashley Olsen’s modern smokey eye beauty look is my answer to the perfect Derby Day makeup. A little raw, but still classic and chic.
What makes a smokey eye modern you ask?
It is the fact that the smokey granite/charcoal style shades are not applied in the entire eye socket area — less near brow bone, more concentrated to the lash line.
This look is perfect for both black and white options and relies heavily on the contouring application.
After foundation and concealing has been applied to the skin, mainly to even out and create a blank canvas:
- Contour – it is always best to apply with a bronzer – one that is more matte and not too bright in colour, otherwise it can show up too strong, or look orange. Apply your bronzer, preferably with an angled brush, under cheekbones for a defined, lifted look and then use the same bronzer on mobile eyelid, mainly into the eye socket line, as well as the lower lash line, as you can see on Ashley.Using a liquid, soft highlighter is perfect to add above cheekbone, peak of brow, cupids bow and inner tear duct area of the eye.
- Eye Define– Any soft style black eyeliner, kohl is always best, will work wonders on creating a modern smokey eye. Line your eye with the pencil – the thickness determines the depth of the smokey eye – and smudge the pigment with a firm, small brush into the socket area. The bronzer acts as a base colour, with the black smudged line giving the edgy, on trend, smokey look. Add Mascara and brow pencil to finish the define, plus frame for the eyes.
- Set – Set the look with a nude tone lip, more into the soft peach, flesh, warm like tone, rather than to beige. This will balance out stronger eye makeup and create a sophisticated look. If your features are all dark and you feel too flat, then go a red stain lip, but not too much colour – save that for another race day!
Melbourne Cup – Fun, Statement Pieces
This is the day to show off creative and artistic designs in fashion… Angles and shape, with bold prints is often a winner on cup day, not to mention large, over the top headwear!
Because of the enormous attention on prints, colour and design of one’s outfit, makeup needs to almost be an accessory, not a show piece, otherwise you could look too much – no one wants that, not even me!
Simple, elegant and modern makeup is key for Melbourne Cup. A focus on lashes and beautiful skin would be my immediate pick— let your outfit speak before your face does.
Here are the steps to this gorgeous look:
- Skin – Let it look real.. Don’t pile on too much foundation… Always sweep foundation with a brush from the centre of the face, outwards – this avoids any lines or marks on the skin = Flawless! Add a highlighter under eye area (only after concealing the area first, so you don’t get a grey effect) and continue this above cheekbone – often a lighter shade concealer can work wonders as a highlighter, it doesn’t always need a shimmer through it.
- Contour – Once again, contouring makes all the difference to this look. The no-makeup look always needs lift and shape and contouring achieves this perfectly. I would add a pink or peach wash of colour on the apple of the cheek to compliment the contouring for this neutral look.
- Lips & Lashes – these are the focal points for this look… Not necessarily meaning a bold lip, but one to give definition at least. I would definitely apply some little lashes – this will give that little extra focus to the look, without un-balancing from the outfit of choice. Individuals work best, as they literally are popped on top of your own lashline… Strip lashes can work, but do not forget to measure against your lash line and if longer than your own, trim the excess off, from the outer edge!
Oaks Day (Ladies Day) – Feminine, soft, floral
Oaks day is a fun day as you get to see lots of colour, soft floaty outfits, almost a little 1950’s, but with modern lines.
Matching bag with shoes and a little girly is what I like about Oaks day, but if your outfit is fun and girly a little contrast with makeup can be a way to jazz up your look – it’s time to flirt ladies!
Get out your liquid liner and bold lip, because the modern day woman is coming out to play!
I love love love a bold pop lip and what better day to wear it than Ladies day!
Orange and pink are always fun and can be teamed in or used as a contrast with your outfit.
If you are a pink base skin, go more orange to red tones and if you are more yellow base, try the blue base reds, pinks and even lilac to make a statement – it’s a good general rule to have if you are unsure.
With this look, the steps are similar to the first two..
Great skin with highlighting and a good contour to lift and sculpt the face.
What we do differently is add a liquid line…
*Liquid Line Tip – The outer flick can be designed better when your eyes are open and are looking straight ahead. This will give you the most natural angle for where your eye is most viewed.
If you apply the line with the eyes closed, it can often give us a different line, so upon opening the eye, there is a slight dip and not a clean lifted effect that the liquid line is meant to give.
Once this is applied and mascara is in full swing, add that pop lip and you are set for Ladies Day like no other – playfully nice.
Now ladies, these 3 looks are a guide and my suggestions, but play around with tones, as sometimes the simplest looks can be the best!
Always have one focus on the face, not two and balance with your outfit.
Outfit is busy – less going on with makeup… you get the drift!
Happy Racing and hope you pick a winner…. Beauty look as well as a horse!
