Behind the scenes - getting makeup done.
I got a phone called from Rea McNamara who wanted me to be part of her monthly fashion column for Toronto’s Eye Weekly called Inspiration Point. The print version is available now, grab it (8/6/09 – 8/12/09). I’ve got some I want – I got exclusive outtakes from the Inspiration Point photoshoot to share with you all.
The concept: Wanted to not only celebrate Grace Jones’ iconic style but also her impact as a transgressive performance artist who challenged racial and gender stereotypes by interrogating preconceived notions ’round the black body. Similar to Josephine Baker, Jones flipped the ‘Black Venus’ script by fucking with ‘primitivist’ ideas (ie. dark black female as animalistic, ‘jungle’ etc) in very much a postmodern context (by doing it herself, it became about empowerment). While I think it’s GREAT that Jones was this big F/W 09 influence, her talent as a performer seems to be ignored. Stuff that I wanted include but couldn’t: her mom was a seamstress that did handmade Givenchy patterns for Grace, her 1970s Paris modelling career (she and Jessica Lange and Jerry Hall were roommates when they strarted out) and her tendency to sometimes nog interviewers open-mouth.
I couldn’t say no to channeling Grace so I got my haircut at Mike’s Scissors (976 Bloor St W.) by Merv, my brother’s barber. I was having a lot of anxiety about it because he wasn’t my usual guy. Cecil is an incredible barber but he’s out by Downsview way and he’s popular. However, Merv did a great job and I provided him with pictures of my usual cut.
Final shot used in Eye Weekly
The makeup experience was interesting. I was exposed to the new generation of High Definition makeup from Kett. I found it a little strange that the day before I was checking out the story Hi-Def Makeup on style.com. Roxanne airbrushed my foundation on pretty heavily. Yes, that’s right, I said airbrush. Kett Hydro Foundation is applied like a graffiti artist, it’s pretty cool. She made me a number of shades darker. You can see the difference in skin colour in the last shot with the Pink Cobra vest on. It was pretty dramatic. The shot above is the one that was included in the print version.
Wearing Jeremy Scott x Originals Jacket from Adidas
The false eyelashes where another strange experience. I was a fake lash virgin until this point. They felt really heavy at first, but then the glue dried and they were pretty light. For the next big event I go to I’m going to have to hit up the Shu Uemura counter at Holts. The price of lashes include free application.
Wearing The Pink Cobra F/W 09 Vest (avail. Sept) from Carte Blanche
With this picture we tried to recreate the Slave to The Rhythm album cover. Since I’m not a smoker I couldn’t get it to dangle correctly. And of course, here is the video
Inspiration Point Crew - Roxanne, Rea, Anita and behind the lens Alyssa
Credits: Make-Up Roxanne DeNobrega – twitter, Photography Alyssa Katherine Faoro, Writer+Direction+Styling Rea McNamara –twitter
If you’re in the mood for Grace inspired fun check out Bang The Party. It takes place every second Sat of the month at The Boat with DJs Todd-Rodd Skimmins and Andy Capp (Gang of Two).
Look for another editorial featuring Rea, Roxanne and Alyssa in the upcoming Fall Winter issue of Worn Fashion Journal. Alyssa and Rea collaborate on Century 66, a storytelling project exploring the closeted history of Toronto fashion.
One more video, Pull Up to My Bumper
All Hail Grace Jones!!!