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You can see how street style influences fashion. But, it's one thing to see scenesters interpret runway trends for the street; it's another thing altogether to see those style stars strutting the glossy confines of the catwalk. DKNY did exactly that yesterday at their fall 2014 presentation, with a runway filled with real people, real style, and clothes inspired by the eclectic city-street culture from which the brand was born. Let's state this for the record: It was sensational.
With a cast of professional models alongside a good smattering of emblematic New Yorkers — a biologist, local music stars like Angel Haze, DJ Chelsea Leyland, artists, and many more — the show focused on showing off each individual's personal style. Maybelline lead-artist Yadim started with a base look, which featured their Dream Fresh BB cream mixed with moisturizer on the face for a luminous complexion, then added touches of highlighter along the bridge of the nose, the cupid's bow, and the cheekbones. Next, each model was asked how they would normally look when going out, which was then replicated with the brand's cosmetics. They shared a lit-from-within glow, but each style was, in fact, individual.
The personal-style concept was also replicated for everyone's hair. Wella Professionals lead Eugene Souleiman likened backstage this season to a real salon, with each model receiving a personal consultation and respective look. From canary-yellow ombre hair to green cornrows to natural curls lifted to sweet perfection and every nature of blowout, the 'dos were crafted to make each model look as if they'd stepped onto Manhattan's streets from their own abodes. (Bonus: We spotted our own holiday natural-hair style star, Devan Mayfield, backstage before she hit the catwalk.)
Michelle Saunders for Essie created two lovely nail looks based on their runway looks: an eclipse manicure using a base of Blanc with Smokin Hot, Allure, and Matte About Your top coat; or a neutral nail in Mademoiselle topped with Matte About You top coat. That eclipse manicure was a thing of perfection.
The mix of real people in a rainbow of ethnicities and sizes (although all of the models were relatively thin) helped provide a fantastic vision for anyone interested in wearing the looks when the clothes hits stores in late summer. Because, for the first time, the models were (sorta) just like us.
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