Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Meet makeup artist Kymm McLean
Posted by Kimberly Lawson on Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Meet Kymm McLean. If you're fast enough. This woman works seven days a week, doing everything from wardrobe styling, hair styling and makeup for models to makeup lessons and makeovers for girls' birthday parties.
Creative Loafing: Tell me a little about what you do.
Kymm McLean: I’m a freelance makeup artist and hairstylist, but I also do wardrobe and styling. So when a photographer is going to do a photo shoot with a model, or an agency needs a model to work on their portfolio, I’ll do her hair, her makeup, and put together her wardrobe, then I’ll go on set and actually style them and pose them.
I also do makeovers and teach makeup. I’ve taught classes at Aveda and the Art Institute. I work in all different kinds of environments. I’ve even done kids birthday parties for little girls.
I've also been to people’s houses, like if there’s a big gala at the Mint Museum, a lot of the attendees in Myers Park, they’ll call me and I’ll go to their house and do their makeup. A girl had a birthday party and I did her and all 10 of her friends before they went out to the club. I've been to hotel rooms and do people who are in town for special events. I literally get such random phone calls all the time. I’m doing NASCAR guys for a Tylenol commercial this week. There’s really nothing that I don’t do. And that’s another reason why I’m as big as I am because I am very diverse.
So you pretty much do everything?
I actually make clothes too. It’s crazy. I use to sell my stuff in boutiques on Melrose in L.A. I make hats and jewelry. What I really like to do is buy like a pair of already made shoes or jeans or a shirt, and I like to deconstruct it and add things to it and kind of redo the whole thing.
Where do you get your inspiration for the looks you put together?
I wish I could tell you that I go through magazines, but I don’t. The only thing that I can say is that a lot of times when I listen to music, and they’re describing a situation in the song, I get kind of lost in it and I start thinking. I’m one of those people that lay awake at night and I just can’t stop thinking. It’s like my mind just won't shut off and there are always ideas that are flowing through it. I keep pen and paper by my bed and sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and just sketch something out I need to make or something that needs to be shot or a hair idea I just came up with. Another thing I’ve noticed in this industry is a lot of times people come in and they have pictures and ideas. And it's kind of like, here’s the box, now I’m going to put this model in that box. I don’t work like that. I do the exact opposite. When you sit down and say, “What can you do with me?” I look at your hair, your texture, your color, your eye shape — I’m looking at you and creating a look from that. So most of the stuff that I do, I’m not inspired by anything else outside of the person, I just inspired by the person themselves.
Do you notice any popular trends for the spring?
Bohemian is back with a vengeance. I was a little surprised to see that recycled this soon since it hasn’t really been that many years. My thought on that is the whole bohemian look is a lazy girl’s fashion. It's cheap. The fabrics are usually flattering. Everything is very flowy and summery. You can have a really bright design with the paisleys and the florals. The clothing is very active and they have very active patterns. I think the reason is when you think about bohemian, gypsy, hippy, it kind of goes back to the values that it’s not all about the glamour. I think that’s why everything has been so toned down. I don’t really think glamour really fits in right now. Wedges are back. Cork heels are back. Sandals are in with a vengeance. It's just the whole recycled bohemian look, which I have mixed feelings about, but it is definitely a very comfortable summer attire. Its almost downright beachy.
What about independently owned stores in Charlotte. Do you have any favorites?
I do. For the high-end, Sloan is awesome. Sloan is top of the line. Middle-end, something that is affordable, is Boris & Natasha. She carries everything. You know, you can get a dress for $60 but you can also pay $400 for one. I mean she has a range. Low-end, I love Rats Nest, you know, all the little vintagy shops. I think cowboy boots are going to be huge this year with the bohemian dresses, and Rats Nest has a huge selection for both guys and girls. Oh, and Plato’s Closet.
To contact Kymm for a consultation, visit her Web site or call 704-258-1564.
Comments (4)
Showing 1-4 of 4
It is valid that we really do not know what we’ve received till we shed it, but it is also real that we do not know what we’ve been missing right until it arrives. Do you consider so? Posed By UGG Nightfall
like
dislike
Latest in Klepto Blog
-
Promo video for Charleston Fashion Week 2012
If you weren't considering attending, the flashes of edgy couture in this video might make you rethink that.
-
Shopping dresses for Charlotte's 11th Annual Bartender's Ball
Check out three semi-formal dresses that are sure to make heads turn at the 11th Annual Charlotte Bartender's Ball.
-
Lilly Pulitzer opens at South Park
Lilly's coming to town, and she's intent on painting Charlotte pink and green.
- More »
Author Archives
-
Tonight: Virtue Salon + Spa holiday party
-
Halo, 2/1/12
Photos from EDM night.
- More »
