Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week: ThisThatBeauty Recaps NYFW – Day 1

#NYFW

The first day of Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week started with a bang!  Normally I cover Fashion Week as press…this includes attending the shows, events, parties, and covering backstage hair/makeup. This year was quite different.

In addition to all of the above responsibilities…I was also Creative Director of Makeup for a New York Fashion Week Show – the Vessel by Lois Samuels

Working in this capacity was a great honor and a dream come true. As Creative Director of Makeup, it was my responsibility to design the runway makeup look, partner with the makeup sponsor to select colors, and lead a talented team of artists. Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics was the makeup sponsor…they are truly an amazing partner!

This is the face chart that I designed for the makeup look.

Lois Samuels  asked me to create a look that matched the feel of her collection. I drew inspiration from the color palette and structure of Lois’ clothing line. In designing the makeup look, I introduced the idea of daytime smoky eyes, soft flushed cheeks, and a semi matte lip. To reflect the masculinity and menswear  inspiration  of Lois’ collection, we decided to go with with strong contoured cheeks and a well groomed brow. The skin was fresh and dewy.

The core products included:

All Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics

  • Natural Mineral Foundation
  • Hi Def Hydrating Mineral Powder
  • Liquid Mineral Foundation
  • Mineral Primer
  • Ultimate Concealer
  • Mineral Rice Setting Powder
  • Mineral Radiance in Sundance
  • Minerals in the Mist
  • Eye shadows – Merlot, Storm, Halo, Moonstone
  • Eyeliner in Blackest Black
  • Mascara in Onyx
  • Brow Artiste
  • Crushed Mineral Blush in Plumberry and Sherbet
  • Liner in Pout
  • Lipstick in Barely Nude and Cuvee
  • Lipshine in Crush
  • Lipgloss in Praline

Here’s the day in pictures:

Lois made it to the pages of WWD. Yay!


I call this shot “the calm before the storm”.
Here I am with Jorge Ramon, Celebrity Stylist and Lead Wardrobe Stylist for the show.

My two assistants, Alcillena and Jasmine. I would not have made it through the day with out them!

Early as heck..setting up makeup

Here I am sorting products for the makeup station


Here I am signing the official face chart for the show…awww, I think I might frame this bad boy!

Quick meeting with Orlando Santiago and Valerie Hernandez to explain my makeup look.
Both Orlando and Val are master makeup artists. I was honored to work with them!



Fully stocked makeup station. The makeup team consisted of six artists plus lil ol me 🙂

Orlando setting up my face chart in his work area

Its almost show time. Time to get out of the Converse and into the Christian’s

Orlando beautifying a model

Here I am with Celebrity Manicurist Myrdith Leon McCormack. She was the Lead Artist for nails. Myrdith was extremely busy this year covering nails for many shows. Check out her line of nail polish. Go Myrdith!

Here I am with the  effervescent  Val Hernandez (for Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics)

Val and I make the rounds and inspect the models

Adjusting a model’s hair…


Lois styling a model

Inspecting a model’s makeup


Here’s Lois with actor Malik Yoba. He’s a friend of Lois’ and came to support her show.


Here I am kicking it with Stacey McKenzie.
We met last season at NYFW and just keep bumping into one another.
She’s ridiculously cool!
Chatting about something exciting, I’m sure!

Stacey McKenzie and Epperson of Project Runway

Here I am attempting to fit in with the models. Stacey, Lois, and a poser…
(which of these three does not belong:))

Stacey is thrilled to see Lois and her collection


A warm embrace from Project Runway’s Epperson

Showing off the face chart to the media

Being interviewed by Marsha Gauntlett-Kirby of  BrownFaceTV. The full video interview is below.
Marsha did a great job backstage. View the full interview!




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