Runway to Reality With Meagan Shea

YAY! You guys LOVED Afrobella’s new makeup expert Meagan Shea, judging from the comments on the first post! She’s a wealth of information with an infectious personality to boot. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

For Meagan’s second post, she took a look at the hottest trends on the Spring/Summer 2011 runway shows, and found ways to make the looks wearable! Take it away Meagan!

Runway to Reality

Well Bellas, it’s me again (get it, me again – Meagan… hahaha… sorry excuse my corny jokes)! I’m back to deliver some interesting info in the way of beauty. Today I’m going to be looking at some of my favorite makeup looks from the Spring/Summer 2011 Ready to Wear runway shows. I’ve selected one designer from each major market (Paris, New York, Milan and London) whose makeup looks I loved and make them wearable for you.

The key to makeup for Spring and Summer should always be simple, easy to do and naturally beautiful! Oftentimes, when you see makeup looks for runway shows they can run the gamut of very extreme to barely there. Some of the looks…well I honestly don’t want to see anyone on the street wearing them. However some are very beautiful and not too hard to replicate.

New York

From New York Fashion Week, we have Dennis Basso. The line was funky and chic, however for me it was the makeup that made the runway look amazing! The makeup was soft with a bold hint of neon color on the lid only. The lip was a soft nude or left bare with just lip balm, there was black liner in the inner rim of the eyes and the look was topped off with several coats of black mascara. The key artist for Dennis Basso chose to just use neon blue and neon orange, however I say use any bold neon color. Try pink, green, blue, purple, orange or yellow.

These colors will look a lot different than a normal soft color, they will POP on your skin. In other words, like in the photo, the orange really stands out against her complexion – it POPS!

Product Suggestions: 96 Color Eyeshadow Palette – $18.99

SIDE NOTE: This is a swatch of neon bright colors from this palette that can be used to recreate this look. I suggest getting one of these palettes, simply because for Spring, Summer and well EVERY season you’ll have a wide array of colors. The color payoff is great & you can’t beat the price! :o)

London

Let’s go ahead & take a trip across the pond to London Fashion Week. My favorite Ready to Wear makeup look was definitely from designer, Holly Fulton. Dark liners framed the eyes to give them definition and shape, while beautiful bronze shadows were used to create a smoky effect. HELLO NIGHTTIME!!! The lip was a soft peach, nothing too creamy or “milky” – as I like to say and the cheeks were definitely contoured and topped off with a soft coral blush. This is definitely an easy way to have a sleek runway look with no fuss.

Product Suggestion: Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in BOURBON $18

Product Suggestion: Stila Lip Glaze in TANGERINE $22

Milan

Now, off to Milan! There were so many gorgeous looks during Milan Fashion Week that I had a really hard time choosing which one to spotlight. I wanted something with some color, something fun. That led me right to Parah. Their collection was very colorful and filled with beautiful flowing fabrics, exaggerated accessories and swimsuits. The makeup look was loaded with color on the eyes, with the rest of the face having little to no color (however, not flat). The eyeshadow was brought up from the lash line to the brow with no highlighting under the brow bone. Purple, blue and pink eyeshadows were used to create this look of all different shades, but never too dark. This is the ONE look that may need to be altered, because I do NOT want to see any of you lovely ladies walking around with bright colored eyeshadow from lash to brow. Instead, opt to wear the color on the lid & just above the crease and take a brown shadow the same color of your complexion and blend it right where your shadow ends. DO NOT, AND I REPEAT DO NOT WEAR BRIGHT COLORED EYESHADOWS FROM LASH TO BROW. You will thank me for that intervention! LOL!

product suggestions shown from left to right

Product Suggestion: Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow #75 (neon pink matte) – $19

Product Suggestion: Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow #31 (periwinkle blue matte) – $19

Product Suggestion: Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow #149 (iridescent neon green) –
$19

Paris

Last but definitely not least we have Paris Fashion Week. This look is beautiful, classic and can be worn all year long! Sonia Rykiel went with a timeless take on what I call Plum Fabulous! The eyes were very natural, a ruddy brown was used to give depth to the eyes on the lid and under the lower lash line, while a matte magenta was used on the lips. THIS MAY VERY WELL BE MY FAVORITE LOOK! It’s easy to wear, yet stil very chic. Because of it’s natural pallette it’s a look that can be worn with almost anything. Ladies, join me in channeling C. Sheen by yelling out, “WINNING!!!” I will be seen wearing this look very soon. I’m excited already.

product suggestions shown from left to right
Product Suggestion: INGLOT Freedom System Lipstick #49 – (price varies depending on
how you piece your palette together)

Product Suggestion: MAC Eyeshadow in Swiss Chocolate or Mystery – $14.50

SIDE NOTE: This lipstick is actually a satin, but to make it matte either blot it once or twice onto one ply of tissue OR dust some translucent powder lightly over the color and press lips together.

So ladies there you have it, four easy looks straight from the runway! I’ve already decided the Sonia Rykiel look is going to be a staple for me this season, which one will you try? Why not all of them! Remember, it’s okay to try fun, new things! It’s only makeup, it’ll wash off! :o)

Peace, Love & Paint.

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Cosign Meagan, some runway looks are pretty much ridiculous. But these are super pretty! Which can you see yourself rocking in reality?