NYFW backstage beauty: The minimal, downtown-girl look at Alexander Wang

Date February 13, 2012

Barely any makeup is par for the course at Alexander Wang, where his downtown girl is so cool she doesn’t need to wear much. In keeping with this recurring idea, makeup artist Diane Kendal created “a very sculpted look, keeping it almost kind of androgynous,” using M.A.C Pro Sculpting creams. With “Coffee Walnut,” she contoured the cheekbones, temples, and the side of the nose, and then added highlights in the same areas with “Accentuate.” Brows were kept straight and boyish, and lip balm was dabbed on models’ mouths. “He just wanted the girls to be strong and a little bit warrior-like,” said Kendal. Manicurist Jin Soon Choi applied “Bandage,” to the nails—a beige shade from the designer’s second collaboration with Sally Hansen.

“It’s effortless which is also very cool,” said hairstylist Guido Palau of the cleanly middle parted straight hair he was championing. Redken Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow Dry lotion offered smoothness to the models’ blowouts. The ends were then dampened and coated with Outshine 01 Anti Frizz Polishing milk and allowed to dry on their own “just to bring out natural movement.” Palau was clear that the minimal style had no references to any era or person but insisted that “simple is what girls want to wear.”