Backstage At Louise Kennedy’s SS18 Fashion Show

Last night Louise Kennedy lit up the RHA Gallery on Ely Place with her SS18 fashion show, a kaleidoscope of tropical colours, modern tailoring in elegant new shapes and a micro-collection inspired by a Caribbean island. Working on the beauty looks backstage were renowned make-up and hair pros (and regular IMAGE contributors) – make-up artist Zoë Clark and hair stylist Michael Leong. Together they created elegant looks to complement the breathtaking collection that had us dreaming of warmer climes and sand between our toes. We caught up with the beauty experts to find out some of the tricks of their trade.

What was the inspiration for the look you created? 

Zoë: “I was inspired by all the gorgeous colours in Louise’s collection. I particularly love the coral so I reflected this in the blushes and lip. A sharper liquid liner adds a touch of elegance, which is so prevalent in Louise’s work.”

Michael: “Clean and modern to compliment Louise Kennedy SS18 collection. I kept the hair very simple with a low side parting pull to a low sleek ponytail.”

What was the designer’s brief and how did you create it to complement the collection?

Michael: “Louise’s brief was to keep the hair clean and simple – not to create anything too fussy that might distract from the collection. I blowdried the hair straight, then parted it to the side before creating a low ponytail at the neck.”

Zoë: “Louise wanted to keep the look clean, fresh and modern, so I used foundation liberally and chose orange, peach and yellow shadows with a touch of a bronze shimmer shadow on the eyelids. I rebelled against the ‘contoured’ look by using cream blusher in a mix of orange and bright pink to create a lifted cheek and finished it off with a coral lip with a pop of bright pink in the centre.”

What products always make it into your toolkit?

Zoë: “So many! MAC Face & Body foundation as it is so sheer, MAC Shell Cream Blusher for highlighting the cheekbones. YSL Touche Eclat, which is an essential in my book, and Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream (fragrance free).”

Michael: “Hair spray, volumising spray and shine spray.” 

What beauty trends should we be looking at for SS18?

Zoë: “Fresh skin. There’s a definite move away from ‘contouring’. The use of shimmer and even glitters around the eyes will also be popular this season. Soft pinks and peachy lips will be replacing stark shades. And we’ll also see a move away from overly done brows and a leaning toward more natural brushed brows.”

For more from the collection, see www.louisekennedy.com