When it comes to the couture shows, it’s a generally accepted rule that more is always more, as the designers and their supporting backstage teams of make-up and hair maestros showcase their most outstanding and outrageous looks.  As the shows kicked off yesterday (including Versace, Dior and Alexis Mabille), us beauty girls waited with baited breathe to see what would emerge.

1. Christian Dior

As it so happened, the look backstage at Dior was startlingly minimal, beautifully executed dewy, youthful makeup in the form of a chic flick of black liner, fluttery well-defined lashes, pink cheeks and well-conditioned moisturized lips.  Make-up artist Pat McGrath explained that it was all about achieving a fresh and contemporary makeup look.  Over in hair meanwhile, Orlando Pita worked up deep side partings before curling the ends of the hair under to create a faux bob.  The completed look made for a very charming challenge to the dramatic hair and making staging that has become the couture norm.

2. Atelier Versace

Yesterday was the first time in eight years that Versace showed a 15-part couture collection and backstage the hair and makeup team conjured up glamorous warriors in the form of sleek, sexy, swishy ponytails and a black raccoon shaped smoky eyes paired with a veritable abundance of studs and bustier gowns in gold, lemon and tangerine.  

3. Alexis Mabille

And then there was Alexis Mabille, who kept true to couture convention by adorning models with enormous flower headpieces in red, pink, gold, rose, orange, lime, yellow and violet, painting their entire faces to match.

4. Bouchra Jarrar

At Bouchra Jarrar, NARS Makeup artist Christophe Danchaud, followed suit with and abundance of fresh faced beauties with transparent skin, a dash of dark smudged liner and pretty flushed cheeks to create a feeling of warmth in the makeup that reflected that in the collection.

So how do you feel about couture hair and makeup teams taking a step towards more simple pared-down beauty looks?