Beauty: Eye to the future

Phoenix's art deco dollface look. Photo / Supplied

Your chance to find out what's hot for the coming season.

Winter looks are currently obsessing the city's fashion set, but after Fashion Week's winter 2012 trade shows, the event's public weekend swings back into current season mode. Here's what those wanting to find out about the latest hair and beauty looks should watch out for on Saturday.

Hair

For some fresh ideas for summer, Ivan Lee and the Servilles creative team are running a seminar which includes advice on how to personalise and style the latest looks. "Even a slight change can give you a huge lift," says Paul Serville. (It's first-in, best seated for the midday session - and the day's other seminars - and there is a hair product goodie bag for each guest to take away.)

Another chance to check out the latest hair trends is at the ticketed Designer Selection Shows where Olivia Noble, who directed the Servilles hair team working on the current season of New Zealand's Next Top Model, has come up with looks ranging from sleek, straight shiny hair to textured, roughed-up topknots. Added interest comes in tiny boho plaits braided into long straight hair or sexy, messy, voluminous side plaits. (These shows feature makeup and spot prizes by Smashbox.)

Seminars

Smashbox Cosmetics is holding a seminar at 10.45am, where makeup artists will demonstrate how to achieve a classic smoky eye or a natural looking made-up face. Learn to disguise imperfections and dark circles, make skin glow and about the latest colours and trends.

Appearance medicine comes into focus at 11.25am with a talk by Dr Catherine Stone, a Botox specialist and founder of the Face Place clinics.

Occasions

Most attention will be on the frocks at the New Zealand Weddings show (today and 10.30am Saturday), but look out also for makeup and hair trends for brides. Creative Director Leisa Welch (working with the makeup team from Bobbi Brown and hairstylists from Dharma) is keeping one thing in mind: Every bride wants to look her most beautiful on her wedding day. Dewy skin is a given, but a smoky eye can be edgy yet romantic. Updos are given a new twist.

Tips for trackside style can be found at the Race Days at Ellerslie Show (4pm Saturday). This includes makeup by Elizabeth Arden's national makeup specialist Lidean Erasmus using the user-friendly Bronze in Bloom collection.

Stands

Fashion Week's official nail gurus, Magic Tan & Beauty, have been in action all week fashioning customised looks for designers, but they also have technicians on-site where guests can check out a pamper menu and buy product from Orly, Essie and more. Prices range from $10 for a nail paint to $65 for Minx stick-ons, a manicure with Shellac or the new Color Gloss non-chip formula. Brow and lash tints and a full makeover will also be available.

Another stand worth checking out is the QVS Eyelash Bar, where a range of false lashes can be applied. (The first 250 people through the doors will receive a QVS goodie bag.) The Auckland-based company is running a Design a Print competition for which entrants submit an original design to be used on a limited edition range of QVS beauty accessories which will be sold nationwide.

Stars

Shortland Street cast members past and present, including Kimberley Crossman, Faye Smith, Sally Martin and Frankie Adams turn out as models for the Phoenix Makeup Show at 3pm. Actor Kiel McNaughton, who plays Scotty, directs the opening of the show. The show theme harks back to Prohibition days in Chicago and features authentic 1920s costumes. The dramatic makeup includes lashes tipped with pearls, crystals and lace and wings made of ostrich feathers.