I arrived backstage early this morning for Carmen Marc Valvo's show, because I was going to see Odile Gilbert for REDKEN creating an amazing, modern take on a chignon for the designer's always elegant show. When I arrived, Odile was already busy with the model's explaining everything she was doing on tape for REDKEN *watch for their fantastic podcasts coming soon (I will add a link to these when they are available). As Odile explained last season, it's always best to go to a salon and have a stylist who knows what s/he is doing create a complicated look. You can see in this photo that it takes a couple of pairs of hands to do the finished look (see below). Hair is pulled into a ponytail high on the hear (or a hair extension is add first if a model didn't have long enough hair). REDKEN products, mostly lots of REDKEN #09 Spray, was used to create texture and shine, and of course, hold hair in place. sectioned off and "Curved" around the forehead like a jaunty hat. Here's what it looks like from the front.

On the runway, this look was elegant, and caused quite a stir in the audience. I could hear more than one woman whisper: "I want my hair too look like that!!"

The makeup was done by Tom Pechaux with the MAC Pro Team. Some of the colors won't be available until closer to Fall, but check out my FEATURE in a few weeks and I've give you all the colors, what's available when, and how to get the look. Meanwhile, as you can see from the photo below, EYES are again the focus, with a totally nude lip and matte skin. Julie St. Laurent from the MAC Pro Team suggests that if the pale look isn't flattering, warm up your matte skin with a sheer wash of blush.

Here's the elegant, finished look both hair and makeup!

Carmen Marc Valvo's gowns are to die for gorgeous, but according to Deauville, Carmen's personal assistant, the designer doesn't want people to die of cancer, either. A cancer suvivor himself, who the designer created a special white T-shirt with gold design that many of his dressers and other staff were wearing backstage. This shirt, I was told, was done in memory of his mother, who passed away from cancer. The T-shirt supports "Breakaway from Cancer" --to help raise awareness and funds to support the millions of people affected by cancer. The inspiration behind the design was a circle of support that surrounds an individual while battling cancer. The shirt is beautiful and the cause, very worthy. Check out www.breakawayfromcancer.com if you'd like to get one ($28.00 each--and 100% of your purchase goes to Breakaway from Cancer).

The clothes were amazing, too. The sleek aesthetic of mid-century modern design was his inspiration. The program notes say that Valvo was intrigued by the clean craftmanship and sculptural forms of that era's most dynamic interior and furniture designers. Cocktail dresses crafted from strips, pleated organza, crocodile and cashmere, metallic ribbons with lacquered chiffons, and other unusual combinations of fabrics coming together in modern, unique ways. The neutral palette of mid-century design: nickel, titanium, black, and ivory with hits of moss and purple looked fresh, modern and still elegant and red-carpet ready. It was Valvo as his loyal followers know and love him, made more modern.

* photos by Alison Blackman Dunham