While the Isha Ambani-Anand Piramal wedding was trending earlier this week, designer Manish Malhotra was also on everyone’s radar. After all, it seems like he had dressed everyone on the guest list, not to mention the bride and her mother as well (see right). He also had a pop-up store at Lake Palace in Udaipur for the guests to do some last-minute shopping — in case the lehenga they had brought for the sangeet did not cut it. Apart from being part of India’s wedding of the year, he has been busy with a new collaboration — he is the latest designer to join the likes of Sabyasachi and launch his debut make-up line, in collaboration with MyGlamm.
The made-in-Europe brand has collaborated with Bollywood’s favourite designer (see left) to bring out what they call a “luxury hi-shine” collection. In an e-mail interview, Manish writes that years of experience in costume styling for the big screen has led him to believe that make-up is a huge aspect of the complete look. “It lends authenticity to the (designer’s) vision and amplifies it as well. I constantly want to innovate and add dimensions within the genre of my work, so make-up was a natural fit,” he says.
Packaged in sleek black with rose gold accents, there are eyeshadow palettes in foil, metallic and matte finishes. Moving past matte, he has included a dozen shiny lipsticks, six lip glosses and 18 shades of glitter-infused nail lacquers. “It is for those who love to experiment with their looks. The palette is extremely versatile, so even if you prefer a soft, subtle look one day, you can use the same to create a bold, glamorous statement the next,” he says. For instance, the Soirée 9-in-1 eyeshadow has earthy mattes and metallic nudes. The lipsticks include a range of warm and cool nudes, soft pinks, in addition to bold reds and deep wine shades.
Something for everyone
Keeping with the gender fluid trend set by Boy de Chanel, he says that the line is created for “anyone and everyone who loves make-up”. Stating that the industry is seeing a fundamental transformation, Manish says, “For an increasing number of men, make-up is becoming the norm, thanks to big brands launching exclusive collections for them.”
MyGlamm too recently announced actor Sidharth Malhotra as the face of their new LIT collection. Although, to be clear, the campaign focusses on the cruelty-free aspect of the brand over promoting it for non-binary use. As for Manish, he credits his good genes and diet — a lot of fruits and healthy meals — for his “natural glowing skin. I don’t use anything other than a moisturiser and a face mist”.
While 23-year-old Alanna Panday has been named as Manish’s muse for this collection, he says that in his experience, the cliched expression “age is just a number” is true. “People of any age want to feel and look beautiful, and make-up allows one to transform their appearance whenever the mood or inspiration strikes. Having worked with women of all generations, it is the elegance and confidence with which you carry yourself that makes you look beautiful in everything. I believe actress Rekha is a fine example of that,” he says.
Never one to rest on his achievements, Manish is ready for the next project already. “I’m constantly looking forward to exploring new journeys. We just moved into a new office , and I realised, after looking at the strength of my team, how big the label has grown! We are also working on new projects – in cinema and couture. Also, the opening of our flagship stores in Dubai and London are on the cards,” he concludes.
For the season
Ask him for tips to stand out at the many soirées as the year ends, and Manish says, “I believe that today’s woman is confident and knows what will look good on her. Also, it totally depends on the occasion and the outfit.”
Morning wedding: Go neutral with earthy nudes and soft pink lips with a subtle shine
Music festivals: Lip glosses with polychromatic glitter — they will change colour depending on the way the light hits your lips
Cocktail evenings: Foil eyeshadows in gold and copper. Apply them dry for a wash of glitter. To truly make a statement, press the pigment on with your finger and build it up till you get a liquid metal finish
Available starting today: online exclusively at MyGlamm.com and Amazon.in, and at Shoppers Stop outlets all over India. From ₹450 to ₹1,850.