An insider’s view of New York Fashion Week: Part 4

Senior makeup artist with M.A.C. Cosmetics Caitlin Callahan shares her stories from New York Fashion Week.

Sunday

I went to the test for Sass and Bide with Makeup Artist extraordinaire Ms Charlotte Tilbury (“sweetie, darling”). Sass and Bide are Australian designers if you don’t know who they are, you should .

I loved every outfit! One of the most beautiful models I’ve ever encountered came in for a casting: about 6’2″ with the deepest dark skin tone and the longest legs I’ve seen wearing peach leggings, a peach shirt and peach pumps.

“That’s the only woman who can wear that and should,” the designer leaned over to me and said. Charlotte designed an easy and beautiful makeup that was super wearable.

We were having so much fun I didn’t realize the time and had 20 minutes to get to Zac Posen. Eek!!!!!

I kissed Charlotte goodbye (“thank you sweetie, gorgeous darling”) and ran outside and into a taxi.

Kabuki was keying Zac Posen so I knew the makeup would be something special. I love working with him, he is so genius. The makeup was two different black liners, lashes, white pencil, soft contour and natural lip.

Sounds easy, non? Non.

I brought my first girl up to get checked and it wasn’t right. Took a deep breath … brought her back to my station, made corrections and passed the test in my second round. Something you never want to have to do but, oh well, he’s Kabuki! He deserves perfection.

Got out of that show at 8 p.m., went home (been here so long that hotel now feels like ‘home’) and fell into bed.

Monday

That morning I worked on Matthieu Mirano with the lovely Benjamin Puckey. Had to be at Lincoln Center at 6 a.m. … so thank you Benjamin for designing such a pretty (and not too difficult) makeup look.

M∙A∙C Mineralized Skinfinish in Lightscapade was the hero product (the one I had to take a cab to Times Square to get), brushed onto the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and the bow of the lip – sooo pretty! But when it’s that early in the morning, you spend a good deal of time covering sheet marks on the models’ faces.

Finished that show by 9 a.m. and went back to hotel (home?). I wanted to spruce up before Donna Karan.

The venue! The makeup! The hats! Charlotte Tilbury (“sweetie”) designed one of the sexiest makeup looks of the week. I shall be sporting this look a great deal.

We darkened the models skin 3 shades darker than their natural colour. Paint pots were used on the eye, Lipstick in Paramount for the lips (of course), and new spring colours on cheeks. My model was the M∙A∙C tumblr model again, so I had a lot of photographer attention.

The inspiration was ‘70s and you can see why. I loved the clothes – very hippie chic/Rita Coolidge/Jesus Christ Superstar!  It was just heavenly!

The day ended with a M∙A∙C team dinner at Manon restaurant. I think there were about 60 of us there! (Sorry to the other patrons who were expecting a quiet, romantic meal).

Call time tomorrow at 7 a.m. (Really?) It’s worth it though! It’s Badgley Mischka!