Alien Nation

Alien NationAveda creates close encounters of another kind of beauty at Rag & Bone.

View PDF version here »

Designer: Rag & Bone

Products: Aveda

So if Earth Girls celebrate easy beauty, then gals from another galaxy like theirs a bit roughened up. Backstage at Rag & Bone’s fall showing, gangly strangelings filter in and out of the Aveda hair and makeup stations, their otherworldly features exemplified by cornrow braids and a matte navy eye.

Rag & Bone designers David Neville and Marcus Wainwright had a vision, relates Aveda’s lead stylist, the handsome Teddy Charles. “Their inspiration was futuristic—specifically Blade Runner,” he says in a lilting French accent. He’s quick to add, “But it’s not hard or too literal; it’s soft, sexy and young.”

Charles’ interpretation plays up shape with a slightly teased crown, which he explains “is giving height, but not too much height—it’s a natural volume.” Two cornrows jut back from the occipital bone and gently arc down to a ponytail, which explodes into a mass of fluffy, texturized hair. Charles creates a third braid from within the pony—a sort of afterthought that lends just enough quirk to the look. “The separation of the cornrows gives this style a weird shape—very much alien,” Charles says. “But, I can see young women wearing it anywhere—to the beach, on the street, to the bar.” Aah, so Earth girls can have fun with it too!

Across the room über-talent Gucci Westman wields Aveda’s earth-friendly makeup, focusing her attention on the eye. To complement the futuristic feel of the show, Westman says, “A dark navy eye balanced by a monochromatic face creates a nice counterpoint to the collection.” It’s all in the application; how she positions the bluish-black tones on the upper lids to lend the illusion that the eyes are more widely spaced apart  than they actually are. Luminescent skin matched up with a matte nude lip strike an oddly beautiful chord—quite the alien beauty encounter!

Score This Look

Looking to take tresses to the moon and beyond? Abduct some of these Aveda products.

Pure Abundance Volumizing Hair Spray: imparts texture and body when applied pre-blow drying

AirControl Hair Spray: banishes flyaways while  granting stealth hold

Petal Essence Eye Color Duo in Honeycomb/Bluebell:  a rich yellow and electric blue

More in Home