Fashion Focus Chicago 2008. Beauty Recap. Get The Lancôme Runway Look.

Photo: Second City Style

We fell in love with Lancôme make-up artist Alex Sanchez who designed all of the make-up looks for the Fashion Focus Chicago 2008 shows and gave us tips on how to achieve them. Alex says he can make every woman look beautiful and we believe him! Above is Alex backstage with some of the models for the Macy's Designers of Chicago Show. The models looked gorgeous in the different looks for each of the shows. So now the question is which look do you like the best?

Well here is the good part - you can go to the Lancôme counter at Macy's on State Street, Watertower, Old Orchard or Woodfield and their experts will introduce you to a new look just for you, inspired by the Fashion Focus Chicago runway shows! If you see a look that you like here, tell them about it. You just might get a "Fresh Face" or wind up looking quite "Alluring".

Receive a complimentary sample of Hypnôse Mascara with any Lancôme purchase through October 20th. And feel good about looking good because a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Chicago Fashion Incubator.

And now on with the shows!

Beauty Look: Lancôme   Runway Design: Frei Designs, Photo: Barry Brecheisen

Gen Art's Fresh Faces. This show was both ethereal and edgy with designs by some of Chicago's newest designers on the scene. Alex paired a perennial smoky eye with a glossy and glowing complexion to compliment the designs on the runway.

Eyes:
Color Design Sensational Effects Eye Shadow in Filigree, Chic, Volcano and The New Black
Le Crayon Khôl in Ebony
Hypnôse Mascara

Cheeks:
Color Design Blush in Petticoat Pink and Freeze Frame
Star Bronzer Magic Bronzing Brush

Lips:
Le Lipstique in various shades
Juicy Tubes Smoothie in Hallucination

Beauty Look: Lancôme  Runway Design: Vika, Photo: Jonathan Cohon

World Fashion Chicago Presented By Sister Cities International. This show had 27 countries represented by even more designers. The makeup had to work for a wide variety of looks. For this show the makeup was very edgy and dramatic. Alex used lots of color on the eyes which were definitely the focus.

Eyes:
Le Crayon Khôl in Black Lapis
Color Design Eye Shadow in Drama and Garment
Lots of Hypnôse Mascara in Black

Cheeks: Color Design Cream Blush in Petticoat Pink

Lips:
Color Design Lipstick in Unzipped
Juicy Tubes in Touched by Light

Beauty Look: Lancôme   Runway Design: Min Jeong Ko, Photo: Peter Schulz

Dress Code. Talented Chicago student designers poured their heart and soul into their designs, showing some of the most intricate and artistic pieces of Fashion Focus Chicago. For this show Alex gave the models a very smokey eye that was extremely dramatic and intense. He used a lot of blacks and greys on the eyes and a pale matte lip with blended liner.

Eyes:
Color Design Eye Shadow in Volcano and The New Black
Le Crayon Khol in Noir
Hypnôse Mascara in Black

Lips: Color Design Lipstick in Pale Lip

Cheeks: Color Design Cream Blush in Freeze Frame

Beauty Look: Lancôme  Runway Design: James De Colon, Photo: Peter Schulz

Allure of Couture. High style, high-end and contemporary looks dominated the runway for this show. The look was a light smoky eye and wearable gothic chic lips with a black cherry hue. Alex used lip gloss to give the lips an ultra-shiny, patent leather look. The focus was on a gorgeous, deep-burgundy lip.

Eyes:
Le Stylo Waterproof in Noir
Color Design Eye Shadow in Drape and
Chic Definicils Mascara in Black

Lips:
L'Absolu Rouge in Berry Noir
Le Lipstique in Raisinberry
Color Fever Gloss in Up In Smoke

Beauty Look: Lancôme   Runway Design: Horatio Nieto, Photo: Peter Schulz

Macy's Presents The Designers of Chicago. This Spring '09 Presentation showed the lines of some local names that Macy's will carry in their State Street Store. Alex put together a very strong look for this show. A classic red lip, well defined brows and lots of lashes. Alex used Lancôme's new vibrating mascara Oscillation to create a faux lash look.

Lips:
Color Design Lipstick in Red Stiletto
Color Fever Lip Gloss in Up In Smoke
Le Lipstique in Raisinberry

Brows: Le Crayon Poudre (in various shades)

Eyes: Oscillation Mascara in Black (Lancôme's new vibrating mascara which is soon to launch October 22nd!)

All runway look products are from Lancôme. Shop online at Lancôme.com

— Carol Calacci