A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Lupita Nyong’o’s Dolce Gabbana Alta Moda Beauty
Dolce Gabbana s annual Alta Moda show centers on visual extravagance—and for its tenth year, the runway was but one aspect of a four-day celebration in Sicily that featured sumptuous looks and locales at every turn. Fortunately, Lupita Nyong o and her team were more than up to the aesthetic challenge, delivering three breathtaking beauty looks inspired by the actor s decadent haute couture gowns.
“When I first saw all of those Dolce Gabbana Alta Moda custom gowns specifically made for Lupita—they’re like waking pieces of art on her,” says makeup artist Nick Barose, who joined Nyong o, stylist Micaela Erlanger, and hair stylist Vernon François for the Sicilian celebration. “The designers are known for creating the perfect grand entrance gowns, so I wanted the makeup to be just as dramatic.” This translated to three jaw-dropping beauty moments that stood entirely on their own, the trio featuring a couple of common threads to maintain an overarching vibe.
“We did different versions of the same eyes but all with different tones for each outfit,” says Barose, who played off of the concept of stage makeup to create a series of graphic and winged liner looks, each achieved with Lancôme Idole Liquid Eyeliner and swipes of Lash Idole Mascara. “I wanted the eyes to be super theatrical as well—but still wearable.” For the lips—"the jewel of the looks," according to Barose—the makeup artist created custom colors by layering and mixing lipstick and using eyeliner as lip liner to achieve unique and memorable hues. “For the look with black lips, we layered one of our favorite dark colors, L’Absolu Rouge Drama Matte Lipstick in Mademoiselle Isabella, with black eyeliner pencil.” A berried pout was crafted with the help of Lancôme Drama Liqui-Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner in Purple Cabaret—again, as lip liner—while the final look centered on bronze and sienna tones.
Together, the resulting creations were a true study in the art of beauty. Here, a look at how Nyong o readied for Dolce Gabbana s Alta Moda extravaganza.
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Photo: Courtesy of Nick Barose1/13I like to start with sketches so I remember my plans, but I will usually let it evolve because the magic will always happen last minute once hair is done and the jewels are on.
Photo: Courtesy of Nick Barose2/13The focus is definitely the dramatic Idole Liner and Lash Idole mascara to create the graphic, winged-out eyes and the echoing outer crease, inspired by theater and opera diva makeup.
