This spring, everywhere you look will be awash with colour, from the brightest green to the bubbliest pink to zestiest tangerine.
For a city known for its doom-and-gloom colours, this season, fashion-wise, will be colour heaven. This colour attack will not bypass the arena of hair and beauty. As celebrated make-up artist Kevyn Aucoin once said, “Colour is life.”
It is easy to claim that this is the season of colour, but transferring this trend into everyday lifestyle is another story. People are afraid of wearing colour. It could be due to the fact that mistakes are more visible and a strong colour tends to draw unwarranted attention.
This is so untrue, as anyone and everyone can and should wear colour instead of their neutrals, indigos and failsafe blacks.
The trick, if you are a colour virgin, is to start with baby steps – less is more and once you have found your feet to go to town. It is, after all, just make-up.
Liners and mascara in vivid colours or strong-hued lip glosses are the easiest to wear and pull off. In these following pages green, purple, pinks and reds take centre stage, but if black is your safety net, wear it dramatically and make a statement.
“Hair and make-up go hand in hand,” says James Furness, style master for Kevin Murphy. Furness, who is celebrating 25 years in the hair industry, predicts spring/summer looks to be heavily influenced by the 1950s.
“Smoother finished up-dos and wavy, shiny coiffed long hair will be the rage, with hair colour taking on a more ash tone in shade.”
Furness styled the hair in these pages for some added flair and frivolity, but his foundation for each look is well blow-waved, curled and softly teased hair.
Another category going berserk in the beauty field is nail polish. Overlook run-of-the-mill sleek manicures and opt for some fun: ombré nails, longer nail tips with some uncheesy nail art or just wearing some strong colours on each digit.
The question I constantly ask is, when did we become so safe and predictable? Looking back at some fashion spreads from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, there was so much fun and life. We have become so regimented in our approach to beauty that we have been engineered to ridicule anything a little bit out of the ordinary.
Challenge yourself this new season and your hairstylists, manicurists and beauticians. Furness recommends you do your homework and choose a stylist who is good for you. “The right stylist will reward you,” he says.
And likewise a bit of colour other than brown is just as good as a holiday. So shed your routine and dip your fingers into a bit of glorious colour.
Get the look
Kevin Murphy Powder Puff ($36.95) – a great voluminiser for the higher-the-hair-closer-to-God look.
Kevin Murphy Fresh Hair ($32.95) – the spray-on hair
cleaner. Miraculous!
Nars Tropic eyeshadow ($39) – just sublime teal with
silver sparkles.
Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in Emerald Green ($35)
E.L.F. Studio Pink Passion Blush ($9.99)
OPI Nail Lacquer Guy meets Gal-veston ($19.95) – a translucent shade we used for the ombrè nails on the cover.
OPI Nail Lacquer A Roll In The Hague ($19.95)
OPI Nail Lacquer Lilac-A Grape Fit ($19.95)
WIN To win a beauty hamper full of spring gems ($500), post a comment below on how you will be embracing the new season beauty-wise.
Stockists
E.L.F. \ www.elfcosmetics.com.au
Kevin Murphy \ www.kevinmurphy.com.au
Nars \ www.meccacosmetica.com.au
Make Up For Ever \ www.pmstudio.com.au
OPI \ 1800 358 999
Credits
Creative direction \ Dhav Naidu
Photography \ Toshihiro Takoaka
Models \ Ebony Edwards (London Management) and Elise Gardiner (Chadwick Models)
Hair \ James Furness for Kevin Murphy www.kevinmurphy.com.au
Make-up \ Keira Hocking & Deeenaye
Nails \ Karlie Smith for OPI
Photography assistant \ Rohan Young
All clothing, accessories and jewellery \ Christine, 9654 2011
Special thanks \ Hokuto Takase (0402 796 838) for the brilliant floral headpiece