Fashion Features

XCVI dazzles with Nordic whimsy at Style Fashion Week LA, makeup sets mood

By April MacIntyre Mar 14, 2012, 23:51 GMT

Last night saw the anticipated XCVI show, the construct of Gita Zeltzer and designer, Lilia Gorodnitski.

For their third season in a row, Style Fashion Week LA brings the best new designers and the cutting edge makeup looks designed by show newcomer Emmy award-winning makeup artist Melanie Mills to downtown LA.

The week kicked off on Sunday night with a VIP opening reception at a private estate in Bel Air. The reception supported the Hollywood Arts, a non-profit organization that supports underprivileged youth through arts-based learning.

Last night saw the anticipated XCVI show, the construct of Gita Zeltzer and designer, Lilia Gorodnitski.

The look was pure Nordic inspired European forests and the makeup, according to Mills, was "woodsey, whimsical and inspired by the feral icy beauty of Scandinavia."

XCVI’s line is designed for a chic active woman who prizes both comfortable and style, in an array of body hugging knits, textures, vests and ponchos to be layered and worn together. XCVI is about luxury, wearability, comfort. The luxury of super-soft, breathable fabrics that drape without clinging, skimming a woman’s curves, flattering her body.

Mills used many products from her own Gleam by Melanie Mills line of cosmetics including Lip Radiance in "Up Against The Wall," "With My Heels On" and "Unstoppable" with her new (not yet available) Eye Radiance in 'Dirty Knees" to create this smoky, whimsical, fairy look that evoked the wild babe vibe the designers requested.

Melanie created a sparkling canvas on the eyes, covered in yellow brown and gold glitter, evoking the designers wish for a real visual of fantasy and mystery, and that the collection was for holiday, fall, and winter sparkle.

"I used Earthy Yellow pigment from Lime Crime, with a mixture of bright neon yellow pigment with a flat gold and gold glitter, says Mills. "I used my up and coming Eye Radiance in 'Dirty Knees' around eyes, and smoked out with a little rusty black shadow plus MAC's Fluidline Blacktrack on the waterline. We finished with a bold red Julie Hewett matte lip Belle Noir with Light Gold Gleam Body Radiance all over in bottom lip on top of the lipstick and also on cheekbones and under the lip too."

As far as the hair, the look was deconstructed, wild and blown out with a round brush, creating voluminous waves. Sexy and unfussy looks to complement the unpretentious but super sharp collection.

The designers will once again be sending models down the runway tonight at the breathtaking Vibiana cathedral at 214 S. Main Street in downtown Los Angeles.

XCVI is a cut-to-order operation, and works with retailers all over the world, including Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and Zappos.com.