Backstage with Sally Hansen at Tracy Reese S/S ’10

At every New York Fashion Week I’ve attended, one of the shows I most look forward to is Tracy Reese. I’ve been a fan of her colorful, feminine designs ever since I saw Lauren Ezersky interview her on Behind The Velvet Ropes. Oh how I pine over Style canceling that show.But it isn’t just the clothes that draw me in season after season. It’s her recurring partnership with Sally Hansen. For the past eight NYFW’s they’ve teamed up to bring runway ready colors to the masses and they’ve done it again with a brand new line called Complete Salon Manicure. Read on to view the chic, layered nails, get a peek at the new collection and see my first on-camera interview!

Tracy’s collection was all about contrast, embellishment and intense colors. Bringing together hard edges and soft shapes, layering opaque and sheer fabrics. It’s the layering that became the focus for the hair and nail teams.

I spoke with Jeanie Syfu the hair stylist working with Tresemme (you may have seen her on Project Runway) who shared that she used Tracy’s concept of layering to create this sky high hair. Syfu explains, “There looks like there isn’t a lot happening but there is.” Using Tresemme 24 Hour Body Foaming Mousse and Finishing Spray, she created three stacked ponytails that she pulled into a loose bun to keep the sides sleek and avoid restricting the height.

For the at-home stylist, she recommends teasing the crown and gathering hair into a chignon. She added that teasing hair and then curling it with a 1″ iron creates fluffy volume.

Meanwhile, Charlotte Willer for Maybelline went for a modern 20s makeup look. She wanted edge and got it with exaggerated penciled-in brows, glossy lids and heavy under-eye liner juxtaposed with sweet, pink lips. She used Shiny-licious Lip Gloss on the lids, Eye Studio shadow palette (launching in January) under the eye, Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara, Mineral Power Naturally Luminous Blush in Fresh Plum and Color Sensational Lip Color in Make Me Pink.

Of course the nails are what really caught my eye. Using the new Complete Salon Manicure line, set to launch this Spring, Sally Hansen Nail Expert Dana Caruso and her team painted the models’ nails with a rich black (Midnight In New York) topped with a sheer glitter (Hidden Treasure) that when combined look like burning embers in a pitch black night.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Bill Boraczek, SVP of Marketing for Coty (Sally Hansen’s parent company), who told me that he often polls employees not connected to the line for their take on new shades. That when he asked about Hidden Treasure, his favorite description was that it looks like “crushed gems”.
Bill spoke of Tracy’s aversion to “frost” in creating the Spring collection. That she wanted to avoid the outdated look our mothers wore. So even though the vivid teal and bright yellow have been softened with a pearlescence to make them wearable, they’re still bold enough to be modern.

While backstage I was asked to do a quick interview about Sally Hansen and the nail trends I was seeing at Fashion Week. I was extremely nervous but flattered to have the opportunity. The footage has been used in a great recap of the show that includes interviews with Tracy Reese, Bill Boraczek, Dana Caruso and actress Gabrielle Union. Check it out!

image credit: Style.comand All Lacquered Up