With fashion week season all wrapped up for now, attention turns to how we're going to incorporate what we saw on the runways and outside the shows into our own lives.
For the experimental among us, there were plenty of those showstopping zeitgeisty looks to play with - think Euphoria-esque nail art, powdery noughties inspired eye makeup and ultra shiny hair secured in place with 'intimate gel' - but we were chuffed to see lots of unfiltered beauty getting a turn in the spotlight too.
This super wearable approach was extra rewarding for us to spot because it's what we aimed for when creating The Ensemble Edit, our special digital fashion show featuring new-season looks from some of Aotearoa’s top emerging and established fashion designers.
Championing individual beauty was front of mind for Rob Tennent, who cast and styled the show. "I wanted to have fun with what the models naturally had. We created two looks that we could put on each person depending on their eye shape."
The approach gelled with Aleph founder Emma Peters who led the makeup direction. To bring the unfussy sensibility to life on our runway, she let the models' complexions speak for themselves and used Aleph's Hybrid Eye Pigment Flicker tactically to highlight their features.
"After discussions with Rob, we decided to allow the natural beauty of the models’ skin to glow through while accenting the lids with either a smoulder of diffused rose gold Flicker or a bold line created by Flicker,” says Emma.
“We kept cheek and lips shades natural, intensifying the model's natural pigment to enhance and flatter the complexion of each model as individuals. We also applied a touch of Radiance (Sun or Moon depending on the individual's complexion) to the high points of the cheeks for extra skin radiance."
Lauren Gunn from Auckland salon Colleen took a similarly straightforward approach to bring out the best in each model's hair for the show.
Rob says, "The hair was entirely Lauren’s direction and she did such an amazing job. We wanted to amp up what the models already had, as well as make them glow."
Shop a selection of the products Lauren and the Colleen team used to create the beautifully natural and lived in hair looks below.
Lauren Gunn's picks for runway and life ready hair:
Cloud Nine Wide Iron, $399
Davines This Is A Curl-Building Serum, $48
Kevin Murphy Touchable Finishing Spray, $55
Kevin Murphy Session Spray Flex, $55
Evo Icon Welder Spray, $42
Emma Peters' picks for easily achievable runway makeup:
Aleph Concealer / Foundation, $62
Aleph Cheek / Lip Tint, $58
Aleph Lift / Lengthen Mascara, $64
Aleph Hybrid Eye Pigment, $56
Aleph Radiance, $53