Fashion Week FW 09: Backstage at Baby Phat

Michelle Obama has really got an influence over the fashion industry. Not only is she wearing new designers (Thakoon) and supporting American designers (Jason Wu) she was the muse behind Kimora Lee Simmons' Fall 2009 show.

"The inspiration is very sexy, curly hair but the length is Michelle Obama," said Odile Gilbert, lead hairstylist.

The hair was very big, curly, and Michelle Obama length- read: shoulder length. To get the look, hair was put in rollers, teased (heavily) and lots and lots of hairspray was used.

Will big hair be a trend for fall? According to Odile, "It’s always a trend."

BRING ON THE ELNETT!


James Kaliardos, lead makeup artist for MAC, said, "We’re inspired by Michelle Obama. I mean, when else can you be inspired by a First Lady? I think she’s so inspiring and so great and so stylish. And she wears Isabella Toledo. Kimora wanted a soft, pretty, classic look. It’s like a soft, pretty peachy version. There’s a little glamour and a little glitter on the eyelid, which Michelle probably won’t do...so it’s a soft, pretty sculpted beautiful look. It’s not as over the top...last time it was Cher [last season at Baby Phat, which you can read here], and that’s like hyper glam. This is a little bit more pulled back, a little bit more sophisticated. We’re sculpting and shaping under the cheekbones and in the crease of the eyelid."

Kaliardos used MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation on the skin and added a hint of MAC Pink Swoon Blush at the top of the cheekbones. He then used a sweep of MAC Drizzle Gold Eye Shadow across the lids, and added cocoa shadow on the brow bone to give the illusion of separation of the lid from the brow bone. A hint of gold glitter was added on the inner corners of the eye and swept a very light coating of glitter across the lids. This was done so when the models went on the runway, the gold was visible and easily photographed.

Individual lashes were then added. This makes the look less drag queen-ish than a full strip. The eyes were finished with MAC Zoom Lash Mascara in Black. Finally, he applied MAC Lipglass in Partial to Pink to the lips.

I must try this lipglass simply because Kaliardos made a very valid point- a nude color is amazing on women and yet most dark skin women find it difficult to find one.

I then spoke to Angi Wingle from CND and she called the nail look "All-American girl with edge."

I'm pretty sure she was describing me...haha

With talks of the theme being the Great Depression-something we're no stranger to this year..almost- the nails were a bit more pearlized metallic finish. This can be achieved by layering Gold Chrome (this is being released in Fall 2009 so the name is subject to change) over Iced Capuccino. Iced Capuccino is a bit of a taupe color with a nice sheen. This was a "shiny not tacky gold".

The nails were meant to look like jewelry..."to accent the collection, like buttons on a jacket."
Image credits: © MissWhoever You Are