How to get it: Step 1: Apply foundation like you would your moisturizer for a "second skin" effect, says Maybelline New York Global Makeup Artist Charlotte Willer.
Step 2: Cover your top lids completely with brown pencil liner to act as a base for your shadow. In addition, line your bottom lashlines and inner rims (waterlines) with the same pencil.
Step 3: Use a brown shadow quad to complete your eyes (try Maybelline New York Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Chai Latte, $5.50). Apply the dark brown on top of the liner you just applied. Sweep the lighter brown shade around the edges of the dark brown to perfectly blend the color and to soften the look. Dab the shimmery white just on the inner corners of your eyes and finish by lining your bottom lashlines with gold -- use an angled liner brush for this.
Step 4: Apply a ton of black mascara to top and bottom lashes.
Step 5: Finish the look by dabbing on a nude lipstick using your fingertip.
Photo 13/15
Fashion show: Adam
The look: Twisted low pony
How to get it: Step 1: Spritz flexible hold hairspray (try Redken Fashion Work 12 Versatile Working Spray, $12.99) on the front and crown of your head to help you create a sleek side part.
Step 3: Separate out a two-inch long, one-inch wide section of hair in the center of the back of your head (just above the nape of your neck). Braid that section down just until it reaches the base of your head and secure with an elastic, says stylist Diego Da Silva who created the style.
Step 4: Pull the hair to the left of the braid in toward the braid -- secure it lightly to the braid with a couple of bobby pins. Next, gather the right side of your hair and wrap it over that left section. Twist it inward a bit then bobby pin the twist securely to the braided section (almost like a French twist).
Step 5: Finish with more hairspray for hold and rough up the hanging ponytail a bit more with your hands to enhance the lived-in texture.
Photo 14/15
Fashion show: Adrienne Vittadini
The look: Classic, glowing, bronzed makeup
How to get it: Step 1: Apply primer to prep your skin and follow with tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone.
Step 2: Contour your face by applying bronzer beneath your cheekbones and highlighter on top of your cheekbones. Then apply a bit of berry-colored cheek stain on the apples of your cheeks for added glow and color (try Hourglass Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Flush, $45), says Hourglass Beauty Director Michael Pierce who created the look.
Step 3: Apply a mixture of vanilla and shell-colored eyeshadows onto your lids. Next, blend a chocolate brown shade into your creases to create a soft smoky effect.
Step 4: Thinly line your top lids with liquid liner, winging out the line a bit at your outer corners. Finish with black mascara.
The look: Cranberry stained lips paired with a sleek, tucked updo
How to get it: Makeup:
Step 1: Perfect your skin with foundation and concealer then apply powder to your T-zone only in order to mask any excess shine.
Step 2: Blend soft pink blush onto the apples of your cheeks for a subtle flush.
Step 3: Apply an extremely thin line of black cream liner to top lashes. The trick to getting an extra fine line is to lift up your lid a bit with one hand and as you line, aim for the base of your lashes -- instead of aiming for your lid. And always use a very fine liner brush (try MAC 209 Eye Liner Brush, $17.50), says Diane Kendal who created this look.
Step 4: Finish the eyes with black mascara applied to top lashes only.
Step 5: Press a cranberry-colored lipstick onto your lips using your fingertip for a stained effect. Try MAC Lipstick in Prince Noir, $14.50 (available Fall 2011).
Hair:
Step 1: Blow dry your hair straight if it's wet -- apply a smoothing cream (try Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream, $31.80) before drying to create a frizz-free finish, says Orlando Pita who created the look.
Step 2: Spritz hair with a significant amount of hairspray in order to create a sleek side part. Try Morroccanoil Luminous Hairspray, $21.
Step 3: Separate out a small section of hair from either side of your head (above your ears) and secure them together at the back of your head with a small clear elastic.
Step 4: Create a space or hole in the middle of the two pulled back sections.
Step 5: Brush the hanging hair, spritz it with more hairspray and roll it up and tuck it into the hole in the middle of the top section. Roll it tightly and pin it like crazy right on the seam of the roll to create a perfect tuck.
Step 6: Use a toothbrush spritzed with hairspray to clean up flyaway hairs for an extra flawless finish.
When you think about runway hair and makeup looks, what words come to mind?
Over-the-top? Avant guard? Wacky? Inspirational? Impossible-to-pull-off? Scary?
It's OK, you can admit that you don't find them wearable, pretty or feminine -- we won't tell the fashionistas.
But before you go and totally write off the runway as a source of inspiration for looks that are ones you can create without looking like a drag queen, we'd like to share these hair and makeup photos with you. All of these beauty looks were seen on the Fall 2011 Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week catwalks. Yup, it's true.
So many of the looks we saw were not only gorgeous, but also ones we knew we'd be able to recreate without having to seriously water them down. What's even better? We wouldn't need a backpack full of products to create them, either.
From sexy smoky eyes, to pretty twisted updos, we gathered up all of the prettiest and most wearable looks from the runways to bring them to you. Some of the looks are perfect for evening while others are suitable for every day. Check them out and then learn step-by-step how to copy them -- exactly. Your friends will be so impressed (maybe even a little intimidated) when they compliment you on your fabulous hair or makeup -- especially when you tell them the look was seen on the runway.
