Betsey Johnson is always one of my favorite shows to cover. Backstage is like a party. There's a DJ, candy, little champagne bottles to drink with straws, balloons everywhere and signs that Betsey created to get the glam squad, models and her stylists pumped for the show. Of course they're all signed "xo Betsey."
The designer was debuting her "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" collection on Valentine's Day. Peter Gray was the lead for Redken who worked with angled, blunt 
black bob wigs inspired by the Sassoon movie. Of course just a simple wig for a Betsey Johnson show wasn't enough, so the team spray painted a dust of gold around a lace pattern to add a fresh fun feel. To keep the wig looking shiny as the models walked the runway, Gray used Redken Shine Flash 02.
Butter London's Nonie took charge of the nails customizing a shade with the working title, Wallis inspired by Wallis Simpson, which is definitely going to go in production
in the fall. It's a tarnished greenish gold.
Charlotte Miller was the lead for Maybelline who used the Studio Eye Quad in Midnight Excitement to create the eye look, which is coming out in September. Of course she used Falsies Mascara. Below is a video of Miller creating the whole look on a model with step-by-step instructions. It's awesome!
Backstage at the Monique Lhuillier fall 2011 show Val Garland for MAC and Jan Arnold for Creative Nail Design were joined by Odile Gilbert for Kerastase to create a glamourous yet edgy look.
"The gowns are cleam, long and slender," commented Arnold. "Think Angelina Jolie in The Tourist."
Deborah Lippmann provided the nails, and the color that all the models sported was a deep green shade called “billionaire.” Since the hair and makeup was so glam, this very wearable and earthy color was a nice contrast.
The Fall 2011 Elise Overland collection was presented on an ice rink at the Standard Hotel. To create this Icelandic “winter playground,” the models had an ethereal look. David Cruz for Tresemmé was the lead on hair, and he pulled all the models’ hair back into a ponytail from the roots, then made a fishtail braid and used the braid to form a kind of deconstructed bun. Since the designer’s collection was pretty big on texture, he didn’t want the models to look like animals and give them a lot of hair! The fishtail braid bun is simple and tightly frames the face, but still adds that extra pizzazz for the runway.
Napoleon Perdis did the makeup, and the look was all about luminous skin. He avoided using creams and gels, and used minimal foundation so that more light would reflect off the models. To prep the skin, he applied Napoleon Complex Skin Renewal Serum and Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer.
The Venexiana fall 2011 show was bold and dramatic featuring clothes that ran the gamut from edgy, short leather dresses to cascading sequin evening gowns that I can only imagine being worn on the red carpet!
Philip Pelusi from Tela Design Studio chose to do a “Venetian top knot” – the perfect medium between a classic French twist and a traditional top knot. This elegant hairstyle perfectly complimented the collection because it’s not too overpowering, yet not too simple either. Pelusi used his own Tela Beauty Organics line of products on the models’ hair. He used Dry Shampoo to instantly clean and rejuvenate the hair. After spritzing on hair, he applied a little bit of Composer, a damage and split end repair solution. It initially feels sticky but once you run it through the hair it gives more control, making the hair easy to twist into an updo.
Napoleon Perdis was the lead on makeup, and he told me that the look was influenced by Venexiana designer Kati Stern who is “Northern European, expensive and luxurious.”
Backstage at Rag & Bone the inspiration was urban eskimo. Loose braids sporatically placed throughout the hair that "look as if a girl did them herself as she day dreams about her boyfriend" were paired with windswept skin and rosy lips.
The Redken lead stylist didn't want the braids to look too perfect. Each model had two that were secured with a clear hair band and then pulled out a bit to make them looser.
Gucci Westman was the lead makeup artist for Revlon and leaned on a new Revlon compact that comes out in October to complete the look. It featured a quad of what looked like a mix of lipsticks and eyeshadows. The lipstick was used not only on some of the models' lips to make them pinker, but also on the eye lids to create more texture.
“Urban Forest” was the theme backstage at Toni Francesc. Lead makeup artist Jackie Mgido of Mehron cosmetics tied the makeup in this tough-meets-natural look by mixing earthy colors on the face with a pop of brightness at the eyes. “Keep it natural and well-blended,” she advises, using a small brush to apply light cream foundation “only where needed.” Jackie sought to promote healthy skin by creating a light glow; Mehron’s Celebra Foundation helps to achieve the look with ingredients like pomegranate and soothing aloe. Plus, it’s oil free!
On the eyes, Jackie uses cream eye shadow in bright yellows, blues, greens, and grays. She especially recommends cream products in the winter, as dry eyelids take over. Conveniently, cream shadow doesn’t need a base. She notes that you can blend cream in nicely with just your fingertips. Cream makeup translates to cheeks and lips as well; Jackie shows me a palette of saturated yet sheer multi-purpose hues that she uses on the cheeks solo and on the lips topped over foundation.
I've been covering NY Fashion Week since my editorial job with Cosmopolitan magazine five years ago now and each season I have a new found appreciation for the art that goes on behind the scenes. This year, I focused more on video and mixed it into my editorial because I wanted you to experience backstage just like I do.
Watch as Ric Pipino explains how to get the chic chingnon and Nadine Luke of MAC explains tips on how she created the bold, colorful bird inspired look:
There’s nothing in the world that compares to a Betsey Johnson show. It is a true spectacle, and I was lucky to have the chance to attend her latest runway presentation. The vivacious designer always goes over the top, and her Spring/Summer 2011 collection consisted of her signature crazy neons and clashing patterns.
The inspiration behind the collection was simply taking a bike ride through New York City. Sarah Lucero, the lead makeup artist for Stila said, “The look is optimistic, happy, and colorful.” Lucero wanted a “bright, bold green eye” and accomplished it by wetting Fiji Palette no. 5 eyeshadow and painting it on like a thick paint splotch. To complete the face she used a hot pink hue on the cheek and Caprice Long Wear Liquid Lip Color (another bold pink) on the pout.
Nonie Creme, the Founder and Creative Director for Butter London of 
Worn by Sarah Jessica Parker (who was at the show tonight), and other hot celebrities; Halston is one designer that knows how to set trends. Despite the down pour the show went on and the audience was packed at Gladstone’s Gallery in New York. Halston showed off their designs and fresh, natural look for this season. I went backstage for Beautysweetspot to get all the tricks of the trade in creating what the pros called – the perfect natural look.
Inspired by the 1960’s and 70’s, MAC’s head makeup artist, Amora, shares a few secrets in creating a “no makeup” look. The team dabbled on foundation with a brush in a circular motion to polish the skin while giving it great coverage. For a natural flush, Amora applied blush with her fingers in the center of the models cheek. The eyes lashes were absolutely amazing, and I found out the secret is to make sure the mascara’s brush is spikier and rubbery, similar to a comb. To get these lashes apply lots of product and separate the lashes one by one with brush. To do this take the mascara brush and bend up in layers to separate and lengthen. To complete the natural look, skip the eye liner.
I was actually giddy to attend the spring 2011 presentation of the real designer behind Eleanor Waldorf’s creations on Gossip Girl. Since the start of the hit CW show, Abigail Lorick has successfully carved a name for herself in the fashion industry, being widely recognized for her girly garments that have very clean and tailored silhouettes. I was really excited to see what this former model envisioned for her own models to look like wearing her latest Lorick collection.
I first went backstage at the intimate Tela Tea Room studio to talk to the show’s lead on hair, Jeffrey Rice of Philip Pelusi Salons, who was busy perfecting a low, messy bun on one of the models. The look is “very soft, easy, and breezy…almost like the models did it themselves – casual, yet put together.”
The key to the makeup was highlighting the skin and lead makeup artist, Deanna Melluso of Temptu, kept it minimal enhancing the models natural features. A light dewy mouth and a generous amount of Temptu's Peony blush on the apples of the cheeks (but not clownish at all) was all that was needed. A
Back at Milk Studios today the scene was surprisingly calm and well organized for the Costello Tagliapietra show. With 23 models coming from prior shows who needed to be molded into the Costello girl, stylists and artists were busy at work, but seemed anything but frantic.
All of the girls wore high side buns directly above their left ears. "It's a throwback," commented Nelson Vercher, the lead stylist from the Rita Hazan Salon. "Back in the day ladies used to wear their hair like this when they wore hats." He used Phytovolume Actif Maximizing Volume Spray to create texture, but then just a piece of elastic to secure the ponytail that he wrapped and tied, wrapped 
and tied about three times and cut the ends. It's definitely not practical for the every day girl, but a sweet backstage trick. After looping the hair around itself he secured with bobby pins and sprayed with L'Oreal Elnett Hair Spray.
and keep your skin dewy. On other areas (like your chin) that may need heavier coverage, go heavier with the foundation and don't mix in the moisturizer. The key is to layer lightly.
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!
This morning I headed over to Milk Studios to take a peek backstage before the Vena Cava show. Ted Gibson was on hair, MAC on makeup and Butter London on nails. It was show one of day one and all of the talent, models and journalists looked refreshed and ready to take fashion week for all it's worth!
"These girls aren't afraid of a strong look, they're walking for Vena Cava," remarked Lloyd Simomonds of MAC cosmetics. The makeup was heavy to say the least. Inspired by Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface, a full face of metallic navy blue shadows complimented by coral lips and cheeks gave off an ultra glam effect.
To my surprise, Butter London of 
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.
