Marcel Ostertag, winner of the DHL Exported Program in collaboration with IMG returned to New York Fashion Week for a second season. This go around he presented his Spring/Summer 2017 collection entitled ‘AIR’. We were on the scenes backstage and got to speak with the German designer, along with his beauty team. Check out our exclusive interviews below.
Marcel Ostertag
- On Inspiration:
The inspiration of my new collection is basically the fourth element, Air. That means the collection is really light and feels light. We used light colors, light rosy tones, and light blues. We used a lot of chiffon and floating materials so the woman looks sensitive and sexy in the clothes without showing too much skin. And as sure as always, I’m using a lot of trench coats because I just love trench coats. It’s one of my best selling products. We gave them a new face and the rest you have to be excited to see in the show.
- On the “Marcel Ostertag Woman”:
My consumer is a woman or a girl who is sophisticated who stand with her life in the light and who has a strongness in her own power. She’s traveling a lot. She’s sometimes lazy and doesn’t want to dress up and just wants to wear a cozy cashmere jumper. But sometimes she wants to dress up and then she’s wearing my cocktail dresses.
- On the design process for this collection:
I started sketching this collection after my last show in February in Germany, Berlin. Then we started doing samples out of the designs and it went out really well. So I was satisfied with all my designs I made. Then we had a fashion presentation at Berlin Fashion Week with the first 30 looks. Then we made 15 more for the audience in New York so they see something new as well. So we are showing now 45 looks and the whole process takes us a half a year. You know we have to draw it, then make the patterns, then you have to cut it, then sew it, then make the fittings. And sometimes for people who just buy the dress they don’t know how much work is in it. That’s why in interviews I tell how it really works. I’m not just drinking champagne and hanging out with models, I have a real job!
Michelle Webb with AOFM Pro (Key Makeup)
- On the makeup inspiration:
The inspiration today is really fermium and beautiful. We kept the skin really dewy with a little bit of a bronze to kept it in spring/summer. We have a nude eye with a lot of massacre and a pop of blue on the waterline, which actually accents Marcel’s clothes. We took if from the blues that he has on the fabrics. It’s really beautiful with a little something extra.
- On Products used to achieve the look:
We’re using Dermalogica skin care so we really focus on the prep for the skin. So cleanse, tone, serum, moisturizer, then, a little bit of eliminator just to keep that kind of glow going through. I think it’s all about the skin prep and then once you’ve done that really beautiful skin prep it’s going to be easy for any kind of foundation or tinted moisturizer to go on top. And we are using tinted moisturizer today the Charlotte Tilbury one and for a little bit more coverage we just go with concealer.
- On 2016 Fall Season makeup trends:
For this fall metallic is in. Everyone is loving gold or silver metallic. A little bit of glitter, obviously the glitter lip Pat McGrath has been doing everywhere, that’s really on trend now. I’m excited about that because I love glitter. So yeah just some sparkle and of course a classic dark lip can work for anyone.
Michael Forrey creative director with Sassoon Salon (Key Hair)
- On the hair inspiration:
The inspiration for the hair is you young, sporty, effortless. SO the idea is we are doing a double part which gives it more of that sporty feel but with a lose texture and effortless aesthetic.
- On Products used to achieve the look:
We are using the Sebastian Shaper Plus to jus sleek the hair back and get a nice shine on it. And then were just adding a little bit of the Sebastian Shaper putty paste just like on the end to create a little bit more texture.
- On 2016 Fall hair trends:
Fall is also all about effortlessness no matter what kind of shape. It’s about embracing your natural texture, going with the funny waves and just going with the look for your individual.
- On teaming up with Ostertag:
Marcel is fantastic. I think he’s really inspiring. He clothes are really beautiful so it was easy for us to come up with the look and work together.
The collection offered chic casual separates including, clean blush pink & powdered blue collar tops, tailored straight-legged slacks, and green & white ribbed varsity-style sweaters. Cutout knits were paired with sheer polka-dot skirts. Just as promised, trench coats galore, in rose pink, emerald green, and black. Also featured were bomber jackets and button blouses in a unique sky and horse printed textile. Standout pieces were the chiffon gowns, our favorite of which was accented with silver metallic lace and seemed to cascade down the runway.