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subscribe to beauty blog via RSSThe Citizens Band Finds Beauty In The Recession
October 23, 2009 2:03 pm
The Citizens Band’s performances have come to represent more than just an opportunity to see well-choreographed political satire in cabaret form. The singing, dancing, and acrobatic extravaganza that stars a rotating cast of a few of our favorite fashion and Hollywood notables has become something of a beauty showcase as well. Backstage, James Boehmer, international lead stylist for NARS Cosmetics, is frequently charged with crafting dramatic makeup schemes to help further the plot line of each show. For “The Debt Rattle”, the Citizens’ eighth original show, which premiered last night at the Henry Street Settlement and runs through Saturday, Boehmer transformed the likes of Sarah Sophie Flicker, Karen Elson, and Zoë Kravitz into Depression-era ragamuffins who have taken shelter from the economic storm in an auditorium promising food, warmth, and prize money if they can best their competitors. To translate all of that into cosmetic form, Boehmer took inspiration from illustrations of 1920’s Paris burlesque girls, Weimar Berlin, and a little Jane Fonda. “The show borrows from the Jane Fonda movie They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? about a desperate dance marathon during the Depression, so we decided to make everyone a bit tired around the eyes,” Boehmer explained. This meant starting individual eye makeup applications with a black base using NARS Cream Eyeshadow in Zardos and adding definition with a black pencil. To sculpt and highlight the area, Boehmer then added shimmery and glittery colors on top so they would “pop,” like NARS new Soft Touch Shadow Pencils in Aigle Noir, a gold-flecked onyx, and Goddess, a glistening pink Champagne. “I’m obsessed with Biba,” Boehmer added. “So there are elements of that in the makeup, too. It’s all about reinterpreting great heroines of the past—Theda Bara, Garbo, Jean Harlow—but with a late-1960’s spin.” As for the skin, Boehmer did a lot of shaping and sculpting with NARS Multiple Bronzer and opted for Velvet Matte Lip Pencils over lipstick for added staying power. The rest is just showmanship. “Add some glitter, sequins, rhinestones, false eyelashes and then it starts to feel about right!” Click here for show times and ticket information.
tags: James Boehmer, Jane Fonda, Karen Elson, Nars, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Weimar Berlin, Zo� Kravitz
