The Royal Ontario Museum shook off the biting cold and winter blues through the eclectic S/S ‘19 Toronto Fashion Week and the alternative RE/SET collections shown in mid-February. The magnificence and aura of the ROM transcended through the fresh collections of Hilary MacMillan and NARCES – but what caught my eye was the impeccable makeup application. To get a first-hand look of the season’s beauty looks, I went backstage to meet with Simone Otis, the lead make-up artist for beautyBOUTIQUE by Shoppers Drug Mart, the exclusive make-up and nail sponsor for RE/SET and Toronto Fashion Week.
Simone has over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, having worked with Joe Fresh, Marcelle, BITE Beauty, Balenciaga, Helmut Lang, Marc Jacobs, and showcasing her work in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Fashion and ELLE Canada.
The beauty industry is constantly in flux, and with the rise of the Instagram beauty blogger, the flow of new trends is never ending. According to Simone, the easiest way to diversify your look is through liner experimentation! For the NARCES show, Simone opted for a Sophia Loren inspired linear with Loren’s iconic smoky cut crease. To achieve this clean and sharp cat eye, Simone used Smashbox’s “Always On Liquid Eyeliner” in Black. The resulting elongated eye shape draws the audience’s eyes towards the geometric cohesion of the S/S ’19 NARCES collection.
Want to get even more creative with your liner? One of Simone’s favourite looks this season at TFW was the bold crimson liner and mascara from the Lesley Hampton show. Simone left the skin with a dewy finish and soft contour to put a spotlight on the eyes. She applied Dior’s “On Stage Liquid Eyeliner” in Matte Red along the top and bottom lash lines, and on top of the lashes. She then smudged a defused line along the bottom lash line to create almost a gradient effect.
We are always excited to seeing new beauty innovations, and at the centre of them all, is Simon Otis and her incredible contributions.
xxx
Photo: Renata Kaveh, Simone Otis Archive
