NEW YORK _ You can learn a lot about a designer's vision from what unfolds behind the scenes at a fashion show.
At New York Fashion Week, several designers opted for beauty looks that celebrate diversity and individuality _ a message that's resonated this season.
Before the Mara Hoffman show, models received manicures from the Zoya nail polish collection in one of a dozen colors ranging from earthy hues to a vampy red.
"It was never about matching color with clothing. It was matching color with what that woman represents," said lead nail technician Naomi Gonzalez-Longstaff, who collaborated with Hoffman to select a shade for each model.
For the show at Shop Studios on Manhattan's far West Side, Hoffman also worked with Milk Makeup co-founder/creative director Georgie Greville to create two makeup looks for the runway: one with a brown lip, matte bronzer and highlighter and another with a maroon lip to complement skin tones. Among those featured at the event were the founders of the Women's March on Washington: Linda Sarsour, Tamika Mallory, Bob Bland and Carmen Perez, who delivered remarks to open the show.
A similar sentiment was behind hairstyles in the Proenza Schouler show at Skylight Clarkson Sq in lower Manhattan. Unfussy straight and curly looks with strong center parts embraced models' natural hair texture and personalities.
"There's something grounded about everyone's hairstyle," lead hairstylist Holli Smith said Monday before the show. "We're really trying to use what they come in with."
Others were even more overt when it came to empowering their models. Backstage at Chromat, a swim and athleticwear brand, bold signs dressed up the walls: "You are now a #Chromatbabe/Walk fast powerful strong/Women taking over the world!"
