MAC makeup for Sean Kelly at NZ Fashion Week 2015

Sean Kelly is known worldwide for winning Project Runway and ‘making it work’ big time. Now, the Kiwi-born designer has returned home to present a glamorous collection during New Zealand Fashion Week 2015.

As we entered the runway tent on Thursday night, we were struck by the sight of mirrored pillars about ten feet high down the catwalk. Models walked through the mirrored avenue appearing and obscured from view. The pillars reflected our faces back into the crowd and the audience became part of the show; participants rather than just observers.

It was an extremely cohesive collection that flowed from sculptured goddesses in satin pants and cutaway tops and dresses, to fishnet-clad temptresses in red at the end. Models progressively wore less and less until the last model appeared in a netting dress. Colour was used to great effect on this visual journey. The first outfits were virginal and white, powder blue, then moving into black, and bright crimson red.

It raised questions: was it representing a variety of women, or the roles that each woman plays? Was it one muse, moving from morning to dusk to night? Or a woman at different parts of her life, from youth to adulthood maturing in her sensuality?

I was lucky enough to go backstage and chat with MAC key makeup artist Kiekie Stanners before the show.

Makeup mirrored the journey of the garments from white and pale blue to black, to red. Kiekie used MAC Crimson lip mix topped with Clear lipglass on Ella Verbonne, seen in my Instagram shot below.

Here are the facecharts for the show. As mentioned above, there were three looks that complemented the clothing.

DESIGNER: Sean Kelly
KEY MAKEUP ARTIST: Kiekie Stanners, M.A.C Senior Artist
INSPIRATION: “The story of a woman who evolves throughout the collection with her makeup following suit. Starting with a sky blue liner, into an evening smoky eye. Finishing with an after-hours red lip”

KEY PRODUCTS: Face: Prep skin with Strobe Cream. M.A.C Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation applied with 196 Slanted Flat Top Foundation Brush. Cheekbones contoured with Groundwork Pro Longwear Paint Pot. Luna Cream Colour Base to highlight high planes of face.

Sean Kelly Look 1

Eyes – Look one: Soft wash of Groundwork Pro Longwear Paint Pot over eyelid. Hi-Def Cyan, Pure White and Marine Ultra Acrylic Paint as a floating liner above top lash line. Pure White Acrylic Paint applied towards the inner eye. Upward Lash Mascara applied to top lashes. Clear Brow Set. Lips – Look one: Clear Lipglass.

Sean Kelly Look 2

Look two: Soft wash of Groundwork Pro Longwear Paint Pot over eyelid. Black Swan Pearlglide Intense Liner smudged through upper and lower lash line. Smolder Eye Kohl applied to waterline. Upward Lash Mascara. Lips – Look two: Clear Lipglass.

Sean Kelly Look 3

Look three: Soft wash of Groundwork Pro Longwear Paint Pot over eyelid. Basic Red Acrylic Paint applied as a floating liner above top lash line. Upward Lash Mascara applied to top lashes. Clear Brow Set. Look three: Crimson Lipmix and Clear Lipglass.