lifestyle MONDAY, MAY 30, 2016 FASHION

Vuitton show draws fashion world to crisis-hit Brazil

Models present creations from the Louis Vuitton ‘Cruise’ 2017 collection at the Contemporary Art Museum (MAC) designed by famed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, on the building’s 20-year anniversary, in Niteroi, Brazil on May 28, 2016. — AFP photos

he elite of the fashion world prene looked like crosses between scramble to respond to an outbreak of flocked to Brazil, defying an out- wetsuits and easy, breezy sundresses, the Zika virus, which has been linked Tbreak of the Zika virus, an eco- and the squishy-soled shoes were to a terrible birth defect in infants. nomic meltdown and the deep politi- equal parts sensible boots and the flip For Vuitton brass, the very act of cal crisis afflicting the country to flops that are Rio resident’s footwear holding the first fashion show by a attend a runway show Saturday by of choice. Filing out of the spaceship- top European brand in Brazil at this revered French label Louis Vuitton. shaped museum in their chic gym troubled time represented an act of Around 500 guests, including A-listers wear, the models looked like fitness- defiance against the onslaught of bad Jaden Smith and Catherine Deneuve crazed aliens determined to help news besetting the country. Designer Anja Rubik and fashion royalty flown in from New humankind shed a few pounds. Nicolas Ghesquiere said the show sent York and Paris, took in Vuitton’s Cruise Outside the heavily guarded museum, a signal to the world ahead of the Aug 2017 collection at a futuristic art onlookers gathered on the balconies 5-21 Olympics, which observers say uses eye shadow museum in Rio de Janeiro’s sister city of neighboring buildings to gawk and could see low tourist turnout due to of Niteroi. cheer wildly at the well-heeled guests, the trifecta of crises. “As the biggest With the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain who also included a cadre of Brazilian brand in the world, I think it’s good to as lip liner shimmering in the background, the women who are among the Vuitton’s give a strong message to people and models strode the catwalk in sporty top customers. say we’re not scared,” he said, after a he 32-year-old - who has fronted cam- looks that channeled the street style of Brazil’s wealthy elite have long makeup artist mopped the tropical paigns for luxury designer brands and this beachfront metropolis and been reputed to be among the perspiration from his brow. CEO Burke TChloe - has admitted she dabs on her favorite harkened to the upcoming Summer world’s most voracious luxury con- went even further. “This was much taupe-coloured eye make-up to accentuate her assets Olympics which will take place here in sumers, but the current recession - the more than a fashion show. It was when she has “forgotten” her lip contouring product. August. For Michael Burke, Vuitton’s worst since the 1930s - has put the about showing our love for this coun- Speaking to Stylist magazine about the cosmetic item chairman and CEO, the collection was brakes on spending of late. The snow- try, out appreciation, about giving she supplements for her lipstick, the blonde beauty pure Brazil. “Brazil is about color, it’s balling political crisis that saw back,” he said, adding the big-budget said: “If I’ve forgotten my lip liner, I use my favorite about positiveness, it’s about the President Dilma Rousseff impeached event had created temporary jobs for taupe powder eye shadow instead. “I put a tiny bit of future, it’s about the body, it’s about a earlier this month has thrust the some 5,000 people. “Is it a humanitari- Burberry’s Eye Color Silk in Almond on a lip brush and strong woman,” he said. South American giant into further an activity? No, I wouldn’t go that far. use it to trace the outside of my lips. It creates a shad- Cutout dresses in color-block neo- instability, even as authorities here But it has a little bit of that.” — AP ow that makes the lips seem a lot fuller.” And Anja believes you don’t “always” need to wear mascara but can give the illusion of longer eyelashes by curling them instead. Speaking previously she said: Gemma new approach to modeling “Less is more: a very heavy base isn’t very modern. “Plus, you don’t always need mascara, just curl your emma Ward wouldn’t “dissuade” because there are a lot of pitfalls. she has become more selective about eyelashes to open up your eyes.” However, Anja - who her daughter from modeling. “I think I would be quite protective her projects since her break. She fronted the Kerastase L’Incroyable Blowdry Visions of GThe 28-year-old Australian but I wouldn’t dissuade her.” The moth- explained: “I take it as it comes and if it Style campaign last year - avoids wearing waterproof model, who has two-year-old daughter er of one - who made her catwalk is going too fast or if I don’t feel like make-up because she struggles to remove it at the Naia with her partner David Letts, has debut in 2003 and was the youngest doing a particular job, I won’t.” And end of the day. She said: “Usually I try to stay away admitted she is “quite protective” over model to feature on American Vogue she refuses to get sucked into the from waterproof products because they’re really diffi- Naia and would have to mentor her magazine at 16 years old - believes she world of social media, which she cult to wash off.” child if she decided to follow in her has learnt a large amount about the believes makes women more con- Meanwhile Anja, who launched her debut fragrance footsteps and grace catwalk shows for industry, which she parallels with com- cerned about their image. She Original by Anya Rubik last year, has revealed she tests designer brands when she grows up. pleting a university degree. She said: “I explained: “In today’s world, with self- perfumes by spraying them directly onto her clothes Speaking to The Australian Daily almost feel like I’ve done a degree in ies and Instagram, you can get sucked rather than on the paper testers to get a better “feel- Telegraph newspaper, the blonde fashion and I can build on that as the into thinking that your image is every- ing” of the scent. She explained: “I like to test new fra- beauty - who returned to modeling years go by. If it is not through model- thing. So I think to cultivate an inner grances on a sweater, rather than those paper sticks. last year and appeared on ’s ing, it can also be through other world is really important because that When you pull a sweater on, you’ll get more of a feel- Spring/Summer 16 runway at Milan avenues because it is an education can shine through too. ing if that scent is for you than smelling it on a little Fashion Week after a seven year hiatus and you learn a lot about the industry, “If you are just looking at the sur- piece of paper. I used this trick when formulating my - said: “I am in a unique position where about creativity, how images are made face you are kind of missing the point, own fragrance.” — Bang Showbiz I can mentor her and tell her what to and advertising.” because beauty can also radiate from expect and also what to look out for Meanwhile Gemma has revealed the inside out.” — Bag Showbiz Gemma Ward