Backstage at the Jason Wu Spring 2011 fashion show at New York Fashion Week, models floate d around with their eyes beaming vibrant spring hues, wearing girly plaits wrapped in ribbon, and nails dipped in oxblood red lacquer.

HAIR: Odile Gilbert for Aveda
MAKEUP: Diane Kendal for Shiseido
NAILS: Jan Arnold for CND
SNAPSHOT: Dual Dimensions Divine

THE SCOOP: Keeping in tune with his natural flair for experimenting with color, Jason Wu drew inspiration for his ladylike designs from Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes. The beauty teams pulled aspects from the painter's abstract, dual dimensions artworks and created hair and makeup masterpieces.

Odile Gilbert perfected a youthful braided chignon that was intertwined with ribbon taken straight from Wu's collection. She compared the 'do to the effervescent hairstyles West Indian girls flaunt. "I was in the Bahamas with a camp of kids and there were young girl with sophisticated hair and I'm bringing that in here," she says. "I like to have a touch of color in the hair." Lead makeup artist Diane Kendal mimic Milhazes' swirls by smoothing on eye-popping eye shadows in purple, turquoise and green. And CND Founder Jan Arnold rounded out the looks by painting the models' nails with in Veronica from the Jason Wu and CND Nail Color Collection, which debuted today with show attendees each receiving a set. "It's a beautiful, rich opaque red. There's a lot of blue in it, but there's also a dash of orange. So, I think it works for every skin tone," she told StyleList.

GET THE LOOK - HAIR: All hair products by Aveda. Prep damp hair with Smooth Infustion Style-Prep Smoother to tame flywaways. Use a fine-tooth comb to create a strong, clean part on the right side of the head and then blow dry using a Mason Pearson brush. Pull hair tightly back and separate into four sections along the nape of the neck. Spray each with Air Control Hair Spray for shine and flexible hold. Tie a long ribbon or piece of frabic -- in a shade close to the hair color -- aroudn the top of each section of hair. One section at a time, braid the fabric through the hair and secure at the bottom with an elastic. Leave excess fabric out at the bottom of each braid. Spray each braid liberally with Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray. Collect all four braids and tie the fabric into one large bow at the end to create a flower. Pull the fabric flower upwards and secure at the nape of the neck with hair pins, creating braided loops stemming from the flower. Finish with Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray.


GET THE LOOK - MAKEUP: Makeup by Shiseido. To recreate the purple eye makeup look above, smooth on a purple cream base like in the outer corner, blending in and over outer eye. Apply a deep purple pigment on outer corner and top with a violet pigment, puling out at the corners and blending with a clean brush. Line under eye with rich purple eye pencil and blend. Smooth on black cream liner to top and bottom of lash line and coat top lashes with Mascara. Brush on Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Color in PK 304 Carnation on cheeks and temple. Finish with a nude lipstick.

GET THE LOOK - NAILS: Nails by Jason Wu and CND. File nails into a soft, feminine shape that is slightly rounded. Apply two coats of Veronica. Finish by painting on a sleek top coat.


StyleList is your source for New York Fashion Week. Read our runway reviews and backstage beauty reports. Gawk at fashionable celebrities. Watch our video interviews with style personalities. Ruminate on it all with our roundups of Spring 2011 trends.