“It’s Marc’s idea of street life,” said Redken hairstylist Guido Palau backstage last week at Marc Jacobs Spring Summer 2020 and makeup artists Pat McGrath added: “It’s street style in the most maximal way!”
These quotes inspired me to approach Xiang Yue Chuan, a street portraitist near Times Square, to paint the best beauty looks from the show.
I need to note I didn’t receive these quotes directly.
Before I start raving about the makeup and hair – I’d like to share my backstage story.
Working for one of the very few European beauty magazines, being backstage at Marc Jacobs is one of the most inspiring and meaningful events to me personally. And most likely for our readers and followers as well.
The truth is, I never get invited to Marc Jacobs shows directly from the designer, neither backstage nor to the defilée. Being so passionate (and feeling like a beauty journalist), I start approaching PR of the beauty sponsors weeks before in order to catch a spot backstage and watch the artists do their magic. Many seasons, I got a confirmation the night before.
This time, the confirmation reached me two hours before my approved backstage slot on a Thursday morning. Half of my scheduled time was over by the time I noticed the email, but I immediately replied: “I’m on my way!”. From Brooklyn to Uptown, almost an hour ride.
I arrived three minutes after my slot was due. The girl at the backstage door refused to let me in. She didn’t even bother to look for my name on the list. It’s been still 3 hours until the show would begin. I kept my cool, I was late indeed.
All I wanted was to spread the creative vision of the amazing hair and makeup people, celebrating beauty with my unique backstage shots, artists interviews – highlighting the people that create inspiration for so many. And me.
And by doing that, promoting sponsors and designers too – since they make this spectacle possible.
I got myself five satisfying minutes of bitterness, then my enthusiasm came back.
I awaited the show digitally and was impressed by the colorful makeup and glam hair, which got me excited to write about.
But since I had no photos from backstage – I had to find a solution.
And just like Marc, I found it in the streets.
The motivated street caricaturist Xiang Yue Chuan agreed to go through all those beautiful photos by people who were five minutes there before me – and painted three of the most iconic beauty looks. His style captured the joyful vibe of Jacobs’ show perfectly – and maybe much better than any photo – with an intuitive reflection of its variety charm.
