The Beauty Look at Chanel's Spring 2019 Couture Show Paid Homage to David Bowie

The poolside presentation featured voluminous updos and major eye makeup.

Karl Lagerfeld staged his Spring 2019 Couture runway show for Chanel on Tuesday morning in Paris — or, rather, his Couture pool party. True to form, Lagerfeld put on a whimsical presentation, complete with palm trees, a bedazzled swim cap (with a veil) and at least one gem-encrusted swimsuit. Of course, the looks he sent down the runway — whether the fashion or the hair and makeup that accompanied them — were a bit more artfully crafted than what most of us would consider simple vacation looks.

Hairstylist Sam McKnight brought major volume, teasing and setting hair into stiff, vertically-structured updos that were influenced by "19th century romance with an nod to '80s style icons." One such icon of the era cited by McKnight on Instagram was David Bowie, an enduring source of inspiration for fashion, who wore a voluminous pompadour.

To get the look, McKnight relied on his eponymous brand's Easy Updo and Modern Hairspray, sectioning out the hair and layering on plenty of product in order to create a stiff structure that would last the duration of the show. He posted a video of the process, which also involved using a bristled brush to sweep hair upward as he misted on hair spray, creating even more hold.

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Though there was no Ziggy Stardust stripe, the makeup look for the show featured magenta lips and aqua blue smoky eyes with thick, punk-y eyeliner on the lower lash line and a thin strip of white that extended from the outer corners of the eyes. Makeup artist Luica Pica clearly drew some inspiration of her own from the late rockstar: Pica, who serves as Chanel's Global Creative Makeup and Color Designer, focused her attention on creating an impactful eye look and a pristinely drawn lip, leaving the brows and skin mostly natural looking in contrast.

The look began with the Chanel Palette Essentielle, which Pica used to conceal, highlight and create a subtle, natural flush on the models' cheeks. To get the vibrant blue eyes, she relied on the brand's Stylo Ombre Et Contour pencil in Bleu Nuit, which she drew on directly to models' lids and then blended out. For exaggerated lashes, she swiped on Chanel Le Volume Révolution de Chanel Mascara, which is known for its innovative 3D-printed brush. And then finally, to get the bright lips, Pica began with a layer of Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme Intense Matte Lip Colour in Épitome, then dabbed Rouge Allure Liquid Powder Lip Colour in Invincible on top.

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While most of the models did wear the bright lip and eye colors, Pica chose to forgo the magenta lipstick on a select few, instead leaving their lips more subdued and natural looking.

Again, it's not the type of look most of us may think to wear when attending a pool party — but it may be pretty close to what Bowie himself would have worn to one. Click through the gallery below to see close-ups of the look from the runway.

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