Burberry Prorsum Fall 2012: Backstage Beauty

By Erin Donnelly 02/21/12 at 05:00 PM

Backstage at the Burberry Prorsum Fall 2012

Photo: Getty Images

Backstage at the Burberry Prorsum Fall 2012 fashion show.

Christopher Bailey's Burberry Prorsum Fall 2012 collection was the perfect amalgamation of outdoorsy classics and slick glam-girl get-ups—think field jackets and tweed caps styled with fringed skirts and studded gloves.

And though translating that city-meets-countryside aesthetic via makeup sounds like a daunting task, makeup artist Wendy Rowe nailed it with a "velvety" and "sumptuous" smokey eye.

"She loves the fun of the town but doesn't mind getting her hands dirty," Rowe told FashionEtc backstage of her "town and country" muse. "She's gone out in town and is coming back to the country."

Using Burberry Beauty shadows, Rowe walked us through her "more modern" take on the smokey eye, sweeping Fall 2012's new Dark Sable shade into the socket before layering it with (also new for Fall) Mulberry to open the eye up. Gold Trench was added just under the eye, followed by another touch of Midnight Brown pushed into the lower lashes.

"It gives the impression of being dark, but actually it isn't that dark," Rowe said before coating lashes with Midnight Black mascara. "It's a cool take on the smokey eye; it's not heavy on the lid."

A dab of Number 3 concealer was blended into the inner corners of the eyes, while Rowe sculpted the skin with Earthy blush, adding that she wanted a "super-soft" effect rather than a hard line.

Finally, Rowe primed lips with foundation before using her finger to apply Sepia Pink and Mocha Glow lipstick for a "rich, velvety taupe glow."

And what of the hair? Envisioning a girl who gets her hair styled in the city, then leaves it to "drop down" after three days, Neil Moodie worked Bumble and bumble Prep Spray layered with Thickening Spray from the middle to the ends, then used a diffuser to add texture.

Random sections were run through a large-barreled curling iron for mussed-up waves. Bumble and bumble Brilliantine was then applied by hand to keep the center-parted 'do from looking "too flat."

There you have it, gals. Now go forth and duplicate!

SEE THE FALL 2012 RUNWAY COLLECTIONS