Victorian-inspired hair and makeup

At Montreal Fashion Week, the distinguished, Victorian-inspired hair and makeup for the Abol show was strikingly different from any of the other shows we saw. Learn how to get the look here.

The hairstyle is a bit over the top, and the makeup is not quite an easy, every-day look you’ll want to copy exactly; but there are always ways to incorporate new elements and learn new techniques to add refinement and polish to your style.

The makeup

The designer asked for a luxurious and mysterious aesthetic with a Victorian feel for the makeup, so Amélie Ducharme, Cover Girl Makeup Pro, started by making the skin paler. She did this by applying Simply Ageless foundation two shades lighter than the model’s skin (the two she ended up using most often were shades 260 and 265).

For the eyes, Ducharme wanted to keep the shape round, so Cover Girl Smokey Shadow Blast was applied in a soft, round shape. Some models sported the copper shade, while others had purple. Over the Smokey Shadow Blast, eyeshadow was applied (in Golden Sunset 445 on the bronze Smokey Shadow Blast, and in 455 Purple Pop on the copper eye makeup). The bottom lash line was emphasized with Cover Girl Liquiline Blast in black, while the upper lash line was lined with Line Exact (a liquid liner — used for a more defined line here). Finally, Cover Girl 24 Hours Lash Blast mascara was applied on upper and lower lashes.

Brows and lips were subtly washed out with Cover Girl Simply Ageless concealer, and to the middle of the lips, a bit of shimmer was applied using Intense Shadow Blast in beige.

The hair

For the hair, the idea is for it to look very theatrical, says Denis Binet, Pantene Consulting Stylist. Pantene Classic mousse for medium-thick hair was worked through the hair, which was teased and sprayed with Sebastian Re-Shaper. Then, gathering large sections on each side, the stylist swept the hair up and pinned into place with wide bobby pins (much easier to do given the heavy teasing the hair had been given), with the back surface of the hair kept flat, so as to create an overall heart shape. The look varied slightly from model to model, depending on their hair length, haircut and texture.

More beauty tips

Montreal Fashion Week: The look at Melissa Nepton
Hair and makeup with an Old-Hollywood twist
Get that chic, Parisian look