Lately I’ve been quite fascinated with make-up in a theatrical sense. I’ve had these lookbooks by Illamasqua for a while, and i just love the themes and details they put into it, not just the art direction but the print details like gold foil stamping and die-cuts mixed with high gloss pages, really give these lookbooks a wonderful tangibleness.
The amazing make-up behind Illamasqua’s campaigns are of course done by Alex Box, who is just crazy talented. Box has also created looks for some of my favourite designers (Alexander McQueen and Gareth Pugh). Here are just some of my favourite creations by her:
The appeal of make-up to me has always been about ‘playing dress-up’ as opposed to glamour, and Illamasqua’s philosophy perfectly caters to my fascination of exploring my alter ego. to put it in their own words,
llamasqua is the product of a heady mix of influences. Its roots stem from the dark and illicit 1920s club scene, and combine a rich heritage in the manufacture of make-up for film and theatre. It also takes inspiration from members of the ‘alternative scenes’ for whom self-expression is paramount. Alternative cultures have always dared to be dramatic. They have an emotional attachment to making up. It’s an expression of their darker side, a release for their alter ego.
Illamasqua is for the bolder person hiding inside all of us. It is an act and an attitude. A symbol of tolerance. A celebration of idiosyncrasies. A confident statement of self-ownership.
Alternative make-up sure has come a long way from the days when I could only buy black lipstick from the 2 dollar store!
♥ BC
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