There are two things I always expect from The Blonds during NYFW: drama and sparkle. For its Spring 2017 show, the luxury apparel brand somehow managed to tone things down while remaining loyal to its over-the-top aesthetic. For starters, #blackgirlmagic levels were all the way up backstage. I spotted at least four brown beauties surrounded by a glam squad, which is quite progressive considering fashion’s ongoing diversity issue.
The Blonds have consistently employed an eclectic group of models for their runway shows and it’s encouraging to see that trend continued.
As a result of that, the surprisingly neutral beauty look for each woman was customized to their respective skin tones. Two thumbs up for M.A.C., whose treasure trove of backstage products included the Modern Brown Pro Lip Palette:
Using a palette as opposed to one color allowed makeup artists to create the perfect nude match for each beauty. And the inclusiveness doesn’t end there. We need to talk about these nails:
Over 18 designs were created to reflect the designers’ vision of Olympian goddesses emerging from clay and stone. Using Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer and crystals from Preciosa Crystal Components, lead artist Mei Kawajiri made sure each model’s nude base coat was according to their skin tone. From there, the nails were embellished with chrome or metallic detailing, making this a truly one-of-a-kind moment for each model.
I look forward to the day when moments like these are normal, but until then, we’ll continue to champion those who do inclusive beauty the right way. Shop every shade from The Blonds’ SS17 show below:
Morgan Taylor Lacquer in Spellbound, $9, loxabeauty.com
Morgan Taylor Lacquer in Latte Please, $9, loxabeauty.com
Morgan Taylor Lacquer in Pumps or Cowboy Boots, $9, loxabeauty.com
Morgan Taylor Lacquer in Could Have Foiled Me, $9, loxabeauty.com
Morgan Taylor Lacquer in Chain Reaction, $9, loxabeauty.com
Morgan Taylor Lacquer in Metaling Around, $9, loxabeauty.com