Before models took to the runway in a mix of military tailoring and poofy skirts, they were given a beauty look to mix similar elements of hard and soft. With a sleek and shiny tight topknot and dark full eye the look was decidedly more hard than soft. We're loving this more controlled version of the topknot we usually see in a messy nest on so many girls heads (we mean that as a compliment, honest), and the high gloss played off the creaminess of models' skin.

Makeup and Nails

Skin was a major focus of this look: first a primer was applied, then foundation was blended all over, even into eyebrows and lips to tone them down. Artistic director Eddie Malter highlighted the cheeks, nose and centre of the forehead with "Morning Light" a L'Oréal Paris Wear Infinite eyeshadow single, his go to for creating a shimmer on the face. For the dark, smudgy eye a nearly black shadow was extended over the eye and out almost to to the end of the eyebrow, at it's centre a creamy copper shade was dabbed, creating depth, and black liner was applied in the water line so eyes were completely blackened. Just as the girls went out on the runway a slight amount of gloss was applied to the eyelid over the bronze to add an extra sheen.

Nails for the show were done by Leeanne Colley of Tips Nail Bar, and took the military element further, looking like shrapnel had collected on each nail. First Colley applied CND polish in Hyde in the Dark to nails, next she dropped on cut up nail tips (which looked like broken glass) and coated with OPI's Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous mixed with a topcoat. The effect had us recruited.

Hair

The polished topknot crafted by lead hair artist Eric Del Monaco and his team began with spraying the roots of hair with water and brushing it back into a tight ponytail on the top of the head. Any strays were cleaned up with a fine-toothed comb and smoothed with gel. Another spritz of water (continuing to avoid the ponytail) and a spray of hairspray gave hair the glossy sheen seen reflecting runway lights. The pony was divided into two, the first section was twisted and wrapped so it looked like a bun on it's side (you can see in the picture above it was more like a Ferris Wheel then a Tilt-A-Whirl), and then the other section was twisted and round around the first loop, with hairspray to set. The complete look is seen on model Amanda Laine (above) posing backstage...

Runway

...and on the runway.

We're thinking this hair is a great way to beat the spring frizz brought on by humid temperatures, would you give this sleek look a try?