Direct from the Runway: Reem Acra Spring 2010

Backstage at Reem Acra was much less crazy than a season ago. Hairstylists and makeup artists were actually given tables in the atelier this time, rather than models being shoved in corners around the clothing. The clothing, as always, was very sophisticated and glamorous -- very red-carpet ready. Makeup artist Maxine Leonard for Temptu and hairstylist Laurent Philippon for Bumble and bumble definitely evoked that feel in the makeup and hair, respectively. Get all the details after the jump.


"The clothing is quite expensive, there's an element of boho-chic," Leonard told me backstage. "We wanted the girls to be beautiful but very effortless." To achieve this look, she used Temptu's new AIRbrush Makeup System and AIR Pods for foundation, blush and highlighter, in addition to S/B Airbrush Formula for eyes and accents. "What's essential is the texture of the skin," she said. "We've chosen to use the airbrush because the space is very intimate for the show and I want that kind of beautiful finish." She wanted to enhance the girls' natural beauty with very little makeup, choosing to go for a warm brown on the eyes and sheer, neutral lips.

Maxine Leonard backstage

Leonard finished the look with groomed brows and a fine layer of mascara "to make the lashes look fluffy," she said, wiping the wand before applying so it wouldn't appear cakey. "I wanted to enhance the natural tone around the eyes -- not heavy, just really subtle," she said. "I wanted it to look effortless."





 
Laurent Philippon can always be counted on to do something incredible and inventive backstage, and this time was no exception. Drawing influence from Penelope Tree in the 1960's, he created a look that was very flat on top and full on the bottom. He achieved this by first setting the top section of hair flat with a doorag and then creating large curls with a 1 1/2-inch curling iron. Right before the models walked down the runway, he brushed the hair out so it would be softer and really contrast with the flat section on top. "I didn't want to have one type and didn't want to have a feathery effect," he told me. So he and his stylists mixed together different curling techniques to achieve "a nice shape of curls, nice volume and really flat on top." He also only used one product -- Bumble and bumble Styling Lotion. "The Styling Lotion is THE product!" he told me emphatically.

Laurent Philippon backstage

 
Elle for Barielle was on hand for nails, painting them with a color that Reem Acra had actually created! After requesting many different sheers, she ended up handmixing a color and naming it Without a Stitch. She chose a sheer so that the polish "wouldn't overshadow the clothes," Elle told me. Elle prepped the nails with Barielle Nail Rebuilding Protein, applied the polish and then finished with Barielle Speed Dry "because they've gotta hurry up and get dressed afterwards!"