Tribal Brights at Thakoon - NYFW Fall 2011

(Photo: Beauty Blitz)

The basket-woven updos and shocking shade on models' eyes kept with the theme of Thakoon's collection, inspired by Kenya's Maasai tribe and Versailles-era Rococo
dress.

Makeup: Diane Kendal for Nars

"It's definitely not a look you'd want to copy" off the runway, lead makeup artist Diane Kendal said - but the bleached brows and red eye makeup sure made for a striking show.

Eyebrow bleach...or frothy dessert? (Photo: Beauty Blitz)

What we found most fascinating was Diane's use of products on different features than the ones for which they're made. In lieu of eyeshadow, she layered three shades of blush (orange Taj Mahal in the center with fuscia Desire and red Exhibit A on either side) over Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl on models' lids.  Nars Eyeshadow in Night Snow highlighted the girls' cheekbones, while foundation mixed with lip balm washed out their mouths.

(Photos: Beauty Blitz)

Hair: Odile Gilbert for Kérastase Paris

(Photos: Beauty Blitz)

Thakoon's team collected winter knit hats and unraveled them to create these colorful woven hair accessories. For the resulting look, lead hairstylist Odile Gilbert told us she was inspired by the sort of recycling that goes on in many places in Africa. If people like the Maasai can make beautiful art out of empty Coke cans, why not a hairstyle out of repurposed knits?

Odile flat ironed models' hair using Kérastase Nectar Thermique (a protective heat styling cream) and used Chroma Cristal mist for shine, paired with Double Force Hair Spray for buildable hold. We also spied hairstylists bulking up buns with wadded up bits of netting material (they looked like steel wool puffs!).

 (Photo: Beauty Blitz)

Nails: Kim D'Amato for Priti
If you're as in love with the cool robin's egg mani as we are (see it on a model above), you'll have to do some mixing: Priti's Kim D'Amato created this custom shade just for the show.

Odile Gilbert does hair with Diane Kendal on makeup duty in the background.