Backstage Beauty: Antonio Berardi Autumn/Winter 2012

Backstage Beauty: Antonio Berardi Autumn/Winter 2012

Photo: Getty Images

Revlon's Artistic Director Gucci Westman described the look for Antonio Berardi's Autumn/Winter show as "handsome beauty", which she had just as much fun saying as she did creating ("I love the way the words sound together", she told us backstage).

The inspiration for the Berardi look came from "a modern Angie Bowie". Westman wanted the focus to be on the pastel colours and graphic shapes in the collection, so she kept the look played down with clear skin, glossy lips, wet-look eyes and a bitten lip.

Dove and gunmetal greys from Revlon's new Siren palette were used on the lids with ColourStay Creme Gel Eyeliner and Grow Luscious Mascara in black on the lashes. PhotoReady Perfecting Primer was applied over the skin before Cream Blush in Pink and Age Defying Foundation were added for a youthful realness.

Really Red Lipstick stained the lips before Crystal Water Lipgloss was added for a polished, sophisticated finish. (This was also added to the lids at the last-minute for the wet-look eyes).

Revlon's UK Nail Ambassador, Jenny Longworth, also referenced the strong, androgynous woman from Berardi's collection by creating "modern 1920s moon nails". She used a new teal shade, Fashionista, and left a nude half-moon shape at the cuticles. Longworth looked to Shakespeare's Sister for inspiration, but by keeping the nails short and neat, the look felt more contemporary.

However, the Berardi look wouldn't have been complete without the squarest hair to hit the catwalk at London so far.

Orlando Pita created the edgy styles for John Frieda, looking to the 12-year-old Natalie Portman in The Professional for hair inspiration.

"We couldn't cut Portman's blunt bob into all the girls' hair so we're sticking on these square fringes at the front of the head", he told us. Pita pulled the hair back into tight ponytails using John Frieda Volume Mousse and Volume Finishing Spray before the fringes were seamlessly smoothed down and made to look real.

Photo: Getty Images

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