Cubist Makeup Catches On

Continuing yesterday's conversation on how Cubism influences fashion, it's interesting to see how makeup artists translate the trend, too. Using the face as a canvas, experts painted on bold shades, geometric outlines, and interlocking bands of color at recent runway shows. 

To find out if we were onto something major, we contacted Kate Lee, a Chanel makeup artist who takes an artistic approach to maquillage. Here's what she told us: 

"Cubism allows the use of color to break up the face and give focus to each of the different features," she says. "When you contacted me to talk about applying these principles to make up, I immediately thought of the picture Mario Testino shot of Kate Moss close up, beautifully defined with bold strokes of color. I also thought of Tamara De Lempicka and her use of shading to sculpt the features."

The effect is startling and beautiful. While it might not be what you'd wear to the grocery store (or hey, maybe it is), we wondered if you could steal certain elements to incorporate into an everyday look. Kate's thoughts on that:  

"In terms of using these techniques for every day, choosing a bold color in a matte shade and concentrating on one feature would be the most concise method," she says. "Maybe even standing in some good even light and experimenting with neutral shades to sculpt your features. Look at the face as a canvas, and remember that make up washes off, so be inspired and have some fun."

Looks like Cubism might be the new smoky eye, for all the art-beauty lovers out there.

Image credits: Models in makep by fashionising; La Modiste (The Milliner), 1910-11, Gino Severini, Italian © Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / SIAE, Rome