A day in the life of a Phoenix model

Check out Claire Hahn's article on Thread.
http://www.thread.co.nz/news/5425/15/Phoenix-Rising/d,thread-article

Phoenix Rising

A day in the life of a Phoenix model
Phoenix House of Makeup show at NZ Fashion Weekend
Saturday 25 September 2010

The show was scheduled to start at 4.15 on Saturday afternoon at New Zealand Fashion weekend but for the Phoenix House of Make-up team more commonly known as the Pink Ladies, preparation for New Zealand’s first ever make up fashion show has been months in the making.

Sponsored by Swarovski crystals and costumes by Diamond Dance Entertainment and fashion designer Sophie Burrows the show has been painstakingly put together to produce a dramatic visual spectacular for the public attendees.

Call time for the 40 strong cast including Shortland Street stars Kimberley Crossman, Faye Smythe, Sally Martin and Frankie Adams is noon. That’s four hours for the application of the avant garde make up and crystal adorned body art inspired by the new Phoenix Cosmetics collection entitled “The five shades of summer”.

The show opens with “Summer Romance” and pint sized pocket rocket Kimberley Crossman in full showgirl regalia of a nude bra and g-string heavily embellished with pink crystals and a pink feather boa tail that would make a flamingo proud.

I close the first section of the show in a rosette gown that took over ten metres of pink fabric to put together and a headache inducing floral headpiece that was rapidly removed immediately after the finale. Beauty is pain.

“Underwater Love” and “Sunset Haze” both take to the runway in Sophie Burrows distinct style of demi sheer fabrics and Grecian draping with dramatized versions of the makeup collections signature looks.

Faye Smythe and Frankie Adams walk out confidently to debut the “Dreaming of Sahara” in rich gold bikinis and long trains of Sari fabric glittering with threads of gold and Sally Martin opens the “Midnight Delusion” component of the show with a strut to match any seasoned runway regular.

The Shortie girls are a hit back stage with no diva antics or demands, just a group of down to earth girls delighted to be involved in a risky move by makeup maestro and entrepreneur Phoenix Renata.

The show is over the top nonstop glamour, not the type of make-up I will be wearing on the Kindy run, but a experience not to be paralleled and one I hope to be involved with again. It’s not often a girl gets to wear diamante eyebrows so one must seize the opportunity as it arises.

Photos and story Claire Hahn, 25 September 2010