With its focus on balance and longevity, BY:ERA positions skincare as an ongoing dialogue with time, one that values patience, consistency, and clinical intelligence over quick fixes.
office beauty went backstage to pay Sies Marjan's S/S '20 makeup artist, Nami Yoshida, a visit. Read our interview below.
When did you first start experimenting with makeup?
I started when I was at make-up school. I was into humanity, expression and texture, and it brought me towards experimental interest.
At what point did you know you wanted to pursue makeup as a career?
I knew that I wanted to pursue makeup when I joined an agency, but I’m exploring make-up as a tool—not as a career.
What’s your signature look?
I love looking at the closer details.
Explain the vision for the show.
Classic, long-term beauty, but also current beauty. The vision was also minimal and inspired by the 70s and 80s Donna Jordan.
How did you mix your personal style to that of Sies Marjan to decide on specific beauty looks?
I love that they like minimal and pure looks. It was truly beautiful, so I enjoyed working with them.
Describe the show’s beauty looks in three words.
Classical. Current. Minimal.
What’s your favorite aspect of working with Sies Marjan this season?
I love their beautiful collection. The texture and the colors that they created are really special—it goes well with all types of girls. I love the diversity that they incorporate.
Venturing backstage at the show, we paid a visit to office-favorite makeup artist Kanako Takase to briefly chat about the makeup at the show, her personal routine and a few other things.
Read the rest of our chat below.
What is your earliest memory with makeup?
My first memory is from when I was much younger. I was at an annual Japanese festival to celebrate the growth of children. I was so tan, but I had to put on my mother's makeup—my skin looked grey and weird!
What is your personal beauty routine?
My biggest routine is shaving my eyebrows.
If you could only use one beauty product forever, which would it be?
Camellia Oil.
How different, if at all, is doing makeup for runway versus editorial?
I barely put powder on for photoshoots, but I use a lot for shows. A greasy face is not flattering unless it is on purpose.
In what ways did you mix your personal beauty style with that of Area’s?
Even if the look is intense, I still keep the skin very fresh-looking.
What words come to mind when you think about the show's beauty looks?
Neo-Victorian and Freedom.
What’s your favorite aspect of working with Area this season?
Creating the rhinestone face mask!
This project was an exploration into the definition of beauty, and the fact that the word itself implies one thing, but really pays homage to another. McLucas believes that beauty has no exact definition, but can be multi-faceted and kaleidoscopic. In this shoot, she and Antonio experimented with textures and vivid colors, wanting to create something unconventional and exotic. In the words of the photographer herself, “we wanted to evoke someone’s fantasies and dreams by creating seduction and desire, which is what glamour really is by definition.”
