Makeup Beat

When working in editorial you sometimes are allowed to express yourself creatively. Here for VOGUE NIPPON (photographed by MICHAEL THOMPSON) Hair stylist SERGE NORMANT and makeup artist DICK PAGE work together. The hair is wild and messy but with control and style using a hair piece at the back. The makeup is soft with an almost bruised cheek look. Both artists are masters of their profession and are being represented by JED ROOT INC.

DONYALE LUNA the 1960’s, six foot two Super Model, aka Peggy Anne Freeman from Detroit Michigan…was on the cover of BAZAAR in 1965 and the cover of VOGUE in 1966 (which makes her the first black model to be on Vogues cover). TIME magazine declared 1966 “The Luna Year”. SALVADOR DALI considered Donyale his muse, RICHARD AVEDON had her under exclusive contract, and ADEL ROOTSTEIN modeled a mannequin in her image. She was also one of the first to wear blue contact lenses to add to her exotic beauty. But by 1968 her evasive and erratic behavior (not wearing shoes summer or winter, crawling down the runway on her hands and knees, not showing up for bookings, declaring her love of the drug LSD) along with her displeasure being considered black, (she insisted she was Mexican, Chinese, Native American, Irish and Black) labeled her un-professional. So she made CAMP, a movie by ANDY WARHOL, and then the film THE ROLLING STONES ROCK & ROLL CIRCUS. Next Luna went off to Europe to work in the films, SALOME, FELLINIS-SATYRICON, and QUI ETES-VOUS POLLY MAGOO. In ‘75 she was photographed nude for PLAYBOY magazine by LUIGI CAZZANIGA (with whom she had a child named “Dream”). Sadly by 1979 she died of a drug overdose in Rome.
For me, Donyale Luna will forever remain the truly first black super model.
Photo above by Richard Avedon. Dress by PACO RABANE.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA has a new re-mix off her latest CD “BACK TO BASICS” listen to it here. Not a big fan but had to post this photo because this is the best makeup I’ve seen on Christina…she looks almost, dare I say it, soft and pretty.

While browsing through the magazine store the other day this cover of NUMERO caught my eye. I had to stop and ask myself is that a guy or a girl? After closer inspection I realized it was indeed a female and I was intrigued by the androgynous quality of her face and the unique shape of her mouth. Later I happened to come across her page at IMG Models and saw that her name is AMANDA MOORE and that she is well known as being an an ex basketball star from Florida who got into the business some time ago by accident when her pickup truck broke down outside a model search. She is also an openly gay model known for her strong but at the same time delicate look. Leather jacket by DIOR. Photo: JEAN-BAPTISTE MONDINO. Styled by PATTIE WILSON. Hair by ODILE GILBERT and Makeup by KARIM RAHMAN. I just know her image arrested my gaze in a sea of printed matter…a pretty good feat that.

The fabulous AMANDA LE PORE DOLL created by JASON WU (see photo below) with makeup designed by NARS came in three different version’s. “Couture Baby”, “Trannytale” and “Look Better Naked” (sponsored by the David Barton Gym) in a limited edition of 300 each that sold for $200 a piece with all proceeds going to DIFFA the DESIGN INDUSTRY FOUNDATION FIGHTING AIDS. They sold out (but I did see one on E-Bay for $450). We need to contact INTEGRITY TOYS and ask them to reissue the doll, don’t you think? Model for the doll, Amanda Le Pore, Americas # 1 Transsexual and fashion fixture (she walks for HEATHERETTE and is the muse to photographer DAVID LA CHAPELLE) says “When I was a little boy I was miserable. I was an outcast with no friends because I was so feminine. The only pleasure I had was playing with dolls and they became my role models.” See…dreams do come true.

ZANDRA RHODES is known for her amazing use of color both in her textile and fashion designs (thats a sample in the background of the photo) and with her hair and makeup. She was the first person I ever saw with hot pink hair and a blue squiggle for eye brows and over 20 years later remains commited to the look. So it was no wonder when MAC cosmetics chose Zandra to be the inspiration for their limited edition color collection.
She was a shocking mad genius when I first saw her work her in the 70’s and she has reached iconic status today designing everything from textiles to jewelry. In 1996 she opened her own “Fashion & Textile Museum” in London.