For the first time, J. Crew will be debuting their Spring/Summer 2012 collection during New York Fashion week at Lincoln Center this September. While this news may come as a surprise to some, for those who have been paying attention to the direction of the brand, it's expected.
I know when I get the J. Crew catalogue I flip through to check out the models first, then the clothes. Top models, Crystal Renn (one of Zac Posen's favorites) and Arizona Muse have appeared in recent catalogues and next season, Liu Wen and Jacquelyn Jablonski are taking the spotlight.
Because of the new-ish direction, cosmetic companies are now partnering with J. Crew creating beauty loot so you can mimic the looks of the models in the catalogues. Poppy King, the Lipstick Queen, created a reddish-coral lipstick called Poppy King for J. Crew Lipstick and there's Face Stockholm for J. Crew Nail Polish collection too.
My first trip to Fashion Week's new home at Lincoln Center was for the Farah Angsana show. Skeptical at first, I felt more welcomed than I thought I would as I pulled up in a cab on the upper west side to fashionistas gathering around the fountain. It felt like home. Bye, bye Bryant Park, everyone was here.
Nineteen models were made up with soft metallic lids and romantic curls. "Farah's obsessed with J.Lo," commented Gregg Hubbard the lead makeup artist for Cristo. "Everything needs to be about the J.Lo glow!" And in a way, it was – the eyes at least. The bronzed eye was created with Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow in Gold Stone, which is a great base and layerable as a shadow. The lip? A coral gloss.
Dashing Diva's lead manicurist Pattie Yankee did full mani's and pedi's on the ladies with No More Alimony, a shiny nude metallic shade. One model fell asleep while getting her hair done at the same time of her mani and pedi!
Beach chic sums up Mara Hoffman's Spring/Summer 2011 collection and the hair and makeup effortlessly complimented the style. Fedoras, sunglasses, bright patterns, dewy skin and bohemian hair were spotted on the catwalk at Pier 59 studio.
"Even though they're all wearing the same look, the model's are all so racially diverse, they bring their own individuality it," stated Lottie, Makeup Forever's lead makeup artist. She kept it clean using Makeup Forever's HD Foundation and Sculpting Kit around the cheeks and left the lips natural. The secret to a dewy complexion? The beauty blender!
Three different hair 'do's were created on the 15 models by Martin-Christopher Harper for Redken and Cutler. The inspiration: A woman on the Caymen Islands just coming from a leisurely day at the beach. It was a look we can all relate to, very organic. From texturized high buns to buns at the nape of the neck and loose waves all of the women had the same theme. The key to mastering the beachy look is texture, texture, texture. Try Cutler Volumizing Specializing Spray and mist it from your root to mid shaft and blow dry directly over your head from the front with your hands.
