Pink Goes Punk @ the Met Ball 2013 & Manis are the new Tattoos

By Laura Medina

Yes, Spring blooms roses...feminine, girly soft rosy pink.  Not always so, this recent PUNK: Chaos to Couture The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Ball 2013 proved that when wimpy pink is amped up to fuchsia, pink becomes fierce and subversive, http://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-museum/press-room/exhibitions/2012/punk-chaos-to-couture.

Punk has always been about turning something on its head because it was a survival mechanism during Great Britain's and New York's economic recession, taking hand-me-downs, thrift, casted-off vintage, and plain old garbage (hello, the easy Halloween stand-by of the garbage bag dress) into something stylishly viable, as in taking a two sizes too small tailored blazer, rip it apart at the shoulder seams then pinning it with safety pins to reconstruct it together which morphed into an ultra-sexy, couture-sly safety pin Versace gown that made Elizabeth Hurley's career.

The truth be told, the overall fashion at the Punk-themed gala was a general sense of disappointment, the gowns were prim and properly conservative.  Ah, remember punk is subversive and great fashion and style is all in the details.

The details did come do to the subversive but accessible makeup and manicures.  Again, Nars was on point when it comes to trends.  Looking at the current Spring 2013 Nars Collection campaign, Stella Tennant was modeling fierce swipe of fuchsia on the eyelids, sculptured cheeks, and lips. 

Again, punk was and is all about making do with what you have on hand.  

Celebrity makeup artist Jenn Streicher used Nars lipstick and blush on Emily Blunts' eyelids as eye shadow...

“It was Emily’s idea to do pink!” said Jenn Streicher about the look she created for Emily Blunt. “Her dress was black so we decided to bring out the theme of the gala by playing up her hair and makeup. This was pretty daring – we wanted it to be punk yet glamorous."

She used Jardin des Plantes Satin Lip Pencil (used on eyes) | Desire Powder Blush (used on eyes)| Biscayne Park Satin Lip Pencil

 

The punky pink parade continued with Sarah Jessica Parker (oh, thank god she wore a mohawk Philip Treacy headdress. Someone made the effort).

Leslie Lopez for NARS Cosmetics, “I had to make the punk look glamorous,” said Leslie Lopez about the look she created for Sarah Jessica Parker. To create strong eyes, we used a plum pencil that is both intense but beautiful. No matter what the theme, I always want Sarah Jessica to look beautiful, so we softened the intensity of the eyes with a light mouth – Tender Night Velvet Matte Lip Pencil was the perfect, modern, approach!"

 Leslie used the new upcoming Nars Summer 2013 Collection to punk up SJP, Calabria Soft Touch Shadow Pencil | Gaiety Blush | Tender Night Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (New for Summer 2013)

In the real days of punk, if you don't have bright blush or lipstick, you have to make do with black or purple eyeliner as blush and lipstick or purple eyeliner as lipstick and blush.  From this switchblade approach come the color that Chanel made iconic, Vamp.

The Met Gala proved that punk has grown with the technology.  

Uzo, NARS International Lead Makeup Stylist,..
 
"Stella was the inspiration behind her own look – you can just understand why she's a model," said Uzo about the look she created for Stella Tennant. "With such ornate tailoring from Christopher Kane, and really exquisite earrings, we needed to keep the look clean. It's all about healthy luminous skin with a simple statement on the eyes and a next-to-nothing lip. It's balanced, and stunning, like Stella."

 Uzo swiped Coconut Grove Single Eyeshadow to full out and deepen the brows, bolden the eyes with Black Valley Eye Paint (NEW for Fall 2013; for now try Via Veneto Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner) then keep the lips pale with Isola Bella Satin Lip Pencil.

NARS’ Director of Global Artistry James Boehmer darken the look but made vampy shade cinnamon for the redheaded stunner, Karen Elsom...

"The Julien Macdonald dress that Karen is wearing is so incredible on its own- I didn't think the makeup should be a distraction or too literally "punk," said NARS Director of Global Artistry James Boehmer on the look he created for Karen Elson. “The bonus is that she is wearing a septum ring- a nod to the punk era, so we chose a look that's quite healthy and radiant, with a defined eye and a grape-stained lip."

 For the graped-stained lips, James used this scribe's favorite eyeshadow/cheek/lipstick Train Bleu Velvet Matte Lip Pencil then kept the skin healthy with Radiant Cream Compact Foundation (NEW for Fall 2013; For now try Sheer Glow Foundation) and rimmed the eyes with Iskandar and Black Valley Eye Paints (NEW for Fall 2013; For now try Campo de Fiori Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner and Carpates Eyeliner Stylo)

Punk is also about using fashion to shock as a political point.  In flesh-toned makeup, Nars added a jolt of blue for both Solange Knowles and Blake Lively.

For Solange, Benjamin Puckey, "I really focused on a strong eye with punk influences for Solange’s look. The smoky eye gave an edge to the whole look, which is very much what she’s into right now – a smoky eye with lots of lash. We felt it complemented the dress so well because of the black and blue print and chose a nude lip to keep the focus on the eye."

For the blue & brown look, he used Ubangi Eye Paint (NEW for Fall 2013: Available September 1; for now try Dark Rite Soft Touch Shadow Pencil) | Brumes Duo Eyeshadow Het Loo Satin Lip Pencil

For doing the blue & brown look on Blake Lively, Elaine Offers, “It starts with Blake’s signature approach: luminous beautiful skin,” said Elaine Offers about the look she created for Blake Lively. “We created a serious eye shape as a nod to the punk theme by building on a smoky eye and winging it outward. With the diaphanous layers of her skirt and a light lip, it comes together as being both glamorous and edgy.”

She used Mesopotamia Eye Paint (NEW for Fall 2013; for now try Bali Single Eyeshadow) | Ubangi Eye Paint (NEW for Fall 2013; for now try Dark Rite Soft Touch Shadow Pencil) | Black Valley Eye Paint (NEW for Fall 2013; for now try Via Veneto Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner) | Floralies Satin Lip Pencil

 

Pun intended, punk makeup and accessories are all about clashing, making do with imperfections. 

Erin Ayanian clashed acid mint green against fleshy-mauve and taupe... “It was important for us to create something in harmony with the Rodarte looks that Elle and Dakota were wearing,” said Erin Ayanian about the makeup look she created for the Fanning sisters. “Dakota's look is softer, but Elle's is more tribal. We referenced the 80s film, Ladies And Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains.”

Key NARS products used on Dakota Fanning:

 Via Veneto Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner | Barrow Street Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner (NEW for Summer 2013!) | Penny Lane Cream Blush | Nico Highlighting Blush

Key NARS products used on Elle Fanning for that full-on winged tipped eyes:

 Soloman Islands Eye Paint (NEW for Fall 2013; for now try the vivid cyan blue side of Mad Mad World Duo Eyeshadow) | Jungle Red Lip Liner (used on eyes) | Isola Bella Satin Lip Pencil

If Punk was and is all about shock value by twisting the establishment and sneaking in something daring then using today's high tech nail art or "nail tattoo" is the way to do, as proved by the couture-chiced ladies. 

Thanks to varnish technology, manicures aren't girly anymore.  Even men have sneaked on board for the "nail tattoo" with macho graphics and colors.  What's even greater, these intricate, macho nail designs are on nail polish stickers that anyone can do.  Remember, punk is all about going "rogue."

The color Vamp rules.  Whether it's blood-red French Manicure tipped with cream swipes or just plain black-red/violet, Vamp was the foundation color for the Met 2013 Gala.

Nicole Richie

1. File your nails into desire shape.
2. Apply Base coat, and then apply  2 coats of burgundy polish on your nails.

3. Swipe the polish brush to draw like the shape of heart. (Make them into heart shape)
4. Apply 2 coats of gold glitter polish on the rest to the origin of the nail.
5. Apply top coat for shine!

 

 Julianne Hough

1. File your nails into desire shape.
2. Apply Base coat, and then apply  2 coat of black  polish on your nails

3. Apply 1 coat of silver lame glitter polish on the middle finger's nail.
4. Apply 2 coats of gold glitter polish on the rest to the origin of the nail.
5. Drop the loose silver glitter onto the third finger's nail while the polish is wet. 

6. Apply top coat.

 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

1. File your nails into desire shape.
2. Apply Base coat, and then apply  2 coat of purple polish on your entire nails.
3. With a precision brush, swipe the gold glitter polish from the middle of the nail to the edge. 

4. Apply top coat.

 

Ladylike can be punk too, as proven when Rachel Roy designed this studded black leather dress for Stacy Keibler.

 Want to go upscale haute couture punk but still on a punk budget?

Sear has these Chinese Laundry pumps and glittering clutches for your own ball.

Now, you have the guide for the Nouveau Punk this year.  Unfortunately, punk has grown-up.