In partnership with YSL Beauty
As soon as our feet hit the concrete at Carriageworks, the annual location for AAFW last Monday morning, we knew it was going to be an eventful one. One look at our Google calendars and you'll understand exactly why the RUSSH team enlisted the help of YSL Beauty's iconic Touche Éclat Illuminating Pen to assist on the facial front. Because of course we did. With just one click, it serves us our beauty sleep back in a tiny gold pen. Used by the RUSSH team for years for its original erasing of shadow areas, at AAFW, all of its multi uses are utilised, from applying it as an on-the-go foundation, to sculpting features, adding highlight, and concealing any problem areas. As we look back on one of the busiest weeks of the year for the Australian fashion industry, we recap the moments we needed it the most.
Day one began on site for a beautiful Welcome to Country, where we paid our respects to the Aboriginal peoples of the Eora nation, past, present, and emerging, and whose unceded Gadigal land we would gather upon for the week. Following this, was Bianca Spender's opening show, where earth tones were intercepted with pops of vibrant hues as models emerged onto an expansive rust-coloured carpet. Next up, after getting lost in Rozelle for just enough time to think we wouldn't make it, we arrived at White Bay Passenger Terminal for the Bondi Born show, which offered a refreshing sorbet palette and expert draping before making a pit stop at Surry Hills' Butter for a swift friend chicken sandwich for some very necessary sustenance.
By this point, en route to Romance Was Born at Ken Done's gallery at The Rocks, a touch up under the eyes facilitated by the car mirror and YSL's Touche Éclat pen was a priority. For such a busy week, it's important for us all to work with products that can be built upon while remaining fresh. In the morning, it's all about concealing and highlighting using the Touche Éclat pen, under the eyes, down the nose, on the brow bone, a touch on the cupids bow, and a dot on the chin is all we need to be fresh faced for shows. As the day rolls on, a few extra swipes never go astray to brighten and illuminate, it's been a RUSSH cult favourite for years because of it's one-click ability to create soft skin, blur lines, and blend shadows.
After Romance Was Born, we headed back to Carriageworks to catch the Beare Park and Aaizél shows, which served evening glamour expertly.
Day two began back at Carriageworks with Oroton's Resort 23 show, followed by Matteau and St Agni, all offering pared-back summer essentials in effortless iterations. That evening, after Indigenous Fashion Projects, which brought forward a breathtaking cohort of capsule's by First Nations designers, It was time for our annual F*ck Fashion, Let's Dance party, which required Touche Éclat to revive our fresh skin the evening of and the morning after. Pre-party was all about highlighting the cheekbones, brow bones, forehead and chin, while the morning after was very much spent with Touche Éclat in tow. Under the eyes, on freshly procured red spots, and anywhere that needed help.
Naturally, after all-night dancing and debauchery, skin is in a state of crisis, so you can imagine we were gripping on tightly to the Touche Éclat throughout Wednesday as we attended Aje, ESSE (a highlight of the week), Karla Špetić, and Auteur, with its ability to provide eight hours of hydration, it's the perfect post-party pick-me-up, packed with soothing Marigold, a powerful antioxidant ingredient known for its moisturising benefits.
That evening, after a brief power nap and refresh, it was time to head out to the Museum of Contemporary Art to enjoy a candle-lit dinner with our Bassike family, where they presented their Resort 23 collection film shot at white-sand beaches on Hamilton Island.
Thursday provided some much-needed reprieve and a moment to focus on playing catch-up. In the evening, with our eye bags feeling a lot less desperate and our skin needing a moment to breathe easily, we opted for a light application of Touche Éclat under the eyes and around the nose. Nothing more necessary especially in the low light of the night as we headed out to enjoy inspiring shows by Jordan Dalah and Iordanes Spyridon Gogos.
Friday began and ended with a bang. Up early for Alix Higgins' debut show, and late to bed after a stunning collective show from First Nations Fashion & Design, a few too many Margaritas and a dance to bid the week farewell.
We couldn't have done it all without the help of Touche Éclat. Below, watch our highlight reel from the best moments of the week.
