Happy 10 Year Anniversary, Phillipe and David!!
New York City-based design team The Blonds know how to take a black and white world and make it sparkle. Owned by partners Phillipe and David Blond, the luxury costumer hosts one of the most anticipated showings of all of NYFW, drawing a creative, avant-garde crowd and racking up an impressive list of celebrities lining the front row.
Having worked with everyone from Britney to Beyoncé, Rihanna to Lady Gaga, their over-the-top jewel-encrusted corsets have made quite the name for them amongst fashion’s elite, and serve as the base for many beautiful, flowing gowns.
Front-row attendees for SS17 included Kelly Osbourne, Christina Milian, Amanda Lepore, Dascha Polanco, Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert, Patricia Field…let me trail off for a second here because it keeps going.
This season’s runway presentation was a space-age reimagining of an ‘80s warrior goddess, whose strength and beauty commands as much attention as the rhinestones on her bodice. Somehow, The Blonds have managed to tone themselves down without abandoning their famed over-the-top style, with nudes dominating their color palette.
While they plan on expanding their line and conquering the red carpet next, they’re still designing for the fearless.
Behind The Blonds Look
Legendary makeup artist Kabuki headed a team from MAC, creating bronzed, sculpted faces with muted eyebrows and a golden-winged eye look with a hint of sparkle, inspired by that of a shooting star. Lips were slightly overdrawn with a golden brown liner to enhance their volume, filled in with a warm nude shade so as to compliment, but not to overwhelm, the rest of the face.
Never one for subtlety, Phillipe Blond worked with hairstylists to create a multitude of curly blonde wigs, all which perfectly matched the lacefront fastened securely atop his own head. Larger-than-life platinum locks bounced up and down the catwalk, making it all too obvious where the design house gets its name.
Beyond a question of a doubt, the Blonds know how to put on a show. It’s immediately evident that the designers not only do it for the luxury, but because fashion is something that allows their passions to take flight. Amidst the camera bulbs furiously flashing and the coordinators desperately trying to keep on schedule is a fearless and unbreakable family of misfits who have been brought together by a common love for couture.
Get The Blonds Look: Makeup
Key Products:
MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation
MAC Quick Trick Stick (out late Fall 2016)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in “Soft & Gentle”
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in “Natural”
MAC Transformer Pinwheel (out late Fall 2016)
MAC Eyeshadow in “Pink Sienna” (Shade out late Fall 2016)
MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara in “Brown”
MAC Pro Longer Waterproof Brow Set in “Clear”
MAC Reflects in “Pearl” (Pearl coming soon)
- Start by mixing a small amount of Fix+ with the Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation to lighten the consistency.
- Use the Studio Finish Concealer at the high planes of the cheekbones, forehead, and chin to lighten.
- Brush the Studio Finish Concealer through the brows to create a faux-bleached brow. (Pro tip: mix in a touch of orange concealer to combat the coolness of the brows for an even more realistic bleached look.)
- Use the Studio Quick Trick Stick down the center of the nose and chin and blend.
- Set the face using Skinfinish in “Soft & Gentle”.
- Dramatically contour and define the cheekbones, jawline, and temples using the Sculpt & Shape Powders and blend out with the “Natural” Skinfinish..
- Highlight and finish with the Transformer Pinwheel.
- Using the “Pink Sienna” shadow, contour the eyelid from the outer corner in, creating blended triangle shape to mimic a wing and to naturally lift the eye.
- Apply “Soft & Gentle” Skinfinish on the center of the lip and beneath the brow bone.
- Curl lashes and brush through with the Haute & Naughty mascara mixed with a touch of clear Brow Set to avoid clumping.
- Add a swipe of the “Pearl” Reflects beneath the wing created by the shadows for a “shooting star” effect.
- Overline lips with the “Stripdown” Lip Liner, starting from the outer corners and drawing up to meet the cupids bow. Fill in the center of the lip with lipstick in “Peach Stone”.
Sarah McGonagle reports in for Style Tomes at NYFW SS17 shows. Photos: Sarah McGonagle
