After a luxurious morning of reading and eating cheese, I make my way to the Intercontinental Hotel to check out the Balmain show. The crowd outside is beyond...every person walking in wears at least one piece of Balmain (if not a full runway look), and the street style photographers are going nuts. I slip backstage to check out what the MAC artists are doing and see super pretty, girly, relaxed makeup. Softly bronzed skin, not in a "yacht club" way, but "I just woke up and it turns out I really am just this gorgeous and healthy." Skin was soft and satin, powder bronzer was lightly applied just to gently sculpt the contours of the face and the lips and eyes were kept au naturel. The hair was my dream - long, full and bouncey - but not overly precious. 

At MAC, we're always thinking of different ways to do "the no-makeup" makeup, with new twists on neutral minimalism for face. The Balmain incarnation is a warm, sunny kind, and a perfect contrast to the heavily detailed collection. It has all the elements expected from Balmain, but not in the sequins and ripped jeans way we've seen before. There are still plenty of metallics that radiantly reflect off the models skin, but they're in the form of brocade minidresses and long, casual gowns.

Still exhausted from the day before, I join some of my favorite people from NYC for dinner at L'Escargot Montorgueil - Tommy Saleh (creative director Soho and Tribeca Grand Hotels), Matt Kays (Charlotte Ronson's publicist) and Steven Rojas (LnA Clothing's publicist). After eating the biggest steak I've ever seen, we all head to Le Baron (again) where a friend is dj'ing. Head home after a bit to try and get some work done and force myself into bed at some point before 4am.
 
Tomorrow - Vivienne Westwood and Margiela.
--ALEXIS PAGE

Plus: Go backstage at Gareth Pugh with Alexis

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