Attitude magazine

Thursday 8th March

Martina Luisetti, whom used to be a senior artist for Mac Cosmetics (this is how I know her), is now signed to The Book Agency.  Now, this lady is one of the most talented make-up artists I know, some of the work I have seen of hers is just ridiculous!!!  She is such an inspiration to me, someone I've always looked up to.  So I was super chuffed when she asked me if I would like to be put down on her assistant list! It wasn't long before I was asked to assist her on a shoot for Attitude magazine, shot by Bella Howard.  The location was Rivoli Ballrooms in SE4, which suited the story well.  The theme of the shoot was a piss take out of a 'Mr Britain' competition.  We had 10 male models to make up, all various shades of tan, or 'orange', and these were the contestants- 'Mr Newcastle', or 'Mr Birmingham', and so on.  I was instructed to make one of the boys look 'ridiculously orange' bless him, it was a good job he was a good sport and could take the mic out of himself.  Martina had the idea of using sellotape around one of the boys arms to make tan lines with dark concealer, and then removing the tape so it looked like he had t-shirt marks.  She also used the tape and concealer idea to make comedy 'tide marks' on one of the three judges jaw line that we also had to make-up.  As you can imagine we all had a right laugh, whilst being completely professional of course!

LFW, Ashish AW12

Tuesday 21st February, 12pm

Back at Somerset House for Georgina's final show of the season.  And it all went swimmingly well!  I had totally got the hang of the model list, and finding out who was first on the catwalk from the running order.  Generally speaking this is who Georgina liked to do her demo of the look on for the other make-up artists working on the show, and who she would use as her example when talking to all the press.  I also got to make-up a model on this show as extra hands were needed, which I had got my own set bag set up for just in case.  I knew which products I would need from going to the test, so had brought what I could along with me.  I find things run a lot better when I have my own stuff with me and aren't having to share with other people.  And I'm much happier when doing make-up, so I was happy to be doing make-up at the last show.  LFW ended on a massive high, yippee!!!

Teen Vogue

Monday 20th February

Right in the middle of LFW, both Natalie and I were assisting Georgina Graham today for a Teen Vogue shoot, shot by Matt Irwin at Spring Studios.  It was for Jewellery, and we had 6 gorgeous models to make-up.  They were all obviously really young and needed to be kept looking young , so there wasn't any heavy make-up involved.  One girl had the most amazing cats eyes with great brows, so Georgina applied her signature Hollywood Glamour-esque liner, and that was the strongest look really.  Myself and Natalie prepped all the girls skin and applied some of the girls bases, and made sure there bodies looked perfect. This involves getting rid of any red hands, ears, knees, or any scars and bruises etc.  We were also on set to do any touch ups whilst Georgina was making up the other girls.  With the girls being so young they were all really sweet and easy to work with.  We had Nuala @Storm, Vanussa @FM, Juana @Elite, Nur @Viva, Lottie R @Select, and Charlotte @Union.   Georgina's kit, which she had lost whilst in India arrived back in the UK for this shoot, with all her favourite things in so she was a very happy bunny!  Losing your kit right before Fashion Week would be every make-up artist's worst nightmare, bless her!  She was so pleased she even took a picture of all her stuff laid out- (note the beautiful lip palettes that I made up! ;o)) 

  

Ashish Test

Sunday 19th February

Ashish's hair and make-up test was taking place today, and again Georgina had very kindly invited me along.  I was so very fortunate to be able to go along to two tests with her, and very grateful!  To see the whole thought process from the beginning is such an insight!  But can we just talk about the clothes!  OMG, I wanted them all!  And they were so tantalisingly hanging up on rails in the kitchen for us all to gawp at and drool over.  NOT FAIR!  The collection had been named 'Bollywouldn't', and the muse was on a spiritual journey-running the gamut of the grunge movement to the Ganges.  It was Ashish's homage to 'New age, rainbows and Goa', so think tie die knits, long flowing shirts lingering at the back, a hoodie or even a sequined sheath gown.  Acid house smiley faces, ying-yang motifs, oversize buddhas, all accessorised perfectly with rainbow platform boots.  This girl's a bit of a festival fiend, a bit hippy-dippy, and she knows how to have fun!

Once the model had arrived, I set to work giving her a face message using Mac careblend oils.  Georgina is well known for wanting the model to have a message before the make-up.  Mostly because it relaxes the model,  helps drain the toxins, and lets you get to know the models face and bone structure.  Once the models skin was prepped, Georgina set to work creating a luxe look which was inspired by “Talitha Getty meets the Olsen Twins.” She balanced a matte base with cream contours and highlights, and went for warm browns buffed on the eye with a brushed up brow, and a cold, nude lip.  The products used were (all by Mac), Beauty Balm, Studio Sculpt Foundation, Studio Sculpt Concealer, Sculpting Cream in Pure Sculpture and Accentuate, Studio Care Blend Pressed Powder, Eye Shadow (Cork, Corduroy and Embark), Brownette Mascara or Black Mascara on black skin, Brow Pencils, Stone Lip Pencil or Chestnut Lip Pencil for black skin. 

Once the make-up was done it was time for hair.  But it turned out that the model actually had to leave for a job, there had been some mix up at her agency, so her make-up had to be removed and a new model organised.  There was some time then just waiting around for the new girl.  When she finally arrived Georgina had to repeat the make-up, then the hair had to be done which took a while because they were threading some gold thread in to the hair.  But the wait was worth it, the hair and make-up looked amazing, accessorised with gold chains draping from ear to nose!

Basso and Brooke AW12 LFW

Friday 17th February, 3pm

Having had to leave the Felder Felder show early, myself and Kate are hot footing it to the Basso and Brooke show at Goldsmiths Hall, armed with Georgina's kit.  Some of Georgina's team are already there prepping the models skin ready for her arrival.  I get to work setting up her work station, and getting hold of the model list and running order.  There didn't seem to be a model list so I started my own one by going around and asking all the girls there what their names were.  There was much confusion from production whether there was meant to be 15 or 14 models.  I had 14 down, checked all the models off again and still had 14 girls so no-one knew who the 15th girl was.  Eventually she turned up and was found, crisis over!

Georgina had designed a beautiful look, the emphasis being on this gorgeous velvet, matte red rose lip.  The products used were (all by Mac), Cherry lip pencil, Nightmoth lip pencil, Ruby Woo lipstick, Sin Lipstick, Basic Red Pigment, and Burnt Burgundy Pigment.  The rest of the face was kept very simple, just a little Face and Body foundation, concealer where needed and blot powder to take off any shine. 

The models seemed to be in hair forever, there was a mad rush near show time to get the models done.  I was asked to get in and start doing make-up and leave the list, Georgina would try to keep on top of it.  Just trying to find the products though was difficult!  They were being used by other people so I had to try and find them!  It didn't help that there were soooooooooooooooooo many, press, photographers, bloggers etc hanging around, and getting in the way, we could barely move and get to our products.  It was crazy!  Georgina kept having to ask to get them removed from the area!  The most crazy backstage experience ever!  All of a sudden we were in line up and having to finish the models of there!  Not so easy with this lip and with the models being 7 foot tall with their shoes on!  Anyway, as you can see from my model, the look looked beautiful and Georgina excelled as always!

Felder Felder AW12 LFW Show

Friday 17th February

My first show of the season.  This Fashion Week was going to be different for me.  For the past six seasons I have done LFW through Mac Cosmetics, taken my kit with me, set up my own little station, knew where all my products were, and made up the models.  This season however I went about doing it on a freelance basis.  I had assisted Georgina Graham on a few shoots already and she asked me if I would like to be her intern at LFW, so of course I jumped at the chance.  I was told by her first assistant Natalie Piacun that there was no need to bring my own kit, if we needed to we would just share Georgina's.  When we arrived at Sommerset House I was told to obtain the model list and running order from production.  This was what I was going to be in charge of- the dreaded model list.  At any one time when asked by Georgina I was meant to be able to tell her who had arrived, who was in hair, who was in make-up, who had been checked off by Georgina, and who we were waiting on to arrive.  Now this might not seem too difficult to you, but trust me it was!!! There are so many people backstage it is ridiculous, so that in itself makes it difficult to find people when you need to, or to get to someone to grab them quickly if you need to.  At times it is literally nearly impossible to move!  Also, I am famous for never being able to remember any ones name at the best of times, I've normally forgotten someones name 10 seconds after they've told me, then all of a sudden I have to remember 16 girls names who all look the same and know exactly where they are at any given time!  So it was slightly stressful!  If someone new had squeezed in without me realising I'd be in trouble.  If I didn't watch the movement of every girl at all times so I knew what was going on then I'd be in trouble.  But how can you do that!!!???   It got quite confusing at times as you can imagine.  Things seemed relatively calm on the surface however, things were moving along nicely, but time was ticking on and on and we were still missing five girls who were coming after they had done the Maria Grachvogel show which was unfortunately running extremely late!  In the end the Mac crew had to call in extra artists as the time grew closer and closer to show time.  Make-up and hair had to set up stations together ready for the models arrival and when they finally arrived they were literally pounced on and dragged to their seats where hair, make-up and nails all had to be done at the same time in a very small amount of room.  This was when everyone was shouting out they needed this or that product and I was trying to run around (or push through the sea of photographers and god knows who), to find the products which I couldn't find because someone else had them because three people were all using the same kit and oh my goodness!  Then myself and Kate (Georgina's old first assistant and good friend), had to leave this show to make way to the Basso and Brooke show that Georgina was also keying because the times overlapped.  So we missed some of the backstage craziness.  But Georgina said that the show went out only 20 minutes late which was incredible really, and of course the models looked amazing!  Well done George!

Look Magazine

Thursday 16th February

Kolbrun Ran from Frank agency had a beauty shoot for Look magazine.  She had to leave the shoot early and so needed an assistant to stay behind.  The story was pastels, so Kolbrun had four different looks using pastel colours to do.  Purples and lilacs were used quite heavily.  It was a very pretty shoot!

Felder Felder test

Wednesday 15th February

I have been assisting Georgina Graham for a few months now and she very kindly asked me to go along to a test for Fashion Week with herself and her first assistant, Natalie Piacun.  The location was Baseline Studios in West London.  The casting for the show was going ahead at the same time so there were a lot of bodies about!  Georgina is friends with the Felders so she had already seen the collection, but usually this is when the hair and make-up artists would get to see the collection for the first time, and discuss with the designer and the stylist what looks they want for the hair and make-up.  The clothes were inspired by Ryan McGinley’s photographs of nudes in geological caves. The collection saw a mineral colour spectrum and the asymmetry of rock formations translated into abstract prints on wispy skirts and dresses, and even a jersey bodysuit.  Chunky knits came in bold scarlet and blush pink – one clashed beautifully with a rose gold leather skater skirt. Coats comprised over sized leather and shearling styles or came in navy and black boyfriend shapes, whilst evening wear was characterised by slim dresses, either decorated with bugle beading or split dramatically at the front.

Georgina went for a 'desert beauty'.  As Mac Cosmetics was sponsoring the show, all products were by Mac.  She went for a matte skin achieved with Pro Longwear concealer as a foundation, the pink Prep and Prime highlighter under the eye, set with blot powder.  The eyes were a contrast in texture, pressed pigment in Day Gleam was buffed all over the eye, and pressed on with a finger on to the eye lid.  Brows were brushed up and set with clear brow gel.  Cheeks were sculpted with a horizontal contour using a sculpting cream, and 'Accentuate' sculpting cream was used to highlight the cheek bones.  Lips were kept nude with 'Classic Nude' from the fall trend lip palette.

Once the model was ready Georgina got her to 'walk' as if on the catwalk to get a feel for the make-up.  First time lucky, everyone loved it and that was all there was to it!  I had heard these tests can go on for hours and hours, even days sometimes but everything just worked first time.

Harvey Nicholls Turkey

Tuesday 7th February

Back at Tim Bret Day's studio on Warple Way assisting Alex Babsky for this Harvey Nicholls campaign.  Poor Alex was feeling slightly ropey still from a night out on the weekend, but of course he still did an amazing job!  Just when he thought all the models were done though, a fourth model appeared who had come for a casting there and then. The clients really liked her and so she stayed!  The look was quite strong too, so it wasn't a quick job for Alex bless him.  Here is one of the models, Leomie.........

NHF Seminar

Monday 6th February

Another seminar with Hob lovelies Akin Konizi and Stan, this time at a hotel in Bournemouth!  I had five models to make up.  We decided to go for something a little different, and went for a slightly futuristic look to complement the clothes.  I knocked back the eyebrows to make it look a little bit alien.  Akin dragged me on stage at the end of the show to take a bow, I could have killed him, lol! 

Brandroom

Sunday 5th February

I hadn't assisted Alex Babsky for a while, so I was really looking forward to seeing him again!  I love him and how he does make-up, such attention to detail and so precise! The shoot was taking place at Tim Bret Day's studio on Warple Way.  I love Tim as he is so not what you expect from the fashion industry, he's just a normal guy and very down to earth.  So I knew I was in for a good day, which got even better when I had to rub moisturiser all over two very buff male models, ha ha!

D Mag

Wednesday 25th January

Dalston Heights was the location for this shoot I was assisting Georgina Graham on for D Mag.  It's a great building for shooting, but absolutely freezing!  The windows are open even when they are 'closed', and no amount of heaters can manage to heat the space up, so if you are going to shoot there then take lots of layers!  There were 5 models, 3 girls and two boys, and Georgina created amazing conceptual looks using white Chromacake by Mac Cosmetics, Face and Body Foundation and not much else.  She took her inspiration from the clothes, which had a Sailor feel to them.  One girl had a white face, another girl had white on her forehead, one boy had a graphic blue shape around his eye.  Georgina is the Queen of doing fast make-ups and this shoot showed just how simple but effective make-up can be.

E4, Ultimate Me programme

Tuesday 17th January

The wait was over today for the two contestants participating in this new programme for E4, showcasing the weight loss the girls had achieved over a three month period, due to a lot of hard work and help from personal trainer, Ellysia Noble.  We kept getting told throughout the day not to use the word 'reveal', but I am going to use it anyway because it is easier!  Myself, hair stylist Kingsley Wells, and stylist Helen Beaumont were filmed making over the girls and giving them a whole new look ready for their big reveal to family and friends later that day.  We also were filmed giving some of our top tips and how to create the looks yourselves.  It was a really long day, and was made more tricky due to there being two different locations, one for the make-over, and one for the reveal, two girls to be filmed, and obviously only one camera crew.  One of the girls was worrying that her parents might have to get the last train home before the reveal had actually been done, bless her!  I'm not sure what the outcome was, I'll just have to find out when I watch the show on E4 soon, which is presented by my amazing friend, Jody Furlong.  Watch this space..........  

Seminar with Akin Konizi

Monday 16th January

Hairdresser Of The Year for about the trillionth time, Akin Konizi of Hob Salons, Camden, had a seminar at The Fantastic Hairdresser Company.  He had three models which needed making up.  We went for a classic Hob look, smoky eye with a nude lip, jusy slightly softer than the usual black.

Aqua by Aqua

Monday 19th December

Day two shooting menswear, as we ran out of time on the original shoot date.  It was such a great shoot to do, due to the team being so lovely.  I hope I get to work with the photographer, Mikolai Berg again!  You can see the images on the website.

http://www.aquabyaqua.com/male/tops