His grasp of technology as a fashion designer has always placed Hussein Chalayan ahead of the fold when it comes to electronic concepts and manipulation of clothing. From a dress in the shape of an aeroplane wing (that articulated just so) to the 2008 catwalk presentation of LED-imbedded glowing silhouettes, Hussein has grown less and less shy of embracing his more sci-fi leanings over the years.

This rather unconventional beauty story conceived for NºC magazine was one of the earlier realisations of these yearnings, photographed by his long-time collaborator Nick Knight at Metro Imaging in London. Rather than applying makeup and beauty products, Hussein directed an elaborate lightshow across the model’s face – with pools of coloured light tinting her eyes, lips and nose in vivid yellow, green, blue, red, orange and purple. Orchestrating six manipulations of colour and shape, each “light makeup” created an uneasy mood, displacing the usual focus on the model’s face – a similar effect to a blackened eye. Surreal and haunting, the effect of coloured light and shadow allows us to question what we see as beautiful – the colour and trickery above, or the face underneath?

Photography by Nick Knight
Concept and direction by Hussein Chalayan
Hair by Eugene Souleiman
No makeup: light
Modelled by Liliana@City
Studio: Metro Imaging

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