"Baby's Got Blue Eyes"

I’m not going to kid you—blue eye makeup isn’t an easy thing to carry off. It’s a look whose past moments are still so memorable there’s almost no way to wear it now that makes it seem new. Two years ago, nevertheless, I had a moment in Sephora: I got seduced by the loveliest shade of Nars metallic aqua liquid liner and just had to have it.

I loved that it wasn’t shadow and it wasn’t powder, and I hoped the thinner, shinier line would bring an old idea straight into the present. However, it wasn’t until this past June that I actually had the nerve to put it on. (I have to admit I was egged on by the eighties-inspired colored eye shadows François Nars himself used at the Marc Jacobs show the previous Fashion Week.) So I had my makeup artist/friend Suzy coming over to do my makeup for the CFDA Fashion Awards; I thought the dress I was wearing (DVF resort collection) would support some colored makeup on my face, and I was sick of bright lips.

So I got out the Nars liner and asked Suzy what she could do with it. She explained that it was important that it be applied in a thin line —to keep the eyeliner feeling as opposed to full-on eye shadow—and to leave the rest of my face very simple and natural—nude lips, peachy blush, and a dash of mascara. Although you can barely see it in the picture of me below, it really had a great effect. In fact, the first person to compliment me was Gucci Westman, my absolute favorite makeup artist: “Wow, Amanda. I love your eyes!”

Gucci was probably the one who got me thinking about blue makeup in the first place, when she put blue eye shadow on Drew Barrymore for a Lancôme ad back in 2005 and again at last year’s Golden Globes.

I also have to give Sarah Jessica Parker credit—she’s been a bit bolder by putting the blue liner under her eye. And then, of course, there’s my favorite supermodel of all time, Twiggy, who mixed her seventies boho braids with the overt glamour of blue eye shadow in a way that any girl would want to follow.

—Amanda Brooks, author of I Love Your Style


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Vogue)