First up is the MYER show, led by (the amazing) Liz Kelsh. It opened with the blonde Jennifer Hawkins in a dazzling Toni Maticevski gown leading an army of brunette models. Clearly the military style is coming back into fashion…
Minh Tran is from New Zealand, and, like most New Zealanders, has a knack for being good at more than one thing. Contracting in Project Management and Freelancing Makeup are the two drastically different fields that Minh Tran is juggling. In between projects, makeup has been taking her across the world: London, New York, Milan, Paris and most recently Melbourne, for the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.
Our correspondent Lucy Telford met up with her to talk about the shows she has been working on and the trends she’s been seeing for this Autumn/Winter.
Correlating any two timetables in the middle of a fashion week is hectic. If you aren’t at a show, prepping for or writing about a show, then you are sleeping. Nearing the end of the week, I started to panic that Minh and I wouldn’t have the time to meet up. I then get a call, “Sure, I’m free now, come on up. Be prepared, though, I’m not wearing any make up.” This is a relief, neither am I. She waves at me from the café, a sun dress, a straw fedora hat and a big beautiful smile.
After talking a while about how hectic L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival has been and how glorious and sleep-deprived it is, we start talking about the shows she has worked on.
First up is the MYER show pictured left, led by (the amazing) Liz Kelsh. It opened with the blonde Jennifer Hawkins in a dazzling Toni Maticevski gown leading an army of brunette models. Clearly the military style is coming back into fashion, and with it bold, strong eyebrows and dramatic, winged eyes. “What ever you see on the runway, crosses over into the makeup. The look was classic, strong, 1940s meets 1980s.” Later, as I scroll through the pictures she’s posted on Facebook, I notice a friend has commented– “You are the eyebrow QUEEN!” After 45 models across 14 make up artists, and eyebrow attention for each of them, I’m fairly sure this is an apt statement for all involved.
Next up is the Australia Woolmark Designer Award where she was lead by (the cool and talented) Noni Smith.
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“It’s a total contradiction!” Minh tells me. “On the one hand we have been doing strong brows, lined winged eyes and bold red lips, but there has also been really subtle looks, nude lips and, no mascara, no brows and then there is the 80s influence, with lots of metallics. But whatever the mix, the skin is gorgeous, pale and luminous” And we can see it in this picture with Samantha Harris.
Sequins and glitter goes hand in hand, and there have been a lot of sequins on the catwalk so what Minh is saying about the makeup reflecting the clothing is really starting to make sense.
The Metamorphosis show is all about the top fashion students.
It’s a showcase of their work and a competition to see who will win the Young Designer Award. Dion Lee took out top prize this year. And, lo and behold, more eyebrows. “They’re just everywhere, seriously.” I think this is the only consistency through the week so far. Here we have nude lips, minimal emphasis on the eyes and wham-bam-thank-you-maam eyebrows.
However, subtler still is the Independent Runway, led again by Noni Smith. Photos by Victoria Martin & Luciana Rose.
Minh starts to sing Noni Smith’s praises and, looking at her work, I tend to agree. “See? Now we have no eyebrows, no mascara, blush right up to the temples and soft pink lips.” But the effect is amazing, the subtle shift in pinks makes my breath catch.
Conclusions for this season? Gosh, I don’t know what to say. The fashion gods have spoken and they seem to be arguing. However, strong eyebrows are a must, don’t be afraid of having some fun with metallics and when in doubt, go nude. Make up, that is.
Interview by Lucy Telford, March 2010.
Photos supplied by Minh Tran.
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