RAFW Kate Sylvester
“I’d like to come to New Zealand, I quite like kiwi fashion,” says MAC senior artist Terry Barber. This British born and bred makeup maestro is here in Sydney to do two shows only – Kate Sylvester and Stolen Girlfriends Club.
He quite likes our aesthetic and likens it to Belgium – not a new comparison but one that seems to perfectly sum most of our designers up.
“I like a bit of grunge, I like edgy looks. I’m not really into that WAG style at all,” he explains. Not that he’s totally opposed to ‘glamour girls’ – has worked a lot with Pamela Anderson but says her style is a bit more rock n roll than pure Barbie.
It’s not surprising then that for Kate Sylvester’s show he took the theme of a lepidopterist (someone who studies moths) who falls in love with a speedway driver and created a rocking kohl eye.
Using MAC Smoulder Kohl he drew a heavy, winged eye from the inner corner of the eye to brow. Then, buffing with a blending brush he smudged the corners, creating a big, smokey eye. He also used MAC Carbon eyeshadow around the orbital area and finished with a bit of gloss in the centre of the eye.
It’s a very blunt, cubist shape – not pointy. “Start with Amy Winehouse and morph into Bardot.”
“Makeup is not always about making the person look beautiful,” he states. “I’ve always really loved Bridgette Bardot’s look – there’s a lot of black makeup but it’s really specific and beautiful.”
To contrast against this striking eye he kept skin matte, almost chalky. He used MAC Studio Sculpt, which is more of a gel/creme foundation, to cover the skin and remove imperfections. Using more of a grey than bronze powder, he contoured cheeks.
Lips were lightly dabbed with MAC Pro Lip Erase.
As you can see the final look is very rock n roll.
Love? I do. I also LOVE the hair. Jon Pulitano from Headcase Hair keyed the look for Redken using a secret new product that he shook on hair like a talc. I caught a glimpse but I’m not allowed to reveal what it is. Anyway the final result was textured, bedhead hair (again! i know).
It should be released here later this year…. will keep you posted!
Tamsin xoxo
PHOTOS: Katherine Lowe
