VAMFF BACKSTAGE BEAUTY: DAVID JONES OPENING RUNWAY

Hair, this season, is inspired by your ‘busy city girl’ according to Brad Ngata, one of the co-Hair Directors from L’Oreal Professionnel. This was encapsulated in the look for the opening runway which was “polished, straight and sleek…it captured the youthfulness of the David Jones runway”.

To achieve the look Ngata explains “It’s all about hair health. We wanted smooth and sleek but also for hair to look like shiny healthy hair, not dull straightened hair”. To do this Ngata and fellow co-Hair Director, Caterina Di Biase, used L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Strengthening Milk (rrp $38) on hair before straightening it out using the new L’Oreal Professionnel Steam Pod (rrp $300) a revolutionary new straightening iron that utilises steam rather than hot metal plates to smooth and straighten out hair. The best part is the heat from the steam opens up hair cuticle and infuses the hair shaft with nourishing product applied pre-steam. Creating healthier/shinier/more hydrated hair. Ngata explains the Steam Pod is crucial in achieving the high shine, and infusing the hair with the healthy benefits of the Mythic Oil.

In order to keep hair fresh, Ngata insists on adding a little volume in the back of the hair with L’Oreal Professionnel Super Dust (rrp $25) massaged in and for those with thicker hair,  slight back-combing. Despite the style being sleek and straight, it should never fall flat and should always have a little bit of texture to it. Ngata describes it as high shine, but almost matte high shine due to the texture involved. Biase describes it as “a mix of polished and shine with a raw and dry feel.”

Next, hair is sealed with L’Oreal Professionnel Techni.Art Crystal Gloss (rrp $25), divided into two parts down the middle, and the long shiny lengths of hair are worn over each shoulder, which according to Ngata, works well with Winter wear. According to the directors, sleek hair is the look of the season. “The whole thing with the look is to keep it very expensive” says Ngata, and Biase adds that the look can be easily recreated at home. Length is also key to achieving this look. Long is definitely back in vogue. If you are like me and cut all your hair off in hysteria over the “Lob” or the “Long Bob”, then never fear, that’s where you’re fabulous Showpony tape hair extensions will come into it.  Showpony extensions were used backstage on Montana Cox who filled out her shoulder length “do” with long blonde Showpony extensions that looked seamless and natural.Next in makeup, which was led by VAMFF and L’Oreal Paris Makeup Director, Elsa Morgan, we saw an emphasis on eyeliner. The winged eye became bigger and created more of a statement on the face, in what Morgan refers to as the “Graphic Eye”. Morgan took “inspiration from various iconic beauty references throughout the eras across film, art and celebrity… and added a modern edge with some attitude.”

To create the look, L’Oreal Paris Lumi Magique ($34) was used on skin to create a glowing radiant base. No blush was used and lips were concealed slightly to draw focus to the eye. Liner was taken far out, with the use of tape to create a sharp edge. On top of eyeliner pencil L’Oreal Paris Infallible eyeshadow in Eternal Black (which has a slight sparkle to it) pressed on top with a damp brush to add a touch of glamour. Eyelids were glossy. The best part about a makeup trend like this sticking around, is that it suits any style, it can be rock n’ roll, it can be lady like, or it can be youthful and fresh, as seen in the David Jones runway. Gloss on the eye, however, is one trend that looks great on the catwalk, but is harder to maintain in your day to day look. L’Oreal makeup artists, suggest taking the gloss away from the lid and applying it to the lips to make the look more wearable.