Abaete’s Incredibles for Fashion Week Fall 2009

Abaete designer Laura Poretzky’s runway show was inspired by the “Incroyables” (18th Century, French Revolutionary equestrian men), with primarily black and muted blue, rose and purple and grey tones (inspired by color as it fades). This, plus a hauntingly sad soundtrack provided by a live string trio, could have made for more “Les Mis” than marvelous, but the beautifully tailored jackets, slim pants and body conscious dressed, paired with “dandy” details such as shiny gold chains accessories, and fantastic, super-high ankle boots (for Payless, no less!) that reminded me of a short version of the boots “Puss & Boots” is depicted as wearing. These were literally draped with chains. This is a look that’s likely to resonate with chic shoppers looking for something new but not frivolous to perk up their wardrobes, this Fall.

My first stop before watching the show was backstage to talk to makeup Tina Turnbow, using makeup from Tarte and skincare from Caudalie for beauty.com, and David Cruz styling hair, for REDKEN.

With so many muted tones, hair, makeup and even the nails had to be austere, but fresh. Tina Turnbow skillfully created the feeling of a French Revolutionary man’s clean, fresh face, softened for a woman, using Tarte makeup.

She began by softening the eyebrows (“harsh brows look more like a man’s, she said”). This was accomplished by using Re-Create (an anti-aging foundation with “Wrinkle Rewind technology” that of course, looks great on your face, too applied with an eyeliner brush in the lightest shade, and in a upward motion. Then she lightly pressed Provacateur Pressed Mineral Powder into the brows with a sponge. She added a touch of Rest Assured Brightening Wand in a pink-nude, on the bottom, inner rim of the eyes, and The Eraser 4-in-1 Natural Concealer, all over lids. Eyelids were “glossed” not with color, but with a sheer nude, vitamin-infused lipgloss called: “Liquid Sunshine” that added a soft shine that looked nice under the runway lights. If you want to re-create this look, simply apply a coat, patted on lids with your fingers, and then apply a second coat only along the lash line. Curl your lashes and then apply Tarte Rejuvelash mascara, using brown if you have fair skin (brown is softer). Lips in this look are easy. When needed, she used a Caudalie Lip Balm (I always keep one in my purse and by my bedside), and then applied just a bit of the slide-tin Lip Balm with SPF 15 in “Bee Stung” and followd with 24/7 Natural Lip Sheer with SPF 15 in “Champagne Brunch.” with “Hush” Lipstick. Tweak the look with The Eraser 4-in-1 Natural Concealer if necessary. Tina applied a bit of Caudalie Contour Cream on eyes, lips, and cheekbones for a more dewy look. Then, she spritzed the fantastic Caudalie Beauty Elixer all over the model’s face to help set the look (the essential oils in this little bottle of beauty magic is a must-have for travel to keep face soft, moist, and refreshed, too).

Here’s the finished look!

You may not appreciate the work that goes into doing all those fingers and toes unless you are sitting in the front row, but groomed ails are an important part of any look on the runway. Tina Turnbow and Creative Nail Design’s LuLu Copper work on a model at the same time, somehow managing not to get in each other’s way. Creative Nail Design’s Amanda Fontanarrosa keeps a smile, even though she’s going to be go from show to show. For Abaete, a natural look was applied to nails with a semi-opaque flesh with pink, slightly opalescent overtones, called: “Mystere.” It certainly goes with the French Revolutionary (guy) theme and it’s a nice, everyday nail polish.

And…what kind of hairstyle would a French Revolutionary (male) wear? A lithograph of a French Revolutionary gentleman wearing spiky mohawk” with a long, thick, braid was the inspiration for the hair, as explained to me by the always gracious, David Cruz, for REDKEN.

After hair was ready, he braided the hair using the mode’s own, and hairpieces, weaving a fabric ribbon into the thick braid and tying a bow at the bottom. This is a look you could definitely try in a modified version at home…and the REDKEN products really help you create (and keep) the style.

David used just a few of the great, REDKEN products I see stylists use backstage at runway shows year after year. He used Fabricate 03, a heat-activated texturizer for control and body; Workforce 9, a flexible volumizing spray; and Headplay 12, a pliable, working spray has 24-hour humidity resistance, 8 hour flexible control and frizz-free shine. I noticed a few of the excellent heat styling products in the pink cans that the Advice Sisters reviewed just recently in the What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion review column.