As a native New Yorker, it’s always surprising when I arrive at Bryant Park and see tourists lined up outside the tents for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City. When I got backstage with Romero Jennings, MAC‘s Key Stylist for the Ports 1961 show, I was a tourist, viewing new and exciting landscape. My heart beat with excitement, and when I got face to face with Romero, I asked “What was the inspiration for this season’s runway look?”

The inspiration for the designer was Japan and 1930s couture, and the clothes in the line are constructed, feminine and beautiful. With watercolors and textures, the look is undeniably Spring.

For the show, MAC created a look with dramatic red eyes and a nude lip to go with the constructed feel and the inspiration from Japan. Romero was so patient and gracious, showing me all the colors they were using – including some new colors that don’t even have names yet! On the eyes was a creme shadow in a red, also using Pigments in a shade that Romero Jennings decided was a “metallic salmon,” which fit it perfectly. To finish the eye look, the inner bottom lids are lined in white and dark brown mascara went on the lashes. For the nude lip, MAC artists used a combination of Blankety and Myth.

For the show, the red was high-impact on the eyes, but as explained, you can do this look at home for a night out. With less intensity, you can use red shades on the eyes. Check out MAC’s Eye Shadow in Passionate if you’re ready to take red head-on. I the red look on me with more of a reddish plum shade, like Cranberry. It goes nicely with my skin tone. Try this look with a brown-black smoky liner (Eye Kohl in Teddy and Technakohl Liner in Photogauvre are two of my favorites) and dramatic lashes. Use a neutral highlighting color for the inner corners and your brow bone, and avoid using a blush that clashes with the reds on your eyes. MAC Eye Kohl comes in a great white shade called Fascinating, and you can use that for your inner lower lids.

Thanks to MAC and Romero Jennings for the backstage time and letting us get a glimpse of this runway look!

Photos: Paul Baranda / Beyond Beauty Basics