Christian Wijnants presents youthful yet futuristic sparkle looks in Paris…
Fashion designer Christian Wijnants presented his Autumn/Winter 2017/18 ready-to-wear collection on March 3 at Paris Fashion Week. The event took place at the chic L’Imprimerie, not far from the fashionable Marais. We were on the scene backstage, getting an up close look at the MAC Cosmetics beauty looks and talking with makeup artist Inge Grognard on her thoughts about the collection and her ‘sparkle’ look she’d created.
The collection itself projected a youthful, colorful, and travel-inspired personality that meshed beautifully with the sparkle/freckle concept Grognard employed. Grognard, who confesses to have a terrible memory for product names, directed us to her assistants for the scoop on the key products. When asked, the assistants were able to tell us that the artist’s favorites, and those used that day, include Studio Finish concealer, Mixing Medium Shine, Haute & Naughty brown mascara, and clear brow set.
Can you talk about your inspiration for today’s look?
Inge Grognard: My inspiration is the collection, of course. And I got one word from Christian just before I came to Paris, and it was the word ‘sparkle’. I said I don’t want to put the normal glitter or whatever, I don’t want to have it like Carnaval. And I was thinking about replacing a kind of freckle thing going on in the face, and I choose those kind of holographic little, what is it? It looks like confetti, but it’s not. They’re not really stickers. It sticks to the face when it’s greasy. You know just to replace a little bit a kind of freckle thing going on, but with a kind of shine. And all the rest was very beautiful skin, a hint of mascara on top of the upper lids, not totally, just only like the tops, brushed eyebrows, and that’s it.
What are the favorite products you’re using today?
Grognard: Oh for favorite product you have to ask the assistants. Because we have beautiful foundations, creams, whatever. But you have to ask them because I’m very bad at names. But for me the preparation of the skin is most important. So everything that’s necessary to make beautiful skin is that’s clean is cleansing, hydrating, it starts all there.
How do you feel the sparkle theme ties with the collection?
Grognard: The collection is full of color. There’s something really youthful about it, which generally doesn’t like a lot of makeup. I do it already for years, so I know he loves a little twist, so that’s the thing. And the word sparkle. There are quite sparkly things going on, but not the whole time. It’s not overwhelming. It’s not like this is going to take so much attention. And it depends how they turn their face, when it catches the light.
