Runway Report: Death Valley Becomes Her at Christian Siriano

Essie Fw Feb17 Jcsiriano 184

Organic beauty takes on new meaning at Christian Siriano’s NYFW Fall/Winter 2017 show. Drawing from the designer's inspiration of how nature’s elements work to form, shape and wear rocks into grooved things of beauty, Sebastian Professional hair lead Anthony Cole turns to products that are Earth-derived in their make-up to craft a rough-hewn fishtail. "Sebastian Professional Texture Maker sea salt spray and Craft Clay are helping me make my braid," he says. "After I'm done braiding, I'm applying Craft Clay on my hands, warming it up by blow-drying it on my hands, and then gently pulling apart the fishtail, giving it a weathered look." The final element, copper wire sourced from Home Depot, is wound around the braid to tie in the earthbound feel. "We needed something flexible, and this was it!" Cole laughs. 

Copper plays a big role in the makeup, which MAC lead Polly Osmond says is inspired by Death Valley’s colorful, twisted rock formations. She presses on the glitter tears, done in “really deep red and orange tones,” using MAC Reflects Copper Glitter.

For the accompanying nail design, Essie nail lead Rita Remark also weaves Death Valley’s remarkable beauty into her creation, crafting a gorgeous wave of earthy color across each tip. “The wave is like the patterns seen in rocks and sand in Death Valley,” she says. To create her waves, she first paints a base of Essie Carry On and then, using a striping brush and Leggy Legend, paints small vertical dashes in a wave pattern across the nail. She follows with Splash of Grenadine, using the same dash technique, staggering the wave pattern. Finally, she dabs A Cut Above pink glitter polish over the design, adding a gorgeous glint to the nail art. And just like how nature forms these designs with an unfettered touch, Remark says that “organic dabs are great way to create nail designs. They do not have to be perfect, but they look amazing!” —Karie L. Frost

[PHOTO CREDITS: Courtesy of Sebastian Professional and Essie]

Mad Wolf Photography Madeline Wolf322

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