Makeup Legend: Pat McGrath

“The most influential makeup artist in the world” Vogue 2007

What an amazing title to be given by such a fashion power-house as Vogue, but even bigger to have to up-hold it.  British born Makeup Artist Pat Mcgrath has done just that.   Her career for more than 2 decades has meant for anyone in the fashion world, Pat McGrath is a household name.  She made a name for herself as quite a cosmetic craftswomen with her inspiring use of colour and handmade makeup which she preferred to apply by hand and the creative use of accessories to finish her designs.

She is best known for her show-stopping makeup designs adorning models faces with paint, glitter, flowers and fabrics transforming even the most famous of faces – unrecognisable!

Her biggest influence is her mother from whom she learnt to get creative and mix products and colours together as there was little out there for darker skin back then. 

                                                                             
Gisele Bundchen                                                          Linda Evangelista

With no formal makeup training she started her career after graduating from Northampton Art College and got her “big break” working with Edward Enninful, the then Fashion Editor for I-D Magazine.  He describes her work as ranging from "the highest couture to club kids” and names her as integral for putting I-D Magazine on the               international map.                                                               

Pat spent the 90s dominating the backstage of the the ready-to-wear and couture shows heading around 10 shows per season for Dior, Galliano, Prada, Lanvin, Mui Mui, Victor and Rolf and Valentino and more.

She is considered one of THE most influential makeup artists in the world and so in 1999 Giorgio Armani employed her expertise in the field to design his own makeup range – Every makeup artists dream!!!  

Proctor and Gamble went on announce her as Global Design Director in 2004, to take care of brands like Max Factor, Covergirl and Dolce and Gabbana. She is rumoured to head advertising campaigns for up to £40k a time on brands such as Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein and Balenciaga and her work has been photographed in Vogue Italia, American Vogue and W Magazine.

 

Despite her elevated status as a Makeup Legend and supermodels describing her as their “Backstage Mum’ with her gentle caring nature.  What intrigues me the most about Pat McGrath is the allure she has created by not capitalizing on her brand with a McGrath-Following.   Makeup books, branded schools and training and her own cosmetics line even are all viable possibilities for a woman in her position to increase her influence and earnings.  
She does not even have her own website!  
Some may argue she does not need to as her agency Streeters are there for that.  However, I feel she remains true to her intrigue to find new inspiration and simply apply that to her passionate art and remain inspired to keep creating her masterpieces.  
In a Vogue interview she quoted "I'm influenced a lot by the fabrics I see, the colours that are in the collections and the girl's faces. It's always a challenge but that's the key - to make it different every time."
Her humility within her talent make her a rare breed in the world of fashion and a true example of her art.


John Galliano SS03 RTW - Makeup by Pat McGrath (one of my favourites), the inspiration was taken from Indian Festival of Colour - Holi!

Some back-stage pictures