Rather than offering an escape from reality, Gucci served up a dose of it in Milan today. “I decided to unveil what lies behind the curtains,” wrote Alessandro Michele, in Italian, in the show notes. “May the miracle of skillful hands and holding breath come out of the shadows.”
Inside the Gucci Hub, showgoers arrived to find themselves in a place that tends to stay hidden from the front of house—the ever-elusive backstage. There, amid rows of collapsible makeup chairs and vanity mirrors, attendees watched robe-clad models get ready for the show. As makeup artist Thomas de Kluyver melted Gucci’s new Mascara L’Obscur to create a teary effect down the face, hairstylist Paul Hanlon did some final zhuzhing on the show’s sharp, geometric wigs and affixed crystal headbands atop dizzying braided updos. After their beauty transformations were complete, the show’s 60 models were dressed inside a glass-walled cylinder before hitting the runway.
With the enchanting fly-on-the-wall experience, Michele celebrated the process of transformation like never before. Here, five hair and makeup ideas to take straight from the Gucci runway.
Mascara Tears Dry on Their Own
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“We’re using mascara in a little bit of an unexpected way for the show today,” explained De Kluyver. For a grungy, punk look, the pro swiped on Mascara L’Obscur underneath the waterlines, then melted it with water to tear-stained effect.
Crystal Headbands Go With Everything
Photo: Getty
Of all the accessories, the pièce de résistance was the crystal mesh headband, which was worn with a wide variety of hair looks, from a tousled-back updo and loose waves to the elaborate braided updos woven by Hanlon.
A Scarf Is the Chicest Bad-Hair-Day Fix
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If your hair isn’t cooperating, or you just want to make a statement both chic and simple, a muted floral-print hair scarf adds a touch of ’70s cool.
Lilac Lids Add an Unexpected Pop
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Bright lavender was swept across a few gazes for a soft yet impactful feel. Instead of basic brown or black, reach for lilac to add a pop to your fall color palette.
Bleached Brows Are the Ultimate Statement
Photo: Getty
Before the show, De Kluyver mixed up blue bowls of bleach and applied the lightening elixir to select sets of arches. The takeaway? Worn with starkly bare skin, canceled-out brows are the paramount Gucci muse beauty statement.
Originally published on Vogue.com
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