BACKSTAGE BEAUTY: ELLE RUNWAY SHOW VAMFF 2015

On day two of Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival, Australian fashion was given the ELLE treatment.

Runway 3 was injected with a sense of playfulness by way of Bianca Spender’s caramel pant suit, Ginger & Smart’s turquoise prints and oversized art-inspired jumpers by KHALO; LIFEwithBIRD’s bucket hats as well as Manning Cartell’s silver jackets (which have to be draped over one shoulder, not two) and finally, Dion Lee II’s signature racer back dresses – all in ELLE’s signature style, of course.

And, it appears that Priceline Pharmacy Makeup Director for VAMFF, Rae Morris, had just as much fun backstage — painting lips with vibrant cherry red lipstick.

“The ELLE girl is modern,” says Morris. “This look plays a twist on classic, screen siren beauty by modernising it with Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse pressed onto the skin and giving lips a matte finish using Rimmel London Apocalips Matte Lip Velvet in Burning Lava.”

“The one beauty look I kept going back to from the S/S 15 season was the gorgeous red lip at Burberry Prorsum, so that was my main inspiration when I met with Rae [Morris],” explains ELLE Beauty & Fitness Director, Janna Johnson O’Toole. Adding, “Set against matte skin, minimal eye makeup and full brows, the classic lip felt fresh again. For the hair, I wanted a style that wasn’t too fussy or polished and Kenneth [Stoddart] nailed it. He and Rae are a dream team!”

Indeed Morris agrees, calling Priceline Pharmacy Hair Director for VAMFF, Kenneth Stoddart, a “superstar”. The self-deprecating hair stylist to stars (yes, Stoddart just calls, oh you know, Kate Moss, Jerry Hall and Miranda Kerr some of his past clients) says he’s simply in love with this particular hair look.

“I love styling hair for editorial shoots but there’s something about runway – it’s that moment of adrenaline before the models walk out onto the catwalk that is addictive time and time again,” says Stoddart. “For the ELLE runway show, this look is about being young and fresh.” He adds,” The ELLE girl is easy and she doesn’t try too hard. She’s confident and knows her style but she also cares about beauty.”

Stoddart created a low side part and kept roots flat by combing then and setting with Fudge Membrane Gas Hairspray. “The, we pulled the hair into a half-up, half-down ponytail at the nape of the neck that has been looped on itself,” Stoddart explained backstage. “We curled the ends with a large curling iron but kept them soft by running Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse onto the ends of the hair.”

Like some of the best beauty looks, this one is polished and perennially chic.

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