Stylist: Jared Ellner assisted by
Jess McAtee, Brooke Sandra, Alex Bullock, Varsha Paturi, Alexandria Paige and Wendy Anastasia
Outfit: Givenchy by Matthew M Williams
Makeup Artist: Alexandra French
Hairstylist: Gregg Lennon Jr.
Bag: Givenchy
Jewelry: Roxbury | Metal Noir | Hoorsenbuhs | Anne Sisteron
These days I am not feeling well and melancholia has embraced me way more than it normally does.
I don’t want my feelings to overwhelm me but generally they do shape my vision of life and my style preferences that tend to be very gothic and dark oriented.
That’s why today I was feeling like honoring the memory of a beloved designer, who is sadly not among us anymore but whose works still resonate to this day.
If you are familiar with his catalogue, you may see him in the details from Rina Sawayama‘s dress that she wore to the 2023 Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party.
For the event, Sawayama donned an asymmetrical faux-python cutout Givenchy look. The structure was very much in line with the Look 44 from the Fall 2023 Ready-to-Wear collection, and the overall pattern and design were truly reminiscent of those from the Givenchy Spring-Summer 2001 Haute Couture collection executed by Lee Alexander McQueen.
The Japanese entertainer accessorized the look with a cream Givenchy 4G micro quilted bag, Roxbury pendant earrings, what seemed to be a Metal Noir Eroded Architecture ring in 18k white gold on her left middle finger, an Anne Sisteron diamond ring and an incredible Hoorsenbuhs Dame Phantom Clique Antiquated ring in 18k white gold and diamonds on her right index finger.
Alexandra French was the master behind her makeup, and she opted for a glowy complexion, rose-y cheeks and a soft pout. She focused the attention on the eyes, opening them up by using a glittery eyeshadow in the inner corners, on the lids and false lashes wisely applied on the outer corners for maximum drama.
With such an intricate dress, the best choice was to keep things simple, even though we know French is one of the most creative artists out there.
All products used were courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury Makeup and Skincare–here is the breakdown, thanks to the brand:
“SKINCARE:
– Magic Body Cream;
COMPLEXION:
– Beautiful Skin Foundation – Shade 5;
– Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer – Shade 4;
– Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder – Shade 2;
– Hollywood Contour Wand – Light/Medium;
– Beauty Light Wand – ‘Peachgasm‘ + ‘Pinkgasm‘;
EYES:
– Color Chameleon – ‘Golden Quartz‘;
– Feline Flick – ‘Panther‘;
– Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! Mascara;
LIPS:
– Lip Cheat – ‘Pillow Talk Medium‘;
– Matte Revolution Lipstick – ‘Pillow Talk Medium‘.”
The hair was styled by Gregg Lennon Jr. in a sleek, high ponytail, so it wouldn’t interfere with the dress and she also sported a black, grey and dove beige tartan manicure (I’m on a mission to find out who did it for her because it’s so peculiar and different).
Rina was styled by Jared Ellner and his team of assistants.
The professional is incredibly good at mixing archive/vintage pieces with more modern ones–what he selects for his clients always feels new and diverse but with solid storytelling behind, something he does so well with Emma Chamberlain.
With this specific ensemble I liked how it is anchored in our reality but its original seed comes from decades ago.
When dresses feel and still look so timeless even after all these years, you know you have done something major during your tenure at a French maison.
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The EJAF foundation is a nonprofit organization, established by Sir Elton John–in 1992 in the United States and 1993 in the United Kingdom–to support innovative HIV prevention, education programs, direct care and support services to people living with HIV. It has raised over $600 million to support HIV related programs in fifty-five countries.
The organization supports its work through proceeds from special events, cause-related marketing projects, and voluntary contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. The foundation’s U.S. and U.K. branches work separately. Each focuses on different regions of the world; as a result, the organization is able to reach a broader scope of the world. The U.S. branch works in the Americas and the Caribbean, while the U.K. branch focuses on Europe, Asia and Africa.
EJAF has been well-known in Hollywood since 1993, when it began hosting the annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party.
The foundation is chaired by David Furnish, a producer of theater and music. He has been in a relationship with Elton John since 1993; they entered a civil partnership in 2005 and married in 2014.
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Rina Sawayama, the London-based Japanese singer, delighted the audience with a performance.
By the end of the party, it is said that the foundation had raised over $9 million for the cause.