FRESH. Natural. Luminous.
Perfected. Over and over, the
same lovely adjectives rolled off the
tongues of the seasoned makeup
artists who reigned backstage at the
A/W 2019 shows. It’s their consum-
mate challenge each season: to create a
look that’s buzzed about for all the right
reasons, with just enough modernity to feel
relevant and fresh. And this season the
message was clear: skin is in.
The first show to sound the alarm was Marc
Jacobs in New York. This season was a sharp
departure into neutral for a designer beloved for his
fantastical tendencies (a pastel beehive wig, anyone?).
Makeup artist Diane Kendal skipped foundation,
prepping skin instead with Jacobs’s new Youthquake
moisturising cream (more on that on page 180). A bit of
concealer and powder, and voila! The base is done. (It’s
almost as if a mere mortal could recreate this!) And with
everyone from Guinevere van Seenus to Christy Turlington
walking the show, the look didn’t rely solely on dewy adoles-
cent complexions — which is refreshing in itself. The skin
you’re in (even if it is supermodel skin), is plentygoodenough.Over in London at Christopher
Kane, makeup artist Lucia Pieroni
focused on a “clean, pure” complexion.
Extra luminosity came in a translucent,
multi-use Nars gloss slicked across the
lids and lips, while a humble brow gel
completed the look. Victoria Beckham
enlisted celebrity facialist Nichola Joss to
prep her models with a depuffing facial
massage using the ultra-luxe The Cream by
Augustinus Bader. Even Pat McGrath, whose
bedazzling empire is built from OTT glitter and
sparkle, showed restraint at Stella McCartney —
mascara and lip balm were the hero products.
And in Milan and Paris, where shows take on an
extra level of extravagance, skin still had its standout
moments. In Milan, Bottega Veneta was a parade of
power coats with no-nonsense complexions to match.
At Christian Dior, at Paris’s Musée Rodin, freckles were
proudly on display against teddy-girl-inspired lashes.
While the runways were a mix of sharp suiting, oversized
florals and neo-bourgeois dressing, one thing was agreed
upon: beautiful, expensive looking skin is this season’s most
covetedaccessory. – Janna Johnson O’TooleThis season is a tale of
two faces — which
one is yours?
Less is
MORE
170 HARPERSBAZAAR.COM.AU^ September 2019