By Francesca Claybrook
Backstage at the Kaelen show we had the chance to interview Rebecca Prior, Chief of Makeup Services for Napoleon Perdis, who was in charge of the makeup for the show (which was absolutely gorgeous). Besides being incredibly talented, Ms. Prior was also incredibly nice!
BellaVitaStyle: What was the inspiration behind the makeup look for this collection?
Rebecca Prior: We wanted an urban, earthy color palate, with natural colors that were understated. This look is a good alternative for the smoky eye; there aren’t any sharp lines, instead everything is soft.
BVS: Do all the girls have the same look?
RP: Yes. The intensity might vary from model to model, but the colors are all the same.
BVS: How does the makeup relate to the clothes in the collection?
RP: The collection is done in an earthy palate with pops of color, and so it’s all about collaboration.
BVS: What are the makeup trends this season?
RP: Nudes and matte looks are big, especially matte skin and a nude matte lip, which would accent either a smoky eye, or something with more color. Here, we used a fleshy pink nude to give the girls some color while still maintaining that low-key look. It can be hard during the winter to do matte lips on dry skin, so we always use Napoleon Perdis’ Auto Pilot Lip Service, which helps with dryness.
BVS: Ok, so if I only had five minutes to get ready, what would you tell me to do?
RP: Napoleon always says “not to prime is a crime,” so primer is the first step. With a base layer of primer everything else you apply will last so much longer, and you’ll keep looking fresh all day. Mascara (which you should apply first) is another important element – it’s a wakeup call for the face and you can build a look off that. A great powder foundation that doesn’t take a lot of work is another key step that can be done quickly.
BVS: What other shows are you working on this season?
RP: We’re working on a total of ten shows, like Elise Overland, Maisonette 1977, What Goes Around Comes Around, Nicholas K, Duckie Brown, Victor de Souza, and Venexiana.
BVS: What are the best (and worst) parts of doing a runway show?
RP: The best part of a runway show is definitely the energy. The worse is the anxiety and lack of control, but things always come together. The craziest part is definitely the time crunch, especially if a model only has about ten minutes to get ready to go out. There are tons of people tugging on her from every direction!