LIPSTiCK TrACeZ

A common misconception about fashion types is that they only like to talk shop -- that they sit around all day with friends obsessing about the latest trends and the hottest upcoming models. But New York-based British make-up artist Dick Page is cut from a different cloth. Page has an anti-fashion approach to his work and life and a finely tuned bullshit detector -- and he likes to keep it that way. There is more than meets the eye to this master of cosmetic illusion.

Page has been instrumental in some of the last decade's most influential ad campaigns -- think Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs. He regularly works with New York-based Dutch photographic duo Inez and Vinoodh, and German photographer Juergen Teller. He may be known for his impeccable use of color, but few know about Page's wicked sense of humor, so black it could only be British. His accent is thick and his language very, very blue.

I had the chance to catch up with Page on one of his many visits to Tokyo. He has been shuttling back and forth between Tokyo and New York  for the past 10 years, and in 2007 was named Creative Director of Shiseido's The Make Up line. As we sat on a terrace overlooking Omotesando midway through his second straight day of beauty and fashion magazine interviews, he was starting to tire of talking about the Japanese beauty industry and the latest trends in cosmetics. Instead, we chatted and sipped red wine under a warm late-summer's sky and I got to know about his Bristol roots, his celebrity clients and the serendipitous results of what he calls his "random" work ethic. If bloody butcher shops, eating horse, and knowing which Hollywood starlet is as cool as she is beautiful interests you, read ahead....

Accessorize-moi!

Just a week before the Paris collections I interviewed one of THE fashion icons of the 20^th and 21^st centuries, design doyenne Iris Apfel, for Spur Luxe. This meeting shook my stylistic foundations and inspired me to go BIG on accessories in my own wardrobe. As a result, my gaze was zooming in on the baubles hanging off necklines, wrists and fingers on the runways and boulevards of Paris.

On the way to the new Japanese brand Commun's show on rue de Turenne I fell in love instantly with a statement-making necklace at Laurent Guillot; they were big, beautiful and probably quite risky if you've had one cocktail too many. Tribal-chic tooth-like spikes in clear resin! But fashion with a hint of danger of gives me a thrill, so I made a mental note to go back and try them on after the show...and then I fall in love again as I walk by Tom Binns showroom-Africa-Chic. Ah, so much to see and do!

After the rush of this encounter, I met the editors of Encens, my favorite French magazine (here I am in the latest issue in hyper-accessorized Givenchy dress-heaven!). We enjoyed a late morning café and headed to the Totem showroom for a group exhibition by a coterie of young Belgium-based designers. Totem's owner, Kuki de Salverttes, is well-known in the industry and his showroom was the first to represent some of the pioneers of the Antwerp avant-garde including Veronique Branquihno and Raf Simons. He is also a regular contributor to Encens.

In passing I said a quick hello to the camera crew from Tokyo Fashion Express, the show I host for NHK World, who were there to do some filming. We entered the Marais gallery and Kuki lead us downstairs into the cave. It felt like we were traveling into the depths of 17^th century Paris, but it was down in these depths that we would discover Heaven -- Heaven Tanudiredja, that is -- an accessory designer from Bali. His ethereal necklaces were Victorian Bling in the combining of gold ornamental pieces, fragile ribbons and chunky black and white 1920s antique Jade. Each piece is almost unique, given the rarity of the materials, which keeps them limited edition. Everything is handmade in Belgium, where he is based.

My heartbeat quickened. Fragile and feminine but at the same time large enough to make a statement, each of piece called out my name. At a $US200 showroom price I tried to calculate how many jobs it would take to buy the entire collection. Dries Van Noten commissioned Heaven to create accessories for his Spring/Summer 2008 and Fall/Winter 2008 collections and he also is part of the Christian Dior Haute Couture team. One to watch!

That evening I caught the Alexander McQueen show, which was truly amazing! I bumped into a good friend, world renowned British fashion journalist Tim Blanks after the show. He interviewed me for the style.com Alexander McQueen video just after he spoke with hair superstar Guido and equally stellar photographer David Simms. We then headed backstage and Tim caught a few comments from accessory designer Laura Boehinc. 

Other designers are riding the accessory wave by incorporating them into their pieces -- Bravo Ricardo Tischi and Givenchy. The western-inspired show glittered with oversized Swarovski crystals.

On my last day in Paris I had an up-close look at the collection in the showroom. I flipped through the latest edition of A Magazine, curated by Ricky, and wandered around the showroom, my eyes feasting on a crisp white cotton shirt embellished with western crystal and metal badges- I'll take it, pardner!

I enjoyed a coffee on the showroom's balcony absorbing the amazing views of the 8^th arrondissement. The summer leaves on the trees partially obscured my view of the Eiffel Tower, but I could still sense her presence. Later, as she twinkled enticingly in the night sky, I marveled at this most artfully executed piece of accessorizing. Ah, the city of lights!

Photo credit of Tiffany holding Encens www.ashadedviewonfashion.com