AZ Factory Spring 2024: The Makeup Magic From This Season’s Show

The Fashion industry is a collective of creatives who all possess their role within this career path. From designers to photographers, models to makeup artists, there isn’t a single job overlooked. Every position links together to provide runway events, editorial shoots and products that brands stand upon. My favourite tie-in for a runway is when the makeup involved is a highly considered factor. This is where I want to discuss makeup in catwalk culture and how it affects the line itself. In doing so, addressing how AZ Factory gave a “Less is more” approach to their bright makeup application to their SS24 line. 

AZ Factory Natural Makeup 

Commonly, amongst runway events, you will witness multiple brands apply natural beautification to models. This generic application enhances skin and ensures the model’s face is camera-ready. With nothing too dramatic or colourful included, we’re given a collection of fresh-faced models, male and female.

This fresh face consists of smooth, dewy or matte skin, a glossy or plain lip, light mascara and natural eyebrows. Of course, this is altered depending on the line. A statement red lip is always a great touch; a set of lashes enhances a feminine face, and feathered brows uplift a great pair of eyebrows.

The straight-laced luxury brands usually apply minimal cosmetics to allow for detailed concentration on the collection itself. The garments are their main focus of production, therefore typically their body shape diversity and makeup is not a main concern. 

Avant Garde Runway makeup

Not all brands stick to a generic beautification yet explore a more daring look to accompany their garments. AZ Factory is one of those brands that use more creative control when it comes to runways and their model’s looks. For their SS24 collection, AZ decided to incorporate something a little more exciting than your standard natural beauty.

The MUAs captivated the audience with simple yet effective eye looks, including joyful colours. These colourful eyelashes and smudged lips create a glimpse of avant-garde styling and expose creative flare. The colourful mascara naturally uplifts the eyelashes and creates a sense of chic fashion without causing a scene. I adore cosmetic applications such as this as they withhold artistic expertise whilst still reading as glamorous. The eyebrows being feathered and back brushed adds an additional sense of avant-garde creativity, going against the typical norm of runway looks.

Anything similar to this, where artists are able to produce a more stimulating look, excites me more than a standard luxury glam runway. I can appreciate a high-end catwalk with stunning glamorous faces, however quirky avant garde makeup brings me more interest. 

My experiences 

As a professional makeup artist, I am no stranger to runway applications and the tedious reality of doing a subtle look across a large group of models. It’s not easy coming from an array of versatile looks to being told you can only apply a natural face. With the limited time you have blended with the number of models you typically have to “make-up”, there are ways you can apply runway makeup to the best quality and quantity.

From my perspective, the most editorial way to produce looks across the runway is to do exactly as AZ Factory does, small but daring to grab attention and not overcomplicate the applications. Allowing MUAs to have more creative freedom contains only positive annotations. It showcases a liberating connection between the designer and the make-up artists.

AZ Factory Runway Ready

AZ Factory’s makeup looks tied with the garments in the way they juxtaposed the monochrome outfits in such an editorial way. This allows them to portray a divine contrast that blissfully exudes artistry. The makeup also matches the garments that hold mixed patterns and bold hues due to the pairing of tones. Adding colour and expression through makeup creates a wider sense of style and makes the runway more thrilling.

The photography captures a different nuance when the models are painted more expressively. It brings everything together in a way that isn’t as obvious when the beautification is generic. It is a refreshing and uplifting way that AZ Factory has been able to feature cosmetics, and I am impressed and in love with the application. It’s so simple yet reads incredibly well on the runway.

I can assure myself that when I come to present my own garments, the makeup accompanying it will definitely show off. I’d prefer to witness more expressive makeup more often across runway presentations. It will always elevate and inspire.