Faces of autumn
What’s really in fashion for autumn make-up
Having to describe what the latest trends are in make-up terms can be tricky as although one can be pretty accurate in general terms, there are, nevertheless, many different interpretations by different creative teams. Then there’s the question of the latest trend according to whom? There is also what I like to call high street fashion, where hair, nail and some cosmetics brands promote certain looks and colours as their new season collection that are not necessarily the latest word in the fashion industry. The other, more authentic, side of things is the fashion industry’s new trends in which new and innovative ideas are created by highly skilled and knowledgeable fashion make-up artists in London, New York, Paris and Milan, which tend to dictate world trends and can be seen on runways and in fashion magazines. Many of the up market cosmetics brands’ seasonal looks tend to be much closer to the ‘latest word’ from the fashion world as they hire those make up artists/gurus as expert consultants to create new looks for them and for new colours, products, ideas and textures.
With the dozens of looks that are pushed as the in thing, how does one sort the wheat from the chaff as far as what suits you is concerned?
And there we have hit upon an important point. Your chosen look or colours need to suit YOU. There is no point having the latest look if it doesn’t tie in with your personal style, clothes and general hair style. Take some of these new ideas and trends and individualise them to suit your face or clothes, after all, nowadays anything goes and rules aren’t so rigid when it comes to make up.
In recent months, make-up has acquired a stronger presence. Clothing fashion ideas are much more original this season too. Make-up has become very elegant for a lot of the fashion looks that are around: think feminine, old-world glamour with dark raspberry lips, reminiscent of old Hollywood. Yves Saint Laurent’s new autumn/winter 2007/8 collection, epitomises this look.
Some of the latest looks for make up are:
Brightly painted eyelids – using dense, cream textures
The thirties/forties screen siren – using very dark lip colours
The neutral but dressy face – to match most fashion looks including bright clothes, structured outfits or the new futuristic/sci-fi influenced clothes
The new punk – black eyes, pale lips
Twenties faces – nothing original there
Futuristic faces – metallics, unusual hues or whites blended onto face or forehead
Shiny metallics – on the cheeks, face, anywhere!
HOW TO ACHIEVE THEM
A great new product for gorgeous eyes is Shiseido Hydro Powder Shadows pots of creamy colour in very clever, unusual hues, giving the eyelids a contemporary dewy texture.
To achieve that authentic moody, black and white Hollywood movies look, use colours such as Shiseido Perfecting Lipstick in colours P24 or P14 matched with their Hydro Powder Shadow in colour H14, a mysterious two tone maroon.
There are many trends around, but we will go into detail on the New Nude or Monochrome look as it is represents the newest shift in trends, is more realistic in its ability to be used in everyday situations and is a great look for many women. It also blends perfectly with many looks that are big this autumn/winter. You can give a modern feel to the new forties screen sirens dresses with this look rather than wear a heavy, moody, black and white movies make up look.
This nude look does not mean natural and is not a ‘no make-up’ look. It is quite a polished, smart, made-up and fairly matt looking face, characterised by pale lips using a not too matt but not too greasy, dense textured lipstick that is not too shimmery.
Great colours for this are Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pure no. 132 or Rouge Pure Shine no.19. Close to your own skin colour, beiges and taupes are used on eyelids with maybe a little darker brown close to lashes for definition or warmth. Good colours to use are Chanel Irreelle Duo no. 30 in Brown Express, which can be mixed together to make various tones of beige or used separately for darker definition or a lighter eyelid effect, or Yves Saint Laurent Ombre Solo no. 6 and Ombre Duo no. 3.
This is definitely a look where a little foundation and powder or compact make up to give that polished ‘city slicker’ feel. Try Shiseido’s The Make Up Dual Balancing Make Up or Est?e Lauder’s compact Make Up Powders.
