Backstage at the PORTS 1961 Fall 2009 Runway Show Fall Fashion Week 2009 -An Advice Sisters Feature (exclusive video)

*all text and photos by Alison Blackman Dunham 

Ports 1961 was established in  2004. The designer, Tia Cibani, creates a theme focusing on a different culture or geographic region each season.  This season, it's the exotic Mughal courts of India

Aveda Master Stylist Pearson Knight explained that as last season, Ports 1961 is a long, romantic hair look. This season, the look coordinated with the exotic India theme. The key word was braided hair, worn loose and low, with random curls created with a hot barrel curler for volume and texture. The thick, three-strand braids went straight down the model's back (thanks to hair. The look was reminiscent of the the period at the turn of the Century when women did travel to exotic places, but unless they were super-wealthy and had servants with them, they had to do their hair, themselves. Tip:  If you like this lovely look, make it your own by simply creating a messy braid and then wrapping it up in a simple chignon. 

To create the look, Pearson didn't need to use too many products, although Aveda has a large range of wonderful ones to choose from.  He simply used Aveda Volumizing Tonic (to add volume at the roots in the front of the hair) and Aveda Pure Abundance (a product that transforms from a powder to a light, absorbent lotion that instantly thickens hair by 17%). He curled hair with a barrel hot iron and then created a thick, textured, 3-strand braid, pulling out random curls and finishing the look with Aveda Air Control, a light, workable hair spray.  One Aveda product on the styling tables that I really loved, was the blue, aluminum water bottles.  Aveda teamed up this Fashion Week with 6 designers who agreed to eliminate bottled water and fur, and to provide only organic, locally-sources food backstage at their shows.  I didn't try it, but the aluminum bottle apparently keeps water much cooler, much longer than the usual, plastic water bottles.  Wish I had one!

Here's a close-up of the finished braid....

...and the same model, on the runway!

Jane McKay for M.A.C. Cosmetics created the sultry makeup look. It featured soft but natural looking skin (made more perfect with M.A.C. concealer), and a smoky eye, with makeup that looked like "she did it herself."  Jane used a M.A.C. "Smoulder" pencil and heavily rimmed the eye with it, inside and outside, top and bottom, then smudged it a bit.  She used black mascara (M.A.C. Zoom lash) and no blush, plus the most popular product for lips this season, a pretty, nude-ish pink M.A.C. Cream Sheen Gloss called "Boy Bait." As Jane simply put it: "pink is flattering."  I agree!

Here are two views of the makeup look, the model with the black, leather jacket is backstage. The model with the golden dress is actually on the runway!

And you can't forget the nail!  For this show, nails were done by Creative Nail Design, of course!  The color chosen for Ports 1961 was "Cocoa," a warm beige that matched the warm, vibrant and earthy tones, perfectly.  The look of short, more rounded, nails really works for day or evening, and is easy to manage. It's going to be a popular look for Fall 2009.  Look for deep colors like blackened cherry, or on the opposite side of the spectrum, new, "murky"  nudes such as taupe and champagne metallics. You can get cocoa right now and see other, classic CND colors, at www.creativenaildesign.com

ADVICE SISTERS EXCLUSIVE VIDEO! 

Alison Blackman (that's me of course) is interviewed by TV personality Cognac Wellerlane about the Ports 1961 and Teroxev runway shows.  Plus:  exclusive Advice Sisters video direct from the PORTS 1961 runway show! 

 

***see more photos and more coverage Ports 1961 Fall 2009 Fashion Week from the Runway!

 

 

 

 

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