Diane von Furstenberg: The Highlight Of New York Fashion Week (So Far)

Diane von Furstenberg’s SS16 show was a lesson in seventies glamour. Here’s how to re-create the look.

We’re barely into the SS16 shows and I can already tell you the overriding theme of the season with a reasonable level of certainty (backstage anyway) and it’s this: ‘less is more’, ‘natural’, ‘barely there’ make-up. Sigh.

What we’re seeing is strobing (Victoria Beckham did it best) and a touch of grooming (check those brows at Alexander Wang), but no real explosions of colour – unless you count the orange/red lip painted on five models at Victoria Beckham.

I appreciate some inconspicuous concealing and skin-like foundation finishes as much as the next person – after all it’s what we’re after in ‘real’ life - but can you blame me for feeling a desperate for some drama?

Thankfully the theatrical dry spell came to a crashing halt backstage at Diane von Furstenberg. Here make-up artist Pat McGrath and TRESemmé’s New York Fashion Week Ambassador Orlando Pita joined forces to deliver a fleet of boldly painted ‘Diane’s’.

‘This look is really all about Diane,’ explained Pita in the busy backstage area. ‘Before the show, she was sharing photos with me of herself in the 1970s where it was the first time she’d let her hair fall in its natural wave. I just loved the texture and the volume she had so I wanted the girls to rock a little of that personality today.’

Pita translated Diane’s personal snaps into a cloud of fluffy waves that glowed as they were lit up from behind on the catwalk. When we saw those hair accessories we went weak at the knees. It turns out you’re never too old to rock a statement hair accessory.

Models Karlie Kloss, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Irina Shayk, all took their turn in the make-up chair where make-up artist Pat McGrath unleashed the first real burst of colour we’ve seen this season. McGrath and her team coated lids in a bold wash of green and blue shadows that were made more intense by wetting the powders. McGrath told me that the idea behind the look came from an old shoot she did with Steven Meisel and Sophie Dahl.

Should you fancy it, here’s how to get the DVF look:

Make-Up

1. The focus here is the eye make-up. McGrath told me she was going for a butterfly-like finish with tonal blues and greens.

2. On darker skin tones McGrath used the richer blue and green shades and on paler skin tones she used less intense, softer shades.

3. Begin with your chosen shade in a shimmer finish blended closely to your lash line.

4. Spray your eye shadow with water to amp-up the intensity and blend over the lid. Diffuse the edges with a dry, fluffy brush.

Hair

1. Create a deep side parting and prepare your hair with TRESemmé Runway Collection Make Waves Shaping Gel and TRESemmé Runway Collection Make Waves Shine Enhancing Cream.

2. If you have the patience, blow-dry and start tonging two-inch sections of hair with a medium-sized barrel tong. Before the section has time to cool, loop the hair around your middle and index finger and pin it to your scalp. If you don’t have time to tong your hair just loop it and pin it. Work around your entire head; tonging, looping and pinning. Then allow to cool or set.

3. Once everything is cool or set, unpin the loops and work the waves out with your hands. For extra seventies fluff give everything a soft brush-out.

4. Use a soft-bristle brush to lightly tease the hair around your hair line and lightly set everything with a mist of TRESemmé Perectly (un)Done Ultra Brushable Hairspray. Adorn your waves with a floral hair accessory if you really want to go all out.