Good Gracious! Gottex Gold Shines on the Runway

Ask anyone in the tents which show they've liked the best so far this fashion week and without hesitation you'll hear: "Gottex!" It was all glitz, like a Las Vegas showroom, with body conscious swimwear that had people literally, gasping with it's beauty. And the color of the moment wasn't just white or black, orange or turquoise, yellow or green--it was: GOLD. Gold was literally everywhere..gold shoes, gold foiled-nails, gold accessories, gold suits, Gold in hair, gold on eyes....one model even scattered gold fabric leaves on the runway.

Hanan Shauriki for Redken created an elegant beach look that looked witty and artful, but could make the transition to dinner and dancing. Messy buns have been a staple on the Spring runways in past seasons, Shauriki designed an off enter "bun" of curls that was artful, but not too perfect. Redken Spray Starch 15 was used on the models and then the hair was slicked back while the to-the-side tousle of artfully pinned curls looked jaunty and young. Redken Gold Shimmer was applied with a brush to give the top and sides of the hair a wet look that shimmered under the lights (photo). Redken Force 17 Gel was used, along with Redken Hair Spray #23 ensured the look would stay put. This fun, elegant, sleek look is perfect for Spring/Summer and the beach. Gottex swimwear is elegant enough to pinch-hit for eveningwear, and this hair look is perfect day or evening. You can do a version of this look with a curling iron and hair pins, a little patience, and Redken Products.

Huge, floppy hats in black and white, and glitzy "starfish" accessories the hair looks.

The glitzy show was as dazzling backstage as it was on the runway. Creative Nail Design actually applied gold foil to the model's fingers and toes....
...and the effect was seriously dazzling. Leave it to the pros such as those with Creative Nail design to gold foil nails, but you can do a variation of the look yourself, with a metallic gold nail polish (CND has several versions of gold).

Philippe Chansel and the M.A.C. Pro team created a makeup look that, as you can see, focuses on a fresh, beachy face and a gold-glitzed eye. The models were airbrushed from head to toe, so it was only necessary to add a little bronzer and highlighter on the face. All the girls were airbrushed head to toe so they had to start hours earlier than normal to get the total look. No foundation, just bronzer and highlighter (it's the beach, after all). MAC Pro Pigment from brow to lids gave a 14K glizted look to eyes. False eyelashes but no harsh lines at all. Full, shiny lips thanks to M.A.C. Plushglass in a pretty, melon-y almost-sheer color called "Fulfill."

There was plenty of black, white and gold on the runway...

...but as you can see in my backstage photos, there were bright, cheerful colors such as lime green, yellow, pink and orange. Crystals and gold accents, cut-outs and gold fasteners, gold bracelets and shoes made for a glittering display that would look great on the beach, even if it was an overcast day.

Some looks featured flowing caftans to cover up some of the basically bare, nearly there, suits.

Doesn't this make you long for Summer again...or at least a beach vacation?