I’d been looking forward to doing a write-up on the VMAs. I’ve worked the VMAs many a time, and I did makeup for a couple of ladies who were attending the ceremonies this year. In contrast to all of the other awards shows I’ve covered, the VMAs are where Over The Top is queen. This is the show to be as edgy as you dare in hair, makeup and dress. As we all know, however, it’s a fine line between being cutting edge and trying to hard. Some get the balance right and look Hot to Death, and others miss and look a Hot Mess. Whatever the look the artists are going for, in my opinion the VMAs are not the time to go mamby pamby.
…. and then there was this year…
The economy must have spirits down because – save for a few folks and one very notable exception – this year’s showing seemed quite sedate. Not so much that people looked bad (well, there were a few misses), but it seemed a lot of people played it safe and looked like they would at any awards show. Part of the problem is that as MTV has become less and less about music, more and more of the attendees are actresses/actors and other assorted culture vultures instead of musicians. Hence there was a lot of standard “starlet” and “cool guy” looks on display. Disappointing. Slim pickins this year both on the red carpet and in the performance looks but there were a few folks who caught my eye this time around.
Hayley Williams of Paramore – I don’t know Paramore, but I dug lead singer Hayley Williams’ look. When you’re wearing extreme bright hair like that, *I* think it’s best to let it be the star of the show and not try to wear competing makeup. That said, however, it’s important not to have too bare of a face lest one look undone. Using a light hand with the makeup and keeping a monochromatic color palette that subtly picked up the hair color perked up her face without going clowntastic, and really looked pretty against her pale skin. Well played.
Eva Pigford – Eva “The Diva” (does anyone still call her that?) was a good example of how – if you aren’t a musician and you are, in fact, a starlet, you can still look event appropriate. Eva’s look was edgy and young and befitting of a music awards show, not like she was going to a luncheon and not like she was going to the Oscars. Her wardrobe was really ‘the thing’ to her look, but the short, blonde ‘do brings out her bone structure and features and gives her a more current look than long tresses would, and then she just ramped up the eyes and called it a day. The end result was a great look.
Taylor Swift – Her retro look really works for her. It gives her just the right touch of glam without making her look old or drag-ish.
Lady GaGa – Speaking of drag-ish, if you’re gonna go there be sure to go all the way there. Lady GaGa knows this well and she isn’t afraid to do it! I didn’t love the headpeice wig thingme just because it’s a tough to pull off, rather flat color however her makeup artist did a good job of using a neutral palette to warm her face back up so she didn’t go in a goth-y direction. Her makeup is actually really beautifully done with emphasis on really beautiful skin and highlight and contour. There is a lot of makeup in this look, but by refraining from using a lot of color, the neutral palette provides a flattering backdrop to all the foolywang-ness of color and pattern that was going on in her Alexander McQueen gown. Not a look for the everyday, but in my opinion a look that’s what the VMAs are all about.
Lady Gaga on the red carpet at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles
