There are some moments during NYFW that stay with you from season to season, regardless of how many different shows you see. I remember my first Betsey Johnson show, where the designer and Pat Field danced together at the end of the runway. I remember standing in the upper balcony of the Hammerstein Ballroom and watching in awe as G-Star sent models down not one, not two, but three runways simultaneously. It was a feast for the eyes!

Of course I will never forget Diego Binetti's Spring/Summer 2011 presentation, due in large part to the astonishingly beautiful "cocktail ring nails" that CND's co-founder Jan Arnold and team created for the show. Under the direction of lead nail artist Roxanne Valinoti, the team created unique nails for every model, based on vintage jewelry pieces. When Jan Arnold visited Binetti's studio four weeks prior to the presentation, the collection was already completed. From this meeting, Arnold was able to take away fabric swatches and return to her team of nail artists with a challenge: each of them were tasked with creating unique pieces of art, with the best pieces being included in the show. As a result, the team returned with one of a kind statement nails, each more exquisite than the last. Most viewing the presentation didn't even realize that the "jewelry" was actually a part of the nail!

In addition to the cocktail nails, Roxanne Valinoti created a nude shimmering nail on the rest of the model's fingers to accent the jeweled nails, using Perfectly Bare Shimmer from CND's Spring Colour & Effect Duo (available March 2011).

The makeup, created by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' David Klasfeld, was designed to enhance the model's natural beauty with natural (yet flawless) skin, a soft brown eye, sculpted cheek, and a balmy lip.

The hair, created by Cutler, was the finishing touch the models needed to be turned into full-blown princesses. Cutler's team of stylists performed another beauty miracle backstage at Binetti (it was a miraculous Saturday) - nearly every model featured in the presentation received extensions to polish her goddess-like look.

The energy backstage was electric - everyone seemed to realize that they were taking part in something magical, and I'm very lucky to have witnessed it.

Photos by Lesley Forrester

Style IT's Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week coverage is proudly sponsored by Torrid:

The runway looks for Edition Georges Chakra were super sexy and vibrant, so the hair and makeup looks had to be compliment the designs without overpowering. Makeup teams from MAC Pro, lead by Terry Barber, and hair teams from Cutler Salon, lead by Leon Gorman, created the looks.

The makeup was inspired by an "accidental Pirelli calendar girl". To achieve this look, key makeup artist Terry Barber used the following products:

Face

Studio Sculpt Foundation

Cheeks

Improper Copper, Tint, and Midtone Sepia Cream Color Bases

Eyes

Mix of Midtone Sepia and Tint Cream Color Bases

Retrospeck eyeshadow on the lid

Caviar Dreams eyeshadow in the crease

"loads of mascara"

Lips

So Vain and Super Kissable Lip Color (new for Spring 2011)

Leon Gorman wanted to create a hairstyle that was very cool, with a bit of an edge, yet sophisticated. Inspired by Helmut Newton, using a bit of Redken Strong Hold Gel to create a sexy look. The gel was applied in sections, then combed through the front. A loose braid was created, leaving the style very loose in the back. To finish the look, he used Redken Forceful 23 hairspray.

Style IT's Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week coverage is proudly sponsored by Torrid:

Key makeup artist Sil Bruinsma for MAC created a strong 70s look for the Rebecca Taylor show. The interpretation was not too literal by going "easy on the foundation" and keeping the focus on the eyes and lips.  The skin was matte and perfected with Studio Sculpt foundation.  Eyes were done in a bronzy smoky look that began with framing the eyes with a waterproof pencil in Stubborn Brown and layering Soft Brown shadow on top of the pencil on the lower lash line.  Contructivist paintpot was applied on the lids with a Mega Metal Eye Shadow that was mixed with the water based Mixing Medium for "ultimate intensity" applied on top of the cream and up to the brow bone.  The water line was lined with Coffee Eye Pencil. There was little emphasis on the brows; Sil went for a bleached look on models with lighter brows and slightly defined the brows of models with stronger brows. Mascara was only applied to the top lashes to keep the models in line with the vision of a "smart sexy 70s girl. A bit of an Yves Saint Laurent woman." Lips were prepped with lip balm and Charred Red lipstick was tapped onto the lips at the end for a soft look.

Products used:

Face:

Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation

Eyes:

Bountiful Brown Powerpoint Eye Pencil

Stubborn Brown Powerpoint Eye Pencil

Coffee Eye Pencil

Constructivist Paint Pot

Mega Metal Eye Shadow

Mixing Medium Water Base

Brown Script Eye Shadow

Mascara X

Lips:

Charred Red Lipstick

Key hair stylist Dai Michishita for CUTLER reflected the 70s theme with a matted top knot. The hair was heavily back combed with very little product. The finished looked was very voluminous and matte with a few pieces falling out of the sides.

OPI nail technician Teresa Stanley filled me on the 70s style nails done for the show.  A brick brown was applied on the fingernails and a flesh toned nude color  that flatters every skin tone was applied on the toes.

Products used:

Hands:

OPI I'm Suzy & I'm A Chocoholic Nail Lacquer

Feet:

OPI Barefoot in Barcelona

Style IT's Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week coverage is proudly sponsored by Torrid:

As the opening show to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, the energy in the room prior to the start of the Nicholas K show as electric. Everyone still had smiles on their faces, heels on their feet, and well wishes for the collection they were about to see. Nicholas K is designed by siblings Nicholas and Christopher Kunz and features pieces for both men & women. For Spring 2011, the pieces had a wonderful mix of casual and chic, with knitwear, plaids, softened greys, and lots of hoods. Ideally, this collection would be worn by a downtown professional on the weekend, keeping the downtown cool but modernizing the look for their new lifestyle. The collection was styled with shoes by Vintage Shoe Company, sunglasses by Ray-Ban, and hats by Parkhurst.

For the nails, Dashing Diva's Pattie Yankee worked with the Nicholas K team to select several polishes to complement the looks. The team chose Concrete Playground, Astor Place, and Tibi Couture to enhance the earthy shades of the collection.

For the hair, Rodney Cutler of Cutler Salon used a combination of Cutler Volumizing Spray and Redken QuickDry 18 to create the relaxed, effortless style.

For the makeup, Lyne Desnoyers used MAC Cosmetics to create a play on textures, but skin that still felt ready to wear. To achieve the look, Lyne used:

Skin

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

Eyes

Pro sculpting cream in Bark

Velvery Moss or Florishing shadow

Coffee eye liner smudged on top & inner rim

Brows

Strong/defined

Cheeks

Contoured with Pro sculpting cream in Bark

Matte Bronze bronzing powder

Lips

Lip Erase in Dim

Style IT's Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week coverage is proudly sponsored by Torrid: