Grace Lee surrounded by media backstage.

Things are behind schedule backstage on
Day 4 of Toronto Fashion Week. And it’s hot, buzzing with energy, with models running from hair to makeup to fittings. Then there’s the slew of flat irons and blow driers working overtime. Managing to keep their cool, Grace Lee, lead makeup artist for Maybelline, and Jorge Joao, lead hairstylist for Redken, still create two flawless looks for Pink Tartan and David Dixon. Here are the details on how to get the looks.
1. Dark lips and gold eyes at Pink Tartan With Kimberley Newport-Mimran going back to her Pink Tartan beginnings (think lush fur coats, and gorgeous fitting blazers ideal for work wear), the designer wanted something very classic and clean in beauty and hair and the focus to be on a deep, berry-red lip.
MAKEUP: “Kimberley really wanted to emphasize a strong, ox-blood lip,” says Lee. “So we used Wine & Forever 14-Hour Lipstick. It’s like that perfect
rich burgundy red lip.” With such a statement lip, the rest of the makeup was kept soft, but the eye was nearly as gorgeous as the lip. Lee created a dewy, shiny glossy lid by mixing Bold Gold Colour Tattoo eye shadow with clear Baby Lips lip gloss “I think they should patent this for me! I’ve been doing this [mix of Baby Lips and shadow] for everything!” she exclaimed. “It’s almost like a 24-karat gold on the eye.” The outer corner was dusted with a touch of nutmeg-hued shadow for definition and a couple of coats of mascara. “That lid is just perfection. It’s really about the lip and beautiful glow.”
HAIR: Hair was soft and simple—and as an added bonus—super easy to DIY. Newport-Mimran wanted a center part, so Joao created a super sleek, yet soft look by flat-ironing for
pin-straight, Gwyneth Paltrow-esque locks. “We wanted something that was really timeless. We didn’t want it to look too contrived,” explains Joao. The team used Redken Argan-6 Oil for shine before ironing, then worked in a texturizer for a bit of grit. “It’s not just that soft, mushy hair, it gives it just a little bit of an edge.” After finishing with some shine spray, the models were set to walk the runway with their newly smoothed hair tucked into Newport-Mimran’s chic coats.
(more…)