ALU at NYFW – Backstage at Barbie

As a little girl you belonged to one of two camps. The Barbie lovers and everyone else. I was mos def on the Barbie side of the line. I was even in the fan club and I have the members only tie-front crop top and pink short shorts to prove it. Yes, they sent hoochie-wear to Barbie fans in the 80s. My collection of Barbie dolls, accessories, etc is beyond ridiculous and it’s all still safely packed away at Mom and Dad’s house. I even had this odd knitting contraption to make my own Barbie tube dresses. My girls were stylin’. I would spend hours pulling out every single Barbie item I owned, making the living room uninhabitable for anyone over the age of ten. Go ahead say it, I was obsessed. I still am actually. Put the name Barbie on something, make it a limited edition and I’ll get in line. When I heard about Stila’s LE Paint Cans to celebrate her 50th anniversary, you better believe I stalked the collection online until they went on sale. Taking it one step further, Mattel invited 50 designers to create looks for a Barbie fashion show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, bringing Barbie to life. Given three eras of Barbie (past, present, future) to work with, the designers conceptualized their vision of Barbie for the catwalk. 50 models and 50 tutu clad little girls strutted down the pink runway yesterday and I was backstage to bring you the nail, beauty and hair scoop.

Of all the shows I’m covering this week, Barbie was obviously the one I was most excited to see. With CND‘s creative team working on the nails, I knew they’d come up with something fabulous. Under the past, present, future guise, they created custom tips for each look. Past – Retro red tips with Wildfire Present – Hot Pop Pink much like the Pantone Barbie Pink Christian Louboutins worn by the models. Future – Clear lucite tips with a layering combo of Negligee and Serenity for the base which CND Co-Founder Jan Arnold describes as, “so uber uber future.”

Makeup and Hair – Key makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, Stila Global Director of Education and celebrity makeup artist Sarah Lucero and Orlando Pita from T3 walked us through the inspiration and products for the beauty and hair.

Beauty Inspiration – Retro, slightly S&M red lip, contoured skin with classic 50s cat eye

Get The Look – Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Foundation, Perfecting Concealer, Stila Sun Bronzer Shade 2, Fade Cheek Color, “Stay All Day” Waterproof Liner (coming soon), Major Major Lash Mascara, Lip Vinyl (coming soon) or Strawberry Lip Glaze.

Hair – Classic high ponytail with heavy bangs.

Present

Beauty Inspiration – A Sharon Tate vibe with a lighter beige-y pink glossy lip. Very feminine, very pretty. Really clean, shiny glossy skin. A bright pop of cheek color. False doe-eyed lashes.

Get The Look – Illuminating Liquid Foundation, Perfecting Concealer, Stay All Day Waterproof Liner, Major Major Lash Concealer, Giggle Lip Vinyl (coming soon), All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer #1

Hair – Valley Of The Dolls. Tease for height and use Orlando Pita Plump Styling Set & Control Hair Spray to create and set the loose curls.

Future

Beauty Inspiration – Butterfly mask as though she’s going to the opera or a fabulous ball in Venice. Colbalt, electric blue, purples, pinks. Feathers, glitters, sequins. Beige glossy lip with a contoured cheek. Wild and crazy for future while retaining that Barbie beauty.

Get The Look – While the runway look doesn’t really work in real life, Charlotte feels you can translate it to everyday with a smokey, cobalt blue eye and black eyeliner. Add a beige glossy lip and “it would be heaven.” Try Cobalt Blue Smudge Pot, Storm and Indigo Eye Shadow Pans, Topaz Kajal Liner and Praline Lip glaze

Hair – A bun with braids hanging. It’s not about trends, it’s about playing and creating doll hair.

images: All Lacquered Up, The Beauty of Life, Wire Image and Elle.com #NYFW