The battle of the “store wars” has begun and it was David Jones out in force on Wednesday night, showcasing their latest designers collections for Spring Summer 14.
With monochromatic versus bold prints ruling the catwalk, beauty was kept simple in colour, showing a baby doll edge, stating that simplicity and balance should be first on the minds when teaming with fashion.
Makeup
This year, chief international artist, Yuji Asano, from shu uemura Japan created an ‘all about the eyes’ look using shu uemura’s famous quote, “Beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin”, as a great base to pull off such a colourless look. Pops of colour and bold lips are usually the norm for spring/ summer makeup, but this year the fashion did that for us!
There were two makeup looks this year from shu uemura, both focusing on fresh, radiant skin using shu uemura’s Light Bulb Foundation (RRP $65). Applied with the ‘light bulb’ sponge designed by Asano himself, the models glowed with youthful, flawless skin.
Hot Tip: Apply foundation in tapping, press and roll movements to fuse foundation to skin perfectly for a seamless finish, then turn the sponge around and use the pointy end to remove excess oil or foundation. Foundation should bond to skin, like a second skin to avoid looking heavy later in the day.
Makeup Look 1: To keep the theme of ‘French Riviera meets Poolside Glamour’ for David Jones SS14 campaign, Look 1 for the show saw a bold ‘all about eyes approach, with a very nude skin and lip palette, working well with the textured, yet sleek hair.
The main product for the eye being the shu uemura soft Gel Pencil in Black (RRP $34), was lined top and bottom, then smudged into the eye socket to create a subtle smokey eye, no edging and very smooth giving a modern ‘Brigitte Bardot’ effect – love!
MB PRO TIP: In my opinion, anyone can wear a subtle smokey eye… Don’t think a ‘smokey eye’ must be black or charcoal shades, it can be applied in any shade and works best using a pencil that is smudged upwards, into the mobile eyelid, only using a shadow over the top if more intensity is required – using shadow only can get messy and harder for beginners, you have more control using a pencil.
Makeup Look 2: Look 2 showed less intensity; yet still a focus eye, playing on a Twiggy/Baby Doll approach to angelic beauty. Similar to Look 1 for skin, with a hint more colour on the lip and cheek, it wouldn’t be a shu uemura show without a lash and we saw the bottom lash line being played up to fit the theme using the Slim Flare Lash set (RRP $25) placed along the bottom lash line in sections, really giving a wide, round eye effect – very playful!
MB PRO TIP: I get asked a lot, when to apply mascara on the bottom lashes, or even at all? I always look at eye shape first, before the look I am applying… If an eye is on the small side, it will definitely help with a wide, more open eye effect.
For someone that suffers from puffiness under the eye, thickening your ‘under eye’ shadow line can give the illusion of less bags, so adding mascara on the lower lashes enhances this – make sure a great concealer/highlighter is used to avoid dark shadows when doing this.
If you have a puffy/heavy lid, Asian eye, or a downturned eye, always apply more depth to top lash line and outer corner than the bottom as it adds lift – In this case, I would apply little or no mascara to the bottom lashes and double layer the top.
Hair
Aveda was lead by Hair Director Terri Robertson-Kirkwood and I could definitely see the chic side of the French Riviera, but also the very playful side of 60s glamour.
“Both looks use soft, feminine texture to embody the romantic ideal of exploring”, says Robertson-Kirkwood. Recent hair trends have seen almost undone, yesterday’s hair today, bedhead-inspired styles and Aveda chose to refine these trends, adding a touch of elegance to create the perfect balance for SS14.
Hair Look 1: Look 1 (matching makeup look 1) was adding texture for volume, but then smoothing ends last minute to create elegance. If you smooth and straighten hair to early with a blow dryer, it can become flat.
One of the key products Terri used on both looks (also one of my personal fave products) was Aveda Pure Abundance Style Prep (RRP $44.95) to add substance and texture through the hair, adding height and body for the roots for a perfect summer shape.
With the base set, a little backcombing at the base of the crown created a mini beehive, to embody the Brigitte Bardot vibe – who doesn’t love a little volume – but then was smoothed down using the Aveda Smooth Infusion Naturally Straight product (RRP $26) to reduce frizz and raise the elegance feel, keeping soft texture for that ‘exploring freedom’ vibe that is summer.
Hair Look 2:
Keeping a similar vibe to look 1, look 2 saw the hair loosely pulled back into a pony, but it’s not just any pony, think windswept and relaxed, showing a softer feminine side allowing hair to move as you move.
Although the base products and prep do not change from Look 1, there was a slight medium tong applied to add loose movement to mid-lengths of hair and one of Terri’s tips is to apply some of Aveda’s Witch Hazel Spray (RRP $18) and once applied sway your hair from side to side and let the product naturally fall through the hair to create a soft texture, giving full movement.
Pull back into a ponytail leaving some side bits free for extra femininity and softness, perfectly balancing with the Baby Doll girl vibe.
Terri’s Tip – If you don’t have time for a soft tong to mid lengths, tie your hair up in a scrunchie before applying the hitch hazel for as long as you have, then release and apply and continue as normal, creating the soft movement.
Skin
Both guys and the gals, well…. The topless men definitely caught our eyes; all had a summer glow to them, all thanks to Loving Tan.
Creator, Joanna Hinton, who gave up her corporate career to develop a quick and easy, at home, quality tan enlisted Beauty Vlogger Sensation, Lauren Curtis to assist backstage and stated “its all about the prep for a healthy, natural looking tan. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate is key for longer life span and a smoother, second skin tan’.
I must admit, I am a tad Jealous of you Lauren…
So ladies, textured, with loose movement hair rules again for SS14 – throw away those heavy lacquered hair sprays and let summer be free. Eyes are a great focus this season, but don’t be afraid to throw on a bold lip – we all know what works bet for our faces, so work your best features to lessen focus on the areas that are not your faves.
Enjoy SS14!