In the undying words of lead makeup artist and creator of the eponymous makeup line used backstage at the Walter show during New York Fashion Week, “Not to prime is a crime!” Of course, by “prime,” Napoleon Perdis was referring to the application of foundation primer underneath the models’ makeup to create a smooth palette and a soft glow to the face.
The focus of the show was a good girl/bad girl dichotomy: “The theme is masculine/feminine, militaristic, tough yet girly,” noted a visibly excited Perdis. To achieve this look, the styling team focused on creating clean complexions, eyes rimmed with black and shaded with blue, barely-there blush, and a strong but not overstated lip. This season, the boldly hued lip has been a key makeup trend across the board. When asked if he has any DIY tips for our readers at home, aside from his insistence on priming, Perdis pointed out, without hesitation, “Mascara first, always! This way, if you get the rest of your face dirty, you can clean up before you apply the rest of your makeup.”
In keeping with the good versus evil premise, lead hair stylist Whitney Bliske of Toni & Guy used a myriad of Tigi products to create structured hairstyles that still managed to retain a sexy, feminine movement. Most girls sported simple pony tails, placed high and with a bit of a controlled messy look and some height at the crown; for many, a section of hair was wrapped around the hair tie, or with “mushroom-colored bows for the brunettes and black bows for the blondes,” to add a girly touch to a tightly pulled back, sporty look, explained Bliske.
The common link between all the up-dos at Walter? High shine. This was achieved through prepping the hair with Tigi’s “Your Highness,” a styling must according to Bliske. Her insider advice to getting the catwalk look yourself: “Never try to flatten out the bumps after you’ve already made the ponytail. Work it all out with your fingers and gather the hair, then fasten.” Considering the countless number of times I have succumbed to this exact faux pas, her advice was duly noted!
-JD
