Runway the "Real" Way: Monique Lhuillier Spring 2012

1. Just Do It.

"This season the clothes have a streamlined silhouette with graphic lines, so we made the makeup aerodynamic, Olympic sporty to match," said MAC makeup artist Val Garland. "We did a double-edged liner, like the Nike swoosh." To get the graphic angle, Garland used a black liner on the upper lash line, winging it out and up. She went over the black liner with a cobalt blue shade, but instead of stopping at the outer corner, she took it back up into the socket line.

2. Simple Skin & Lips.

Garland didn't let anything else compete with the rich blue eye. "We used highlighter on the cheekbones to get a reflection," she explained. "The lips stayed natural with colorless lip balm, giving moisture but no shine." Incorporate the look into your daily makeup routine by applying cream illuminator on the upper cheek. If it's too shimmery alone, mix with your regular moisturizer and apply all over the face.

3. Pony Prep.

Kerastase hairstylist Odile Gilbert got the models' hair ready by applying the brand's new Fiber Architect serum to damp strands; it fights split ends and helps with a sleek blow-out. Next, she pulled hair back into a tight ponytail with a brush, making sure the bristles dug all the way to the scalp. Why a ponytail? "Part of evening fashion is to see the shoulders and the neck out," said Gilbert.

4. Graphic Style.

"We were inspired by the tail of a beautiful horse and wanted the girl to have attitude when she walked, with a very graphic swing," explained Gilbert. To get the thick pony (we had to ask if there was a hidden hair piece!) she teased the ponytail itself with a small-tooth comb. "Because the hair started out very straight and we used a serum, we avoided any frizzing while teasing." Lesson learned: Even if you're planning on curling your hair, it pays to use smoothing serums during your prep.

5. The Right Shade.

After seeing the athletic collection's primary shades ("Anna Kournikova at the mall," quipped a publicist) and the bright blue Garland used on the eyes, CND's Wanda Ruiz picked a midnight sapphire shade for the girls' toes and a creamy neutral for the fingers. She filed the nails into "an oval athletic shape" to go along with the sporty feel. If you haven't done a dark pedi yet, now's the season to start.

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