Less is More at Walter

Known for his contemporary clothes that easily transition from day to night, Walter Baker is certainly a force in the fashion industry. The models sported a surprisingly laid back and unfussy look. Lead Sebastian stylist, Janine Jarman, opted for a very clean and healthy look. All of the girls wore their hair down, with a simple, middle part tucked behind their ears. (She gently put one mini bobby pin right by the ears to make sure that the hair remained in place).  “It’s a juxtaposition with the collection, which is a bit more fun and undone, and a mix of fabrics, textures, and colors,” Jarman said of the look. Prior to blow drying, she sprayed Volupt, a new Sebastian volumizer from the roots to ends. The goal was to get maximum volume, but still have it be touchable, so it didn’t appear that there was anything holding up the hair.  “It’s funny, some of the easier looks take a bit more work so that they can look effortless,” Jarman remarked.

For makeup, Napoleon Peredis wanted “instant gratification and satisfaction” to compliment the very chic Walter collection. Using all of his own products, Peredis created “a freshness all over the skin," which he claimed was "a very easy look that a New York girl can do in an instant....”

Peredis used products from his own collection including Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer, Boudior Mist Spray Foundation, Barely Blushing- Barely Rouge lip finish, and Mesmer-Eyes Mascara.

When I asked him how to translate this runway look to real life (you know... for girls like us), Peredis could not have been more optimistic. He said to use primer, (once again uttering his mantra “not to prime is a crime!”) and instructed to put on mascara first followed by spraying on foundation, and opting for lipstick or a bare lip.

I was a huge fan of the silky straight hair of the models, which was the perfect choice since so many of the clothes had asymmetrical silhouettes and layers. The makeup and hair stayed true to Walter’s modern aesthetic, and was a good counterbalance to the rough, downtown edge of some of the clothes. Even from the runway, the looks appeared not so difficult to achieve- despite the hours put in by the stylists- and this wearability is what makes Walter such a standout designer.

Come Backstage With BeautySweetSpot and Meet Our Fashion Week Team!

As WWD reported today, "the circus is in town," only this one includes models, celebrities and fashionistas!  And don't forget the journalists.  That's right, I'll be backstage reporting on the hottest hair, makeup and nail trends for over 20 of this September's Spring/Summer 2011 shows. But I won't be doing it alone, my BeautySweetSpot.com intern, Carly Nelson will be joining as well as my intern from last spring, Jasmine Dilmanian.  They're both fab writers and ready to stiletto stomp into the new tents of Lincoln Center and beyond.

So what can you expect from this killer team?  Interviews with the greatest editorial and celebrity hair stylists, makeup artists, manicurists and designers.  Shows we'll be attending include – Vena Cava, Doo Ri, Max Azria, Walter, Betsey Johnson, Halston, Rachel Roy, Rosa Cha, Nanette Lepore, Tory Burch and J. Mendel.

Stay tuned!  You can follow my live from backstage tweets @beautysweetspot!

Go Backstage at Walter

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