Runway the "Real" Way: Badgley Mischka Spring 2012

1. Technicolor Teamwork.

"The clothes reminded me of black and white pictures from Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, so I proposed to the boys that we create a technicolor version of those," said MAC makeup artist Tom Pecheux. The makeup and hair (created by Peter Gray for Moroccanoil) worked together effortlessly, a good thing according to Pecheux. "We're very close so we're not afraid to talk to each other. If you don't work together, the girl will look like a drag queen—and not in a funny way."

2. Flight of Fancy.

Pecheux wanted the models to look "a little cuckoo" and kept skin pale, with a hint of peach blush, and added a little silver to the eyelid so they would catch the runway lights. "You know my trick," Pecheux said slyly, picking up a bottle of Oil Rodin, which he used as a first step. "I wanted a touch of humor, not to be too 'Madame'. It should look like a young girl playing a character."

3. Shapely Style.

"Elizabeth Taylor really hit it on the nose for me," said Morrocanoil's Peter Gray about his hair inspiration. "It's about a '50s woman with unashamed curves. All the models back then were fabulous, 35 or 40-years-old—no young girls." To prep hair for the admittedly "bonkers" French twist, Gray used Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream and Moroccanoil Frizz Control spray. "It's all about cocktailing the products. The Frizz Control will seal in moisture to get that shine."

4. Ready to Set-tle.

"When the designers mentioned Lauren Bacall, I knew I was setting," said Gray. "It's proper old school but sexy." With the back half of the hair in a twist, the front was separated into small sections, sprayed with hair spray, curled with a 3/4-inch iron and pinned. Later, he unpinned each and combed through with a wide-tooth comb. "If you use a brush, you'll get waves. With a comb, you get half-frizzy, half-perfect curls."

5. Rolex Inspiration.

Get ready to be surprised: It took a full three years to create Deborah Lippmann's Glamorous Life, getting the shade's satiny pink color just right. "The inspiration was the rose gold Rolex," said company president (and Deb's hubby) Jude Severin. "As her husband, I think she's trying to send me a message..." The nails were kept short and rounded for the show and the nails and toes were matchy-matchy (a trend for spring, said Severin). "The polish was really inspired by women who did full-out glamour, even going to the supermarket." The color, shipping Monday, is to-die-for. Oh, and Jude? We say your wife deserves the watch.

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