Runway Watch - Prabal Gurung NYFW fall/winter 2011

It's the season when all the major big-name MUAs are hard at work hustling backstage, and I'm absorbing the knowledge while studying the fashion week live streams online from the comfort of my room. I've been watching the shows in New York, Paris, and London and will be posting a few of my favorites here.

I don't know how many times I have watched this Prabal Gurung show, but the face design is probably one of my favorites that was shown in New York this year. Tom Pechaux said the idea of a sweet young woman "becoming a witch" was one of his inspirations for the intense makeup. "Mean eyes" were the focal point, and he was going for the look of a heroine (or villain, perhaps?) from a Tim Burton film. Leading the MAC pro makeup team, Pecheaux used a black eye shadow on the inside crease of the eye area. The skin was perfected with a matte finish foundation and they completed the look with rosy nude lips and a strong brow. The lip color, One Of A Kind, is part of MAC's upcoming autumn 2011 collection, and was also lightly used for a flushed effect around each model's eye area.

This makeup paired perfectly with the red, black, and silver colors of the elegant (and slightly goth) dresses. This Prabal Gurung collection was inspired by the kooky Charles Dickens character "Miss Havisham" but it somehow remains youthful and sexy. Although one could easily describe the makeup as edgy, it was a stunning match for the girly, romantic runway show pieces. Prabal Gurung is known as a favorite designer for red carpet stylists, Hollywood starlets, and FLOTUS Michelle Obama. Personally, I would love to have every piece in this collection. I wouldn't feel the least bit shy about wearing that style of makeup either.