Backstage @ Catherine Malandrino!

Ce la vie! That's the life! As Melissa (she works for teen.com TV) and I ascended to the top of The Rockefeller Plaza building with the Catherine Malandrino herself in the elevator, we were giddy with excitement. As soon as the elevator door opened, we were welcomed with bursts of sunshine into the world-famous Rainbow Room. Catherine quickly jumped out, eager to see her muses getting ready. Also dying to see this Parisian designer work her New York magic? Mary J. Blige, Michelle Tractenberg, Mena Suvari, and Sophia Bush in front row!

And it was total magic! From hair to hemline, the show was incredible! It was super modern and though I don't know if any of us would wear such elegance on a daily basis, I did envision an older version of myself sauntering down Park Ave. or the Champs Elysee in such fun pieces.

For a show that was every bit as elegant as it was whimsical, the Malandrino hair was the stand-out of the week. Masterminded by stylist Odile Gilbert for Sebastian and color creator Eva Scrivo for Wella Professional, the look was Moulin Rouge meets Mod-Art.

Hunks of silicone sponges were wrapped in hand-painted extensions in every shade of the hair and pastel rainbow. These buns, or chignons, were pinned to the top of the head along with a models real ponytail that had also been wrapped around a sponge. A major application of hairspray and a thick, black hairnet completed the look.

Makeup was very modern looking and kept with trends I saw at loads of other shows this season: Blue and grey palettes with dramatic emphasis on the crease. The artists painstaking drew a line on the outline of their eye on the lid. The easy part about this look? No mascara and no blush (but that's the only easy part)!

Would you rock these looks if you were to walk a red carpet this season? Tell me what you think!

Posted on: Tue Feb 24, 2009