Hotel Bondi

Model Co was a sponsor of the new swimwear label from the old Kitten designer duo. A perfect match really, with the models all being Model-Co-tanned up the night before the show. On the day, they were doused with more tan – a preview of an upcoming Model Co release that’s a bronzing mousse, body shimmer, gradual tanner and anti-cellulite treatment (um, not that these girls needed that particular property) all in one. The makeup director Sam Correy and her team set to work on creating a look that was originally inspired by a 1960s Mia Farrow, but somewhere along the way became more “California Girl meets sexy flapper”, as were Sam’s words.

The California Girl bit: the tan, natch, along with Model Co Glow Summer Bronze powder and Lip Lights in Coral. The flapper part: the batty eyelashes and the arty brows. Sam loaded up the lashes with Model Co Fat Lash, then used a sharp dark pencil to actually etch pretend lashes underneath the eyes, and to then draw a strong line along the top arch of the brow, continuing it down almost to eyeline. While back in the ’20s, the rest of the brows would have been plucked to oblivion, Sam left the rest of the brows thick and natural, save for a light dusting of brow powder. Sounds all a bit extreme, but the point was really that big brows are back.

Lee Mathews

Hair director Barney Martin was particularly excited backstage. Delirium often sets for the key players in during fashion week due to a combination of no sleep, lots of stress and hairspray fumes. But this was more about the actual hairspray itself – namely L’Oréal Elnett. You would have seen Elnett. Perhaps in overseas mags, or perhaps in your past - in the ‘70s or ‘80s, when you watched your mum shroud her big pouffy hair in the stuff. These days Elnett is a cult buy among hair industry insiders, and not just for the fabulous retro packaging, but also for the way it can be evenly applied, and easily brushed out, making it perfect for backstage use.

Anyway, back to the reason Barney was so excited. It’s because Elnett hasn’t been available in Australia for a good ten years, meaning hairdressers have had to lug back suitcases full of it after every holiday. But – ta da – it’s just about to be re-released here. Which was one of the reasons Barney was using so much of it at Lee Matthews show.

To create the dishevelled braided look, Barney and co teased models’ hair all over, hairsprayed it all over, then pulled it back into a low pony, securing it then plaiting it into three chunky and deliberately uneven sections. The few strands of hair that had been left at the front were then tonged and haphazardly pinned up onto the back of the crown, followed by, you guessed it, more hairspray, which kept the falling-apart look from actually falling apart

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