Bonjour Couture: Balmain

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Au naturel

Celebrities and models have already revealed their true faces. Are you brave enough to join the #nomakeup trend?

EVERY season we're treated to a new variation upon "natural" beauty but, for spring/summer 2014, models really were sent out onto the catwalks with the bare minimum of products and styling.

In essence, it's a look that's all about using as few products as possible to create a look that is fresh, modern and real.

In 2013, "selfie" was selected as Word of the Year by Oxford Dictionaries, most likely because so many of Instagram's 150 milion-plus users spent a considerable portion of their time perfecting the right angle, arm length, lighting and filters. The right hair and makeup are, of course, also essensial ingredients in any self-promoting activity.

While some selfie posters have moved away completely from the spontaneous origins of the genre, there is an increasing desire for authenticity in social media. Which is why we see a new au naturel trend emerging: hashtag #nomakeup. And it's actresses and models who are leading the charge.

The fashion industry took notice, from the stars, and the S/S 2014 collections the message was crystal clear: put the products away this season. Backstage at Balmain, Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler and Anthony Vaccarello, mascara was abandoned antirely. A natural-looking comlexion is also an important part of look.

Almost more of a non-trend than a trend, the aim is to achieve a raw, natural-looking beauty using make-up to conceal flaws and to define features rather than to completely transform. The only make-up used at Alexander Wang and Balmain was a little concealer where it was needed, whilst at Christopher Kane, Guido Palau merely washed and dried hair before adding a little oil to tame any frizz. At Emilio Pucci and Giambattista Valli, eyes were given a wash of pale colour to hollow and enhance shape, whilst Lucia Pieroni complemented messy plaits with illuminated skin for a "Nineties supermodel glow" at Giles.

"The skin is very nude, very fresh", explained estee lauder's creative makeup director Tom Pecheux, backstage at Balmain, applying just a touch of concealer here and there.

So, how to face this brave new world, sans makeup? The firs step, is to "moisturise, moisturise, moisturise". You want to keep your skin exfoliated, plump and dewy.

PUT THE PRODUCTS AWAY THIS SEASON, IT'S TIME TO SHOW THE WORLD THE REAL YOU.