NYFW: Backstage Beauty look at Alice and Olivia S/S 2016 Collection

stila gold eyes at alice and olivia fashion showFor Alice and Olivia’s spring/summer 2016 presentation it was all about the statement eye! CEO Stacey Bendet partnered with Stila for a look that kept the face and lips natural while creating a beautiful encrusted gold statement eye. The models skin was prepped with products from Skin Inc to keep the complexion dewey and natural. Since pretty, dessert skin was such a focus on this look the models were prepped with Skin Inc’s Pure Revival Peel, nourishes with a customized serum (which is what Skin Inc is all about – you can mix and match ingredients based on your skincare goals). The skincare was then sealed in with the Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask (including under the eyes). And for the under eyes they then applied the Vitamin A Serum on top.

gold eyes at alice and olivia by stilaThe look was then then followed up with some Stila shimmer to highlight the cheek bones and their Stay All Day gloss in Dolce. The real masterpiece of the look was the eye. The makeup artists dabbed on the Stila Mag Metals shadow mixing shades Comex Gold and Gilded Gold. While you may be used to the glaring shine of high intensity of the Mag Metals, they were blended out and softened so the flecks of gold would catch the light to sparkle rather than blind the audience. “Stacey wanted the makeup to reflect the clothes that we have,” said the lead artist for the show, Charlie Riddle. “It’s really about the sun beating down on you in the desert, creating that jewel tone effect on the eye.”

alice and olivia braided hair by Marshall Lin for fekkaiThe desert theme stays strong in the hair look, created by Marshall Lin for Fekkai. The models feature a middle part and a mid-height ponytail with volume at the back of the head. The ponytail is wrapped with braids and a few extra braids spill over into the tail itself. The look has an overall wavy, messiness that lends itself to desert glam. “To get the very dusty, dry, desert look, we put a little height on the top and then pulled a braid around the back,” says Lin. He used Fekkai Blowout Dry Shampoo and Sheer Hold Hairspray to create that effect. Although soft spoken, the stylist is a true artist. He nailed the perfect blend of messy and glamorous that is often misconstrued on the runway.

alice and olivia braided hair by Marshall Lin for fekkai

alice and olivia glitter nails summer 2016The nails perfectly complimented the look. And the best part is, they couldn’t be simpler to achieve at home. The team prepped with a Nails Inc base coat, then added on a foil glitter coat in Buckingham Square, a rich gold tone. They used a dabbing technique rather than a straight brushstroke so that the nails show flecks of gold rather than a straight gold nail. Much like the eye detailing by Bendet, this causes a more glittery reflection than a stream of metallic when it hits the light. To top it all off they use the 45-second dry Caviar topcoat. This adds an extra bit of sparkle and keeps the foil in place. A look as simple as that is a must try at home for runway nails any day.

-Celina Colby