Designer Hilary Taymour Brings Life (and laughs) to the Runway with Animal Faces
NYFW gave us many intriguing and fascinating moments, fans favorite include Collina Strada’s runway makeup. Isamaya Ffrench, acclaimed makeup artist, created the viral makeup looks with a series of prosthetics that transformed the models into wild animal. Why you might ask, Strada’s fw23 collection is all about caring for the environment and animal rights.
Photo: Hunter Abrams via Vogue
Collection titled “Please Don’t Eat My Friends”, designed by creative director Hilary Taymour who was trying to outwardly express the inner, playful and hardworking animal inside of everyone. Taymour is is an advocate for animals and the earth. The materials used to create the garments are supposedly sustainable, as they are biodegradable, recycled, and organic.
A show that alluded pointed out the need to keep in mind the environment and animals through a show that made the audience laugh and enjoy. Taymour enjoys the ridiculousness that she incorporates in her show and this is not the first time she has done something that has cracked a smile in the audience. Some of her previous works include developing a video game where she created a bridge made from a baguette.
Photo: Hunter Abrams via Vogue
The makeup on the models, by Isamaya Ffrench, included prosthetics that changed their face shape so they would look like they have a snout, beak, horns and ears.
Photo: Daniele Oberrauch via Vogue Runway
However, makeup was not the only animalistic effect that was displayed during the show, Taymour instructed the models to crawl, prance, and even sniff the audience. Models wore white Vans that had painted hooves completing the animalistic transformation. One model, in particular, carried a small dog in her arm as she walked down the runway, while also wearing a shirt with the dog’s face printed on it.
Taymour closed the show by putting on a pair of painted Vans, ears on her head, and a printed shirt with a picture of an animal on the front. She shared on Instagram that this was her “Dream Day” and she was so excited to finally share her thoughts and designs with the rest of the world.