PRETE & BRUNO f/w 2012-backstage

By: Alexis Schroeder
Images by: Rebekah Schott

Prete and Bruno, two fabulously Italian designers knew exactly how to bring the 50’s and 60’s up to date with a touch of modern femininity. Inspiration was drawn from classic iconic figures during this time with a stylish twist.

Vince Smith of Vince Smith Hair Experience did the hair and make-up for the show. “We’re borrowing from Grace Kelly, but it’s not going to be quite so finished.” A high chignon with a swooping bang created the look. Not many products or tools were used except T3 curling irons and Redken Hot Set 22 Thermal Setting Mist. To add a little shine to polish off the look, Mr. Smith smoothed the hair with Moroccan Oil.

First, he took a chunk of the front out, while brushing the majority of the hair into a ponytail on top of the head. “You want it to be as smooth as possible, so make sure you keep brushing the hair into a high ponytail,” explained Mr. Smith. He then sectioned the ponytail into two parts and loosely curled each section with a big barreled T3 curling iron after misting the hair with Redken Hot Set 22. After releasing the hair from the curling iron, tease the part closest to the ponytail holder to make sure the chignon stays together. Then, pin, pin, pin! Lastly, concentrating on the front, he again misted and curled the sectioned off hair and swooped it back and around the chignon, tucking in any ends. The look was easy, quick, and superbly glamorous.

As for the make-up, Prete and Bruno expressed the desire for “an ethereal, angelic look but still possessing power,” lead make-up artist Dani Fonseca quoted. This was achieve by airbrushing, giving the skin a very clean look, while most attention was drawn to the eyes. The model’s eyes blinked sexiness in a smoky shadow by Temptu and shimmered with flecks of gold to create drama. To emphasize those peepers even more, a liquid liner by Aqua was used. Lips and cheeks were kept very basic and neutral. Lips were airbrushed, along with the face, and lined very lightly, staying consistent with the matte inspiration.

Manicurist, Leah Pat aimed to elongate the nail suggesting, “the best way to do that is with a thick white strip down the center. Polished with Pure Ice Jaguar, a gold color for the base and stripped with Pure Ice Best Friend, a pearl made for a classically elegant look.

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Long Tran S/S 2013

By: Bronson Johnson
Images by: Frank Rocco

Long Tran may look like a tiny, shy, Asian guy, but he is definitely far from it. Long designs are unlike anything that I’ve ever seen before. A veteran to the fashion world, Long brings innovations and amazing craftsmanship to all of his pieces. Debuting his S/S 2013 collection at The Dimenna Center in New York City, Long made sure to keep the masses entertained and wowed.


He offered a collection that consisted of both menswear and womenswear. He presented dramatic pieces that looked as if they were pulled from an origami book and placed directly on the beautiful, futuristic looking models. The audience was amazed at how intricate and dramatic some of the pieces were. A stand out piece from the show was a men’s blazer, detailed with pyramid origami sleeves, which could make an entrance in any room. From the women’s collection he has a white sequin blazer, sheer sleeves with intricate white trim, paired with a dramatic feather skirt.

We got a chance to speak to Vince Smith who created the hair and makeup looks with Long for the show. The inspiration came from both Smith and Tran agreeing to keep the make-up consistent with the pieces in the show. Smith also stated that he took inspiration from the collection to create the hair for the female models. It was a small team of ten and the process took about 3 hours. This collaboration definitely added that final touch to the show.

Long undeniably has an imagination, and this imagination will garner his place in the fashion industry. With his 3-D couture pieces, I believe he will be in the ranks of Alexander McQueen, and a force to be reckoned with.

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