To kick off another exciting Fashion Week here in New York, here is a Q&A on my favorite moments, top trends, standout memories, tips for making it through the week and more. Hope you enjoy.

XO,

Bobbi

 

1. New York Fashion Week kicked off yesterday officially. You are a staple at NYFW and have been for so many years. What is it about Fashion Week that keeps you coming back season after season?

I never know what to expect during Fashion Week, and that excites me. I love the unknown and being able to collaborate with amazing designers to discover and create new trends. It’s such a great platform to experiment and get inspired. I also love that it’s a special time to work with and teach my artists.

 

 

2. How many shows is Bobbi Brown Cosmetics leading this season? Are you doing any shows overseas?

The team is doing 20 shows this season, and I am so proud of them. I am leading three shows for designers I am close with, including one in London, which will be my first ever London Fashion Week show. I’m partnering with L’Wren Scott there on her first runway show, and I’m honored and excited to be part of such an important moment for her. Stay tuned for my UK diary…

 

3. Any tips or tricks for making it through the week?

The better I eat, the more energy I have to get through the week. But that is my rule of thumb in general. I also make sure to keep hydrated, keep healthy snacks like KIND Bars or kale chips close by. And, of course, getting enough sleep is key, especially with 6AM call times.

 

 

 

4. What is the #1 tip you give your artists during Fashion Week?

I have more than one. First, be open. Second, move on a dime. Third, be able to think on your feet and act fast. So much of Fashion Week is being able to adapt to change quickly. Lastly, take a step back, and I mean that literally. Step back from the model, and be open to changing something if it is not working and know how to correct it to make it work. I also think it is important for them to just breathe. It always comes together in the end.

 

5. Any designers you have truly loved collaborating with over the years, and why?

Bill Blass and Michael Kors will forever remain two of my all-time favorites. Bill was such a gentleman and always had the best and most iconic New York models in his show. I’ll never forget how much he loved super bright pink lipstick when almost everyone else was using brown lipstick on the runway.

 

 

Michael had Cindy [Crawford], Christy [Turlington], Naomi [Campbell],  Linda [Evangelista] and many others in his show before they were supermodels. The beauty look was always bronzed, healthy, tanned-looking faces—makeup I loved.

 

 

Stella McCartney was amazing to work with because she is so incredibly talented and understands what it takes to make a woman look beautiful. I partnered with her on a resort show that was held outside, so the makeup was a beautiful nude face that looked radiant in natural light.

And years ago I worked with Roland Mouret on his show in New York. He was a visionary and decided that every girl in the show should wear her own nude, the colors that were right for her skin tone, which was so cool and modern.

 

 

Of the shows I work on now, I am always interested to see what Rachel Roy will do, as she is always pushing me to try looks I have never done before. Rachel takes risks, and I admire that in her.

6. Any “behind the curtain” moments that stand out to you from over the years?

I loved being part of the Red Dress Fashion Show in the early days because I got to meet so many great women who were all coming together for an important cause, and I got to do makeup for celebs like Fergie, Sheryl Crow, and even First Lady Barbara Bush. Being backstage in general is so exciting, and I’ve met some of the biggest celebs backstage at shows.

7. Why do you think it is that makeup and hair play so much into the full look that designers are trying to create for their presentations?

I think makeup and hair play one of the biggest roles in creating self-image. Think of how important it is to you to have makeup on and your hair done—it is part of our self-expression and, in a way, defines who we are. The same goes for Fashion Week. Sure, the clothes take center stage, but the makeup and hair help bring the fantasy and vision to life. I don’t think the clothes alone could do that. It all goes together.

 

8. What beauty trend(s) are you predicting for fall?

I think brown smoky eyes will be big for fall, and we will be seeing lots of metallic shadows.

 

9. Favorite part of Fashion Week?

Watching my artists work, seeing the looks they create, and getting their feedback and perspective at the end of it all, which only helps to inspire me.

 

 

10. There are so many trends that come down the runway. What is your advice for women at home who want to translate these looks from runway to real world?

First of all, you don’t want to follow a runway look exactly if it is super outrageous. You need to keep in mind that those looks are created as part of a fashion fantasy, so they don’t work on everyone. Choose the ones that look good and make them more wearable by taking them down a notch. If a model is wearing neon green eyeshadow all over her lid and under the eye, maybe experiment with more of a forest green shadow just on your upper lid. If she is wearing neon pink lipstick, try a brighter pink than you’d normally wear, but one that matches the undertones in your lips. It’s about experimenting without going overboard.

 

Follow Bobbi and her team during Fashion Week on Twitter at @BobbiBrown and @JustBobbiBrown, on Pinterest, and here on the blog, as she and her artists will be tweeting, posting, and pinning from behind the scenes.

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