AdviceSisters Gustavo Arango Fall 2007 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Review

The Gustavo Arango runway show was held at the Altman Building, and I was super-excited because both the AVEDA hair and the makeup team were working on this particular show. Charming and talented, Rudy Miles is an AVEDA Global Face Color Artist. To Rudy's right, you can see a trio of Petal Essence Accents" eye/blush trios for Fall, 200 .

The makeup look Rudy devised for the Gustavo Arango show was inspired by Hollywood glamour of the 1920, but not quite as controlled or "done" as in that era. As Rudy described his look: "It's modern and elegant, but still whimsical." It's for an elegant diva, with a slightly "naughty" attitude. As you can see from the photo above, to re-create this look you'll want a flawless, polished, finished face with eyes as the focal point. Rudy ringed them completely in a slightly metallic, deep, smoked blue Aveda Eye Shadow called "Blue Bell" (from Aveda's Fall 2007 collection). Although the eye look may be too much for daytime wear, it looked glamorous with the soft evening gowns in Gustavo Arango's collection. To finish the look, Rudy applied a lip liner all over the model's lips, first, and then applied a berry gloss that gave the lips what I call a "moistly-matte" look (matte, but not an aging, old-fashioned dry matte). Model's cheeks were burgundy and berry, but applied in a new way: arched around the forehead and to the cheeks, instead of up from the apples. "It's all about color and technique," explained Rudy. Don't be afraid to experiment with bold looks--it's only makeup. You can always remove it if you don't like the initial results. *Manicures were done by Pritti Organix Nail Salon.

Jon Reyman and his AVEDA hair team was responsible for the lovely, romantic look you see here. His inspiration was the 1920's pin curls and finger waves that defined that era's Hollywood glam style. It takes time, patience, and more than one set hands to create this look, however. First, the model's hair was set in pin curls, then loosely pinned in the back to produce a modern, Raphaelite-styled bob. The models really did look angelic, walking down the runway. Of course, it takes some products to make this look stay in place. Jon used AVEDA products, including Air Control (an environmentally-friendly hair spray) and Pure Abundance Hair Potion (for texture and volume if needed).

For this show, I had the pleasure of a front row seat. It's important to practice good etiquette if you're out in front. For starters, never lean out too far with a camera to photograph the runway, because it will block someone else's view (and irritate the professional photographers and video crews who need a clean shot). Be sure to put your handbag and totes under your seat and uncross your legs. If you don't a model might trip! Here are a few of my photos:

There were 30 different outfits in this show, and all were attractive and wearable, although not avant-garde in any way. Real women of various sizes and shapes can wear these clothes, that move with the body and accentuate the right curves in the right way. The evening gowns were done primarily in chiffon and silk charmeuse, many accented with beads and one in slate silk featuring sexy, lizard straps that you can see in the photo above on the right. Shoes were high, high, and higher, from Beverly Feldman and La Favorita, with leg wear by Danskin. Gustavo Arango will make every woman look and feel beautiful

The designer with models at the end of the show!

For more information about Gustavo Arango, visit: http://www.gustavoarango.com/