Simply put Val Garland’s work is cool. it’s unusual to flip through a British Vogue and not see evidence of her work. She can go from commercial to conceptual easily. From a runway looks for designers such as Giambattista Vali, to Lady Gaga’s music videos. Having had the opportunity to work with Val Garland backstage, I can say she’s a laid-back, super talented artist.

Images from models.com & streeters.com

Autumn Winter collections finally came to a close last week with the Paris shows. The looks were fabulous as usual. Everything from the clothing to the makeup, and hair. Some of the stand out shows for me were YSL, because I love that matte, aubergine mouth. JPG for the grey hair and strong brows, and McQueen for that porcelain radiant skin. Now let’s get back to Spring 2011…

There’s no doubt about it fashion makeup artist Romy Soleimani creates amazing work. Her backstage resume includes shows like Jason Wu, Bill Blass, and Frankie Morello — which is the show I worked with her on, in Milan seasons ago. Fabulous editorials in practically every carnation of Vogue, as well as Numero, Muse and Bazaar to name a few also take up pages of Soleimani’s extensive portfolio of work.

Images from managementartists.com

Three years ago at only 13, Jac Jagaciak became the face of Hermes. Not a bad way to start your modeling career! Unable to walk in the collections due to age restrictions, Jac debuted at New York Fashion Week in February of 2009 opening and closing Calvin Klein. Which pretty much confirmed this girl was one to watch. Since then Jac has been opening and closing some of the best shows of the past season including Giambattista Valli, Valentino, Versace, and Lanvin just to name a few. Spring 2011 is no different, Jagaciak was everywhere! Editorials, and covers for publications like Numero, W, Paris Vogue, Vogue Nippon, and Italian Vogue read like a laundry list on her resume. Currently models.com ranks Jagaciak at #10 will be interesting to see how quickly she moves up.

Images from models.com and style.com

Tom Pecheux is one of the best in the industry, and one of the first international make up artists I worked with backstage. Pecheux has created gorgeous make up for countless magazine covers, campaigns, and international collections. Most recently Estee Lauder has brought him on board as their Creative Make Up Director. Backstage at Derek Lam AW 10, Pecheux designed the make up look using his new Lauder collection called “Pure Color”. The collection is said to be pigment rich with eyeshadows available in 4 different textures. ”Makeup is such a fashion accessory,” said Pecheux. “I’d like to highlight that part of the brand, and also bring a playful touch to the franchise.” Which I am sure will be the case.

Images from models.com

Fewer celebrities were at the International Collections this season. Factor in the weather-New York, the Oscars-during Paris and money-which is affecting all designers during the current economic climate. However, the main fashionistas did not let anything deter them. Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe definitely would not miss, it is her job after all. Mary Kate and Ashley were seen in New York and London. Nicole Richie and Annalynne McCord were both seen in New York. Kristen Stewart stopped by Burberry Prorsum while in London (kinda random) along with Kate Hudson who wore the most gorgeous emerald sequin dress. Lindsay seen here in Milan at Cavalli. Alexa Chung wearing head to toe Chanel at Chanel in Paris. It’s a wrap on Autumn Winter 2010 fashion month.

Aaron de Mey has some of the most beautiful, detail oriented make up around. A few years ago, backstage at the Haider Ackerman show in Paris, I saw first hand Aaron’s precise work. One look at the images above and you know what I’m talking about. I’ve been a fan ever since Paris. Now Artistic Director for Lancome, his work is showcased not just in magazines and on the runway but around the world at every Lancome counter.

New to the scene and already making a name for herself is Ranya Mordanova. She’s already been dubbed as a “rising star” and one of the “top ten newcomers” by several industry insiders. Since debuting in New York this February, Ranya’s managed to score editorials in French Vogue, W and V magazine as well as a lucrative ad campaign with Givenchy. And that’s just to name a few!

During London Fashion week in September, I worked with Ranya at Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders. Intense eyes, severe bowl cut, poreless pale skin, and the most adorable pout. A guarantee that she stands out in a crowd.

Images from style.com and models.com

We say au revoir to the Spring shows as Paris concludes a whirl wind month of fashion. Paris surpassed all expectations this season the inspiration behind each make up look was so intriguing. McQueen was just insane, the models faces looked like prosthetics, and I can’t even imagine how long it took to braid the hair. The skin at Chayalan was so ethereal and beautiful, and then the surprises really came with LV and those massive afros and what looked like pizza oven burns on the girls faces, and Dior with the lavender eyes and ruby red lips was simply adorable. No two runways are the same in Paris, this city sets the trends for the whole fashion world.

Images from style.com

As Fashion month comes to an end we thought we’d look back at some of the best dressed celebs that sat front row. If we were to give an award for most innovative outfits, hair and make up it would have to go to Rhianna. She might as well have been on the runway because she represented each show she went to so impeccably. This season saw an influx of young hollywood attending the shows and not just in New York, where Lauren Conrad was seen at 3.1 Philip Lim. With the exception of MK Olsen, who with her sister can always be spotted front row in Paris. Leighton Meester was at Louis Vuitton, Jessica Stroup at Vivienne Westwood, and Rachel Bilson at Ferragamo. Victoria Beckham looked perfectly posh at Burberry London compared to the fresh new face of the brand Emma Watson. For the rest of us we’re going to have to wait until next year to get our hands on the Spring trends, and rewind back to AW 09.

Images from justjared.com and style.com

I first met Alla Kostromicheva this season in London at Christopher Kane. I did her make up again the next day at Jonathan Saunders, I thought to myself I like this girl she’s down to earth, easy to chat with and most importantly has striking features. She’s walked a ton of runways for Spring 2010 from Alexander Wang in New York to Balenciaga just yesterday in Paris. Alla’s pictures in the latest issue of 10 magazine are nothing short of amazing-she is for sure my model of the moment.

Images from style.com and models.com

The International Collections next stop after London is Milan. Italy never disappoints. You are guaranteed to get smoking hot girls storming down the runway. The exact ingredients for such a look are simple: flawless skin, precisely groomed brows, sultry eyes, and plump lips. All the major Italian fashion houses seemed to cook up this concoction of make up, though the end results varied the theme was the same… STUNNING. Milan ended on Tuesday, it’s time to say bonjour to Paris.

Images from style.com

I have just returned from my favourite city that was celebrating twenty five years of fashion week-London was amazing! In contrast to New York, London is known for it’s edgier more hard hitting street style both on and off the runway. The make up for Spring Summer 2010 was not really about looking tan and perfect but more about creating a statement. Burberry has been revived from it’s stuffy old English history to be youthful and fresh. At Jonathan Saunders we perfected and slightly paled out the skin so the models looked almost waxy. Virtually every girl had her eyebrows bleached to non existence. Lips were toned down with concealer except the very inner part which had bright red and deep currant coloured liners applied to the mouth, very “new moon” style. What’s a London runway without colour? Marios Schwab, Luella, and Richard Nicholl had variations on colour from soft to bright. Erdem gave us long lush lashes. Now Milan is in full swing get ready for heavy doses of glamour.

Images from style.com

Personally I am really addicted to lip gloss. I never put on lipstick without putting gloss on top, and most of the time I just wear gloss alone and lots of it. As I perused the collections for AW ’09 I noticed most lips were missing that high shine look. The look was not super matte either more like a soft satin sheen. This is quite simple to achieve-use a little concealer on your ring finger dab your lips to mute your natural colour. Then simply apply your favourite lip balm on top to give subtle sheen. Or apply your lip balm on top of any lipstick or lip pencil instead of gloss, and you just updated your look to Fall 2009.

Images from style.com