Nordstrom at NYFW

NYFW Spring 2010 Runway Wrap-Up

As you can see from reading Pamela, Debbi, and Tara's posts, New York Fashion Week has once again been a whirl-wind of exciting events and fashion shows. The spring '10 runways were full of an optimism that designers expressed through beautiful colors, artistic prints, and wearable items--some new and some that we already love. For us, now the editing process to determine the best of the best to share with you at Nordstrom begins.

Here's a recap of our runway favorites:  

Blue: aquatic shades that range from pale sky to teal

Abstract Prints: the newest print direction has an artistic feel

Floral Prints: florals continue, this time in blurred, colorful combinations

Sequins: for jackets, tops, and dresses--an instant update for day or night

One-Shoulder Tops and Dresses: for looks with a subtle '80s vibe

Something Short: shorts were the number-one runway choice, followed by above-the-knee printed skirts and dresses

Dresses: T-shirt dresses and easy shifts

Boy-Cut Blazers: the perfect piece to wear with short skirts, dresses or even shorts

Weightless Cardigans: longer in length to wear edge-to-edge with shorts, dresses or skirts

Harem Pants: the "It" pant for spring in silk, jersey or fleece

Bib Necklaces: adorns basics like white shirts and tees

Caged Sandals: the new version of the high-heeled gladiator

Here are some of the key looks from the week:

One-shoulder dress in an abstract print with caged sandals, from Thakoon.

Surfer Girls at Proenza Schouler

Didier Malige, lead stylist for Frederic Fekkai, was inspired by the California surfer girl at the Proenza Schouler show. To create beach-tousled waves, he first prepped hair with Fekkai Beachcomber Leave-in Conditioner and then spritzed hair with Coiff Oceanique Tousled Wave Spray. He finished the look by pulling Coiff Magnifique Ultra-light Finishing Creme throughout the hair with his fingers. The resulting look was natural, sexy and sun-kissed.

Diane Kendal, the lead makeup artist for MAC cosmetics, said her inspiration was "boys surfing and skateboarding. Raw boyish makeup--brown eyebrows and tan skin." Warm Bronze Mineralize Blush was brushed onto center of the cheeks for a sunburned look and on eyes, dark brown cream color base blended into creases and under the eye to define and sculpt the eye. Lingering eyebrow pencil was blended throughout the eyebrow for a strong effect then a touch of lip balm completed this look.  

Dream Team Backstage at Marchesa

Backstage at Marchesa, the NARS Cosmetics team was on makeup, Deborah Lippmann was on nails, and Renato Campora on hair for Fekkai.

The hair was slick, elegant yet trendy. Campora mixed the Fekkai Coiff Extra Control Styling Gel with the Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse to slick hair into a ponytail in the middle of the back of the head. He then wrapped the ponytail into a tight bun. To keep this looking modern, he wanted the hair to have a wet, shine to it, so he set it with Sheer Hold Hairspray and finished with Glossing Sheer Shine Mist.

Makeup was inspired by the overall collection, which had a Madame Butterfly and Tattoo uniqueness to it. This look was groomed, sexy, but not overtly sexy. The skin was illuminated with Sheer Glow foundation and Luxor Multiple new for spring 2010. Cheeks were done in Penny Lane Cream blush for sheer, see-through color and eyes were highlighted with Nepal single shadow and All About Eve Duo, then defined with the new Larger than Life Mascara.  

Shiseido at Michael Kors

One of my highlights of the week was having backstage access to the Michael Kors show to film Dick Page, the Artistic Director for Shiseido, to hear about the look for the show and the new products launching for spring 2010. 

The inspiration for this makeup look really came from Michael's collection, using colors seen in the clothes in the eye makeup and just amping it up a bit.

The look was about clean, matte, natural skin with all the interest in the eyes. Dick said, "I'm not really about base, but with so much color on eyes you need to have more foundation to even out the skin and then set with a loose, translucent powder." 

To keep it modern, he used the new face highlighters launching in spring to illuminate the area under the eyes and above the cheekbones. They really polish the skin.  

Love this backstage tip about eyebrows: apply pencil in a downward motion, then brush it back up. This gives you the most natural-looking brows. Lips were done in a soft, almost-nothing shade to keep the focus on the strong eyes.  

 

Textural Makeup by NARS at Phillip Lim

The theme behind the 3.1 Phillip Lim spring 2010 collection was collage, with inspiration springing from the late works of Picasso and the Cubism period. The fashion looks different from every angle leaving a sense of mystery while remaining timeless. The same idea is applied to the makeup by NARS. This look was done all in different textures--matte, sheer, shimmer and shine--all creating a different effect as the model moved around and giving a sense that makeup is there, but not detectable from the plain eye. 

"The idea is not to be harsh. The look is part sheer with shades of green, brown and lilac fading into each other," said lead artist Lisa Butler for NARS cosmetics. The key points include highlights of iridescence and gold to the cheekbones, liner (almost invisible) and peach lips (a new lipstick called Cruising, launching spring 2010).