Aesthetically Ever After: mac

BESTOW ELAN - Erzumah Ackerson's range for the discerning female.

After many catwalk shows and publications, Erzumah Ackerson releases her latest collection- The Silence is Deafening, which I had the amazing opportunity to create the make-up for the collections look book.

Ackerson draws her inspiration from "both classic and vintage stimuli, as well as influences from her heritage - which in turn allows her to create garments that are fitting for every occasion, and appeal to individuals from all walks of life. “

"The former London College of fashion student’s experiences within the industry include exhibiting her first collection in central London at Profile 4, assisting Jonathon Saunders, the print designer with his London Fashion Week debut, plus working on Russian label KISA LONDON’s Fashion Week collection."

For more informtion check out Bestow Elan online:
http://www.bestowelan.com/#/profile/4537729651

This wasn’t my first collaboration with the Bestow Elan brand, we first worked together back in 2009 for the Matyr A/W 09/10’ collection, so I was thrilled to be invited back to the team.

Like all creative professionals, we demand perfection, Ackerson is no different. She has a relentless perseverance to achieve excellence and this is shown on shoot and through her designs. She is warm, energetic and humble - an absolute pleasure to work with. The clothes speak for themselves; each has a story that speaks of heritage, decadence and glamour. See end of blog for some of my favourite pieces.

The beautiful Yasmina was our model for the day and boy was she an easy face to makeup. Great bone structure and lips that you want to try every shade of lipstick on.

For the makeup I used MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation in NW45, applied with a MAC #191 brush. I spritzed MAC Fix+ between application to get a creamy and flawless finish. I used MAC Paint in Bamboo as an eye primer then put on MAC’s new Big Bounce Eyeshadow in Trophy. These are actually amazing and come in 13 new colours. Pushed on top of that was MAC Pigment in Vanilla with a #239. I then got in a pigment frenzy and used Violet and Grape in the outer corners and through the socket line, leaving the lid clean-(Trophy and Vanilla). I lined the lashline with MAC Fluidline Blacktrack with a #266. Smoulder Eye Kohl was used in the waterline. Not that I thought she needed it but Yasmina’s cheeks were contoured with MAC Powder Blush in Raizin. Lastly for those outstanding lips, I defined the lipline with MAC Lip pencil in Currant and filled in with Hang Up. Obviously lots of mascara was used to complement and complete the eye makeup.

My favourite pieces:

Stunning...

Underground Edge...

Powerful...

This collection definitely gets a thumbs up from me, but what do you think guys?

AEA x x

Graduate Fashion Week was launched in 1991 and is a forum to showcase the very best BA Graduate fashion design talent in the UK.

I was selected with 22 other graduates from the Academy of Freelance Makeup (AOFM) to work backstage at GFW. We were sponsored by Rimmel London and were making up the very best models in the industry from agencies such as Storm, Select, Premier, ING, Ford and lots more. I felt very privileged and was buzzing to get started on day 1.

The event was held at Earls Court, London and rest of the AOFM team and I had a 7.45am call time... This was going to be hard for someone like me who loves their bed. However, I literally leapt out of bed on Sunday morning, enthused for what the day may bring.

As I thought as it was going to be long and demanding few days I would keep my own make up clean and simple. MAC Prep and prime skin, MAC Studio Fix Fluid, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, MAC Raisin Powder Blush, MAC Eyeliner in Boot Black, MAC Eye Kohl in Smoulder and two coats of YSL Mascara. As you can probably tell I love MAC ha! Well I work for them but that is another story and another blog...

So day 1 we had 3 shows for 3 different universities- East London, Edinburgh and Salford. The brief for all of them were pretty natural... see image below. So using Rimmel London Match Perfection Foundation and Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation, we were able to create a flawless finish that was either matte or dewy and creamy.

By day 2, some of the universities requested that the models for their show have a strong, sexy and defined red or berry statement-Bristol, Bath and Birmingham. I was thrilled to do this as two things I class myself to have OCD about being a makeup artist is creating a perfect red lip and defining eyebrows...Eeeeekkkkk I’m getting excited just thinking about it. Using the Rimmel Lasting Finish 1000 kisses stay on lip contouring pencil in 021 Red Dynamite, we created a super slick, defined and kissable mouth. I filled in my models lips with Red Diva lipstick or Berry Fever.

Bath University (below) opted for a spin off 60’s feel to their makeup. White eye kohl in the waterline, lashings of mascara- Rimmel Glam’ Eyes Day 2 Night.

Continuing into day 3 the adrenaline was pumping backstage and it was empowering to work with a team of dedicated, creative and passionate individuals. A massive shout out is to the amazing L’oreal Session Styling Team who used Techni- Arts products. They created some absolutely fabulous high fashion hair styles. Not to mention they were all lovely and just as keen as us makeup artists to showcase their art.

I definitely underestimated the talent I was going to see and be working with at Graduate Fashion Week. These graduates are outstanding and deserve the recognition they gained at the glamorous event. They are definitely the future and I actually cannot wait to do next year.

I have two designers which have stuck in my head and I was blown away by. Now they may not be every ones cup of tea but equally you have to applaud their creativity and out-the-box thinking.

Paris Hawkins-Carr- Birmingham University

Isla Skelton- Birmingham University

I’m going to track down these two designers and get some more information about the inspiration behind the designs, favourite designers and life after graduate fashion week... Please stay tuned.