Fashion

Superhero-Like Black Masks Reign On McQueen Runway

Can I get an "OMFG?" The black lacquer face masks at Alexander McQueen's 2015 Spring/Summer show in Paris were amazingly futuristic and superhero-like. While the glossy, fitted face plates are pretty much runway only and totally impractical in any real life situation other than, say Halloween or cosplay of the fetish sort, that doesn't mean you can't gawk at them to the point that you have to mop up drool. Which, I mean, is pretty much the case with everything the McQueen house does. With Chanel's runway show pushing feminism to the forefront of earlier this week, the S/S 2015 shows in Paris are certainly indicative of the ever-turning tide of fashion.

Celeb makeup artist Pat McGrath, who is probably the most-talked about MUA working in high fashion, was tasked with designing something "strong and lacquered on the face" at the behest of the brand's Sarah Burton, according to Vogue. On paper, the prospect of a McQueen x McGrath collabo such as this is thrilling and has an instant "Lemme see!" factor.

But the execution far exceeded the expectations.

McGrath had created a similar mask for the Italian Vogue and used that as a launching point. The fitted face masks look stiff but they were actually constructed of light plastic that was lacquered to add the shine and a latex effect.

"We wanted these exquisite faces to be coming through from behind the masks," McGrath, who proved her artisanship with these masks, which were affixed to the face with double-sided tape and adhesive, said.

But the masks don't swallow the models' faces. She used shimmering powder on lids and foundation to create a smooth, simple facial canvas. Hair was then folded like a "pastry" with gel and hairspray and pinned in place, according to stylist Guido Palau.

Seriously and unquestionably fabulous. That's all.