Let me give you a glimpse of what really happens backstage. Behind the glamor you see on the runway and the calmness and confidence the models gracefully display, is the pressure to meet that one-minute mark to change to the next ensemble. I admire how the models can walk in a composed way on the catwalk when seconds ago they were struggling in an unbelievable speed backstage to make sure they wear the right outfit and accessories right before they come out.
For those who are into watching fashion shows, you most probably feel excited once you get an invite to see one. As part of the audience, you go to your seat in anticipation of the show after the announcement that the show will start in five minutes. Once the music starts, the excitement starts to build up. After a few seconds, the models come out, strutting to the beat of the music and looking all fashionably made up from head to toe. You watch in awe. How perfect they all look. The clothes look so good on them. The models’ faces are flawless, the hair and makeup complementing the outfit.
What’s so special about this particular fashion show is that it’s the opening of the Gucci store in Manila. Everybody involved in this show was so tense and a bit nervous. Every single detail in this 20-minute show would have to be perfect. From the lighting, to the merchandise display, the runway, models, guest models, including the food, down to the carpet, was meticulously planned months and months back. So as "the day" neared, the anxiety built up.
Two days before the show, there was a final "go-see" for the models (meaning the final selection of the models who auditioned for the show) and a makeup test. For this special event, since the "look" is controlled globally, a makeup test was asked. It’s a whole lot easier for me to do this so that I can estimate the makeup time that I have per model. The Gucci PR and advertising manager for Asia Pacific, Celina Ma, and Megaworks managing director, Dennis Phang showed pictures of the international Gucci runway makeup. Since there wouldn’t be a stage, Dennis asked to make the makeup a bit milder but still make the models look sultry, sexy, seductive, and beautiful. I went right to work. After three makeup tests, he approved the models’ hair and makeup. My makeup time should only be 20 minutes per model. For big shows like this, every second counts. Time and precision is very crucial.
On "the day" of the show, the team starts working early in the morning to make sure the runway, clothes, food and store look perfect. As for me, I started doing makeup at 12:30 p.m. When I start doing makeup on a model, I know that time is vital. Familiarity with a model’s face is important to make sure you stick to the makeup time per girl. In this case, since I only had 20 minutes per model, there was no time for small talk. So when a model sits, especially if you’re friends with her, she understands that chitchats won’t be as long but it doesn’t mean that we don’t find ways to have a giggle. It’s all exciting, challenging and so much fun!
So what goes on in those 20 minutes? While applying makeup on a model, I glance at my hair team to make sure the other model’s hair they’re doing is perfect, giving instructions to the other models to clean their eyebrows, asking the made-up models not to move as much so their hair and makeup will stay fresh, sipping coffee in between, glancing at the stylists while they check the made-up models, asking for stylists’ opinion, glancing at the show’s director when he checks up on me. Time’s up! Next model. This went on straight until about 5 p.m.When all the models were done, I re-touched each one’s makeup before the show started to make sure that they all looked "fresh."
Here’s how to get the Gucci look:
• Cleanse. Tone. Moisturize if needed.
• Spread makeup base on entire face.
• Groom your eyebrows.
• Apply concealer.
• Set concealer with loose powder.
• Using a brush, blend loose powder well.
• Dust loose powder under the eyes to "catch" falling eye makeup pigments.
• Starting from the outer corner of your eye, apply dark brown eye shadow from the lash line up to just beneath the bones of your eyelids.
• Blend well.
• On top of your eyelids up to your eyebrows, apply golden brown eye shadow.
• Using a black eyeliner pencil, apply on the lash line of the entire eye.
• Curl lashes.
• Apply mascara on upper and lower lashes.
• Dip a blush brush into the loose powder and dust off under eye area.
• Using a blush brush, apply pale pink colored blush.
• Blend well.
• Apply pale pink lipstick and finish off with lip shimmer.
The adrenaline rush and the excitement make doing fashion shows addicting. When you know that every second counts and perfection is expected, the pressure is unbelievable. "Teamwork" is key to a successful show. But when you know you have to push yourself and you have to take the challenge, then it’s very satisfying and rewarding when the end result is achieved. You get praises and compliments and most of all self-fulfillment. This is the reward that I get that takes all the tiredness and stress away. It was worth it. It’s absolutely wonderful to have the feeling of accomplishment, of time well spent. Makes you feel that your life is worth living.
(E-mail the author at Beautyssecrets@yahoo.com)