Guest Blog- Thembi!

Manchester Graduate Fashion Show

Last week, as part of the CLMA events team, we had the great opportunity to do the makeup for the Manchester Graduate Fashion Show. This show is held once a year and showcases the amazing talents of the designers of tomorrow. I worked on this show last year, so when I got the call to be involved again this year, I jumped at the chance. The showcase of young talent happens all over the country in cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Leeds, before finishing off with Graduate Fashion Week in London. Graduate Fashion Week has produced some of the UK’s most successful and influential designers, such as Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen, giving these young designers something to aspire to and achieve.

We were given a really exciting brief both hair and makeup wise so we couldn’t wait to get started.

The brief consisted of 3 looks that were all totally different.

Look #1 called for a strong peacock inspired eye with glitter and slicked back hair.

 Look #2 took on more of a 70’s influence with big crimped hair, a bright lip and lots of blusher!

Look #3 was more of a soft natural look with tousled hair pinned to the side.

                                                                                                                

                                                                                               

As there were 25 models and only 2 hours for hair and makeup we decided to split ourselves between hair and makeup looks. I took control of the peacock makeup look and here’s a run down of how I created the look.  

I moisturised the skin using ‘Nivea Pure and Natural Moisturising Day Cream’  and ‘MAC Fast Response Eye Cream’ .

There were 2 shows, the first at 5pm and the second at 8pm, so I had to ensure the base I used would be long lasting and require minimal touching up between the two shows. I used a mix of ‘MAC Face and Body Foundation’ for it’s sheer, skin like finish and ‘MAC Pro Longwear Concealer’ for any extra coverage needed. Both of these formulas have a nice long wearing time and look just like skin when buffed on using a ‘MAC#188 Duo Fibre brush’, so it was the perfect combination.

As there was going to be lots of sparkle on the eyes, I wanted a satin, sculpted skin to create a nice contrast of textures. To do this I highlighted the skin using ‘Bourjois Healthy Mix Illuminating Brush Concealer’ on the high plains of the face, sculpted the cheek bones with ‘Illamasqua Powder Blusher’ in a tan shade and ‘Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Rude’ . I then powdered as needed with ‘Illamasqua Transparent Finishing Powder’ .

It was now time for the focal feature of the makeup; the dark peacock inspired eye!

I started by using a mix of ‘Bourjois Metallic Eyeliner in Bleu Clinquant 54’ and ‘MAC Kohl Pencil in Tarnish’ all over the eye and along both water and lash lines blending with a ‘MAC #217 brush’.

I then pushed ‘MAC EyeShadow in Humid’ all over the eye lid and topped off with a mix of ‘MAC Reflex glitter in Turquatic and Transparent Teal’. I then applied MAC In Extreme Dimension mascara for lots of volume.                                                                                              

                                                                              

I finished off the look with a coating of ‘MAC Lipstick in Honey Love’ for a nude matte finish.

Here are the models back stage with the finished look. Hope you like it! Thembi x