Even though we know Vlad Kromatika did it both first and best, it’s nice to see the rest of the world coming around to vivid opaque-pigment allover facepaint as a valid form of accessorization.
Two labels in particular, Meadham Kirschhoff and couture house Alexis Mabille (as shown below), literally painted the town with this concept in recent seasons, with mixed but certainly amusing results. Let’s start this on a high note– and I’m not even referring to how high the person must have been who let some of what we are about to see get past the mood-board phase.
In the lush, unexpected colors seen above, adding the painted face gives one the impression that the model has actually become the clothes; what could easily be a distraction blends seamlessly into the overall presentation. The calming effect is surprisingly complementary of what’s actually for sale, from the neck down. I can’t front; I always adore an unconventional look, but the key is to make it look effortless.
In some cases, however, the results of this beauty experiment were…shall we say, #FACEIST? Because things take a turn towards whack-face, after the jump…
At Kirchhoff Fall ’12 (above), I really tried to get down with the piecemeal harlequin vibe, but the colored skin (especially the Avatar-cum-spa-masque blue) with the hair, and the earrings, and the Ringling Bros. dresses didn’t even come off as particularly humorous, piling on #WTF after #WTF. Why so serious?? Yikes.
This one (Mabille, above left) looks like a medical emergency. Was Ja Rule behind this?? Because when I see it, all I’m thinking is IT’S MURDAAAAAAA! And another mud masque for the books. Calgon, PLEASE, PLEASE take me away…
Is there anything left to say? Someone hand these girls a makeup wipe.
Images: Style.com
