Thanks to Francois Nars, Marc Jacob's F/W 2009 preview will be remembered for more than just his curious behavior or the fuss in the front row.
Nars went all-out for the show (his first in over a decade), creating a total of 65 punk-inspired looks. “Imagine if you took a blender and filled it with some Stephen Sprouse, a little Saint Laurent and added a few nightclubs from the ’70s and ’80s, like Studio 54, Area and Mudd Club,” he told the NY Times. “You get this wonderful mix, much like Marc mixes it up with the clothes.”
Focusing on an edgy, night clubbing look, strong eyes and bold color were a major theme. Black shadow laid the foundation for creating the dramatic eye, to which the artists added cobalt blues, deep greens, bright purples, reds, fuchsias, and glitter. “There is a wide variety of color,” said Nars, “it’s whatever looks good on the girl.”
Porcelain skin was also a key component to each look, allowing the black eyes and bright colors to pop. To achieve this all-over radiance, NARS used his brand's Loose Powder in Snow, a triple-milled, complexion enhancing base. Also used backstage were two new products from the NARS F/W '09 collection: Sheer Matte Foundation (launching in September) and Larger Than Life Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara (available in October).
Such theatrical looks may not translate directly from the runway to real life, but they're certainly a welcomed change from the standard smoky eye or bold lip seen elsewhere. Bravo, Nars.