-Guest post by Ali Butterfass

I was lucky enough to see a couple of shows at New York Fashion Week, and it was an amazing experience. However, while I loved seeing the polished presentation of the runway, it wasn’t until I got to witness the carefully controlled chaos backstage that I truly appreciated the work, artistry, and incredible teamwork that goes into making the show look so effortless. I went backstage with Red Door Spa to watch them create hair, makeup, and nails for Brandon Sun’s Spring 2014 collection.

Sun’s collection is casual and sophisticated, with an irreverent energy. To play off this upscale downtown vibe, makeup artist Cesar Olivas designed a beautifully polished look that was classy, but with an edge.

Keeping the face natural and fresh, the models’ matte complexions were the perfect base for a contoured, smoked-out eye using Elizabeth Arden’s Beautiful Color Smokey Eyes Pencil and Color Intrigued Eyeliner. Lashes were left free of mascara to keep the overall impression soft.

Picking up the hints of orange in the collection, lips were stained a soft red that brought a playfulness to the look.

National creative director and master hair stylist Zahir Ziani kept hair simply styled and natural, “like she did it herself.” Sweeping hair off the face and into a low side bun, with a few stray strands falling naturally, this tousled style counterbalanced the chic, put-together collection.

Inspired by the grunge-rock elements of Sun’s designs, national training director of nails Adeline Sarino created a cool ombre manicure using shades of light and dove gray. Nail technicians painted stripes of lacquer onto cotton balls, then swiped them over models’ nails to produce a one-of-a-kind look that I’m dying to practice on myself.

Watching the models be transformed from women in street clothes and bare faces to elegant head to toe glam-punks was completely mind blowing. What do you think of the finished look?