I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced anything as magical as the Rodarte Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show during Couture Week in Paris. The Mulleavy sisters really brought it for their first showing in Paris. No detail was left unturned.
For this trip I was with the nail sponsor for the show, Morgan Taylor Lacquer, and had the pleasure of joining in on the nail tests and getting to watch their lead artist, Tracylee Percival in action. I’ve known Tracylee for years, she’s the best of the best but getting to watch her vision come to life… she’s a genius and an incredible artist. Just look at this look she created using real flowers — and my small part in bringing her vision to life!
She created this unforgettable nail look, using real flowers, which went up the fingers as if a garden or nature was growing up the hand. Inspired by flowers, mainly off a print from one of the dresses she used Morgan Taylor Sugar Fix polish to create a nice texture on nails, before painting daisies with Morgan Taylor All White Now polish, with orange-colored Swarovski crystals in the center of the flower. Then using lash glue she adhered the baby’s breath and some wild flowers to the look. And by wild, I mean ones I found around the city on the streets and handpicked from the ground (you’ll see my contribution in the video, it’s pretty hilarious).
It’s so fitting since Rodarte is very organic and all about nature, and there’s nothing more organic than how this look came together. It was so beautiful and delicate and I’ve never known a nail look to have real flowers. It helped inspire the hair, which was lead by the infamous Odile Gilbert. She created a gorgeous look using Bumble and Bumble with hair bows and accessories weaved through and then through the beauty tests and seeing the nails added in real baby breath, which took it to the next level. The hair was balanced out by James Kaliardos for NARS Cosmetics who created a really flawless, pretty skin and with a dab of silver on the eyelids.
The whole look felt very delicate and pretty. Between that, the music and having the show set in Paris’ Cloitre Port Royal gardens, which was so lush and in bloom, you could feel the magic in the air. And then the collection, which featured such a range of textures, ruffles and colors and carried this softness that still had an edge and modern 80s feel, which kept that cool girl vibe while still feeling so feminine. After the models walked the runway they ended in the garden where guests could go up close and take a closer look. Front row sat Anna Wintour and Carine Roitfeld, who make cameos in my video (you can’t miss Anna’s infamous dash out the door, she’s like the flash!). Also at the shows, Tracee Ellis Ross, Brie Larson, and Kristen Dunst came to support.
I felt completely transported into this fantasy Rodarte created. I’m such a fan of designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy, their attention to detail; their kindness, clothes and what they created in Paris took my breath a way.
You can learn more about Morgan Taylor at morgantaylorlacquer and follow them on social at @mtmorgantaylor.