Makeup Beat

The original CHARLIES ANGELS were reunited at the EMMY’S this year to present a tribute to producer AARON SPELLING. Afterward there was much speculation on the Internet about how well the trio have aged. Having worked with JACLYN SMITH for many years (the first two photo’s above are from the MAX FACTOR campaign we worked on in the 80’s) I know for a fact that she has not had a face or eye lift. She does have a very good dermatologist that she has been with for years plus good genes, sun screen, and as she says “clean living” have kept her looking amazingly youthful for a woman that will be 59 in October. I never had the pleasure of working with FARRAH FAWCETT or KATE JACKSON to be able to make a comment. The Look: The glamorous evening, hair by GARREN. The tawny sexy look, hair by JOHN SAHAG. Makeup by DAVID FRANK RAY. Photography by BILL KING. “The art of being a woman is knowing when not to be too much of a lady…thanks Max” tagline for Max Factor. (click on photos)

WAY BANDY was one of my early makeup artist heros. He was famous for the COSMOPOLITAN covers he did with photographer FRANCESCO SCAVULLO each month for years, but he worked with all the top magazines and photographers. The large photo above is RENEE RUSSO by Scavullo and Way when she was a top cover girl for VOGUE. IMAN also photographed by SCAVULLO. I’ll never forget seeing a multi page photo spread in Vogue of LAUREN HUTTON and KAREN GRAHAM (the two top girls of the day) shot by RICHARD AVEDON. They showed all the behind the scenes of a photo shoot with Way and hair guru ARA GALLANT doing the touch-ups on the models makeup and hair. Those photo’s were part of what inspired me to come to New York and get into the business. I read their names in the credits and said “that’s what I want to do”. Way arrived in New York in 1966 but his career really got started in 69 when he became director of the makeup department at CHARLES OF THE RITZ (a wonderful makeup line that sadly is no more). Then in 1971 he went on his own as a freelance artist and worked with just about every top model and movie star of the time. There were several celeb’s that preferred to do their own makeup like ELIZABETH TAYLOR, CHER, and BARBRA STREISAND that became huge fans of his. Taylor was quoted as saying “Way is like an artist using a palette”. To me he was like a glamorous ninja…handsome and sleek dressed all in black with his brushes and potions wrapped in a beautiful silk scarf and carried in a woven Japanese basket. He prepared his makeup as if performing an ancient ceremony going about his work like a Zen master. Way was extremely health conscious which made his death from AIDS in 1986 all the more shocking. Way’s book “DESIGNING YOUR FACE” was my text book on how to do makeup. It’s out of print now but you may still be able to find a copy.

I’m not going to say I “get” Icelandic singer BJORK or that I’m even a fan (I couldn’t stand her film “Dancer in the Dark”). But I do know amazing imagery when I see it and this shot from her album “Homogenic” photographed by NICK KNIGHT and art directed by ALEXANDER McQUEEN with it’s mixed cultural references demands your attention. She often works with fashion photog’s and uses hair and makeup to great effect. To quote Bjork “The reason I do photographs is to help people understand my music…if they see a certain emotion in the photo, then they’ll understand the music”. I’m afraid that most of the American public only knows of her from the Academy Awards when she wore the now infamous swan dress by designer MARJAN PEJOSKI, in which they failed to find the humor. I’m captivated by her visually so perhaps I should give her music another try. Photo source: Hint Magazine.

Carmen really came to my attention with her new ad campaign for MAX FACTOR.
I’m sad she and DAVE NAVARRO are breaking up…they were such a cute couple. Source: beautybynadine.com

CHRISTINA RICCI in the September W wearing ROBERTO CAVALLI, BLUMARINE and GILES. She will co-star with Samuel L. Jackson in BLACK SNAKE MOAN a new film by Hustle and Flow director CRAIG BREWER to be released in 2007. In these photo’s by MERT ALAS & MARCUS PIGGOTT, styled by ALEX WHITE, Christina sports a Louise Brooks bob by ORIBE and makeup by LUCIA PIERONI. The Look: Dark eyes and lips usually don’t work together. But here the contrast of shine and matte textures pulls together this 1920’s look beautifully.

ANDROGYNY has always been in fashion. MARLENE DIETRICH in the film Morocco 1930, VIBEKE wearing Le Smoking by YSL photographed by HELMUT NEWTON in the 70’s (large photo) and today in the NY TIMES: model FREJA wearing a JILL SANDER tux shot by PAOLO ROVERSI with makeup by TATIANA SERY and hair by YANNICK D’LS. “The thing about a tuxedo is that it is virile and feminine at the same time.” Catherine Deneuve

SARA CARDILLO with Q Models. An ex dancer turned model with a great face for beauty. The Look: This a very colorful makeup created for an editorial photo shoot. Can’t see this on the street. But the small shot features the bare face with just red lips always a classic.

Photographs by ERWIN OLAF for the NEW YORK TIMES magazine. CHRISTIAN LACROIX haute couture ruffled top and skirt. (large photo) GIORGIO ARMANI asymmetric silk organza. JEAN PAUL GAULTIER jersey and leather draped dress. GIVENCHY haute couture marabou blouson with matching skirt. VALENTINO haute couture white silk. (click to enlarge) Fabulous Hair.

GISELE BUNDCHEN the Brazilian super star earned $30 million last year according to FORBES magazine. She recently added three new contracts, the Liverpool Store’s in Mexico, Korean-based Tug and Italy’s Stefanel. Gisele’s also involved in the
“I AM AFRICAN” ads for the charity Keep A Child Alive to raise money for the children in Africa with AIDS. Glad to hear her heart is as big as her bank account.

Stunning beauty ANGELINA JOLIE is the face for another high profile campaign. SHISEIDO-JAPAN print and television. Shot in Paris while 7 months pregnant she still has the perfect lips for lip gloss. Don’t know if we will get to see any of this State side but the Japan launch was this August. Makeup by TOM PECHEUX. Hair by ANNOUCK LEPERE. All of the money Angie makes working for ST JOHN goes to her favorite children’s charities. (click small photo)
Now wouldn’t BRAD be perfect for a men’s line?