Lookbooks

With a fabulous beauty collaboration collection that ranges from sweet to sassy, M∙A∙C and The Gossip’s leading lady, Beth Ditto, have come together to create a beauty collection that begs to be noticed. A juxtaposed range of muted pastels and highlighter-bright lip colors, polishes, pencils and powders, glamorous false lashes and longwear mascaras in high hues—this selection is perfect for the stage and/or the dance floor this Pride week—drag (queen) or no drag (queen).

Last week, more than 400 guests filled cool multi-purpose art venue MADE in Berlin to fete out-there-and-proud musical artist, Beth Ditto and her newest beauty collaboration with makeup mainstay brand, M∙A∙C. Stepping off her tour bus for the evening, A-list Berliners like actresses Heike Makatsch and Carolina Vera, electro-punk singer Peaches and local designer Patrick Mohr and many others, joined Ditto's launch and strolled along the red carpet before Ditto took the stage to sing “I Wrote the Book” and “Move in the Right Direction” among many other top hits.  The Gossip DJ Nathan delivered a set throughout the night that fuelled the coolest, most influential and recognizable crowd in Berlin.

The self-described color aficionado, Ditto gives us the scoop on her collaboration with M∙A∙C:

Q: Can you tell us some of your experience with cosmetics?

Beth Ditto: By the time I was in high school, all of my friends asked me to do their makeup for prom. Makeup is a big part of who I am. I love that it has the potential to transform a person; you can  become a clown or a princess. Makeup offers someone the unique freedom to become someone else for the day, 10 minutes or the rest of their life. It is something that you can hide behind, but also something that can give you confidence. That’s why I love makeup so much!

Q: Do you have a beauty icon?

BD: Peggy Moffitt and Grace Jones are definitely my ultimate beauty icons. Their looks are timeless. They can instantly transform themselves without losing their own identities. To this day, their signature looks are still very relevant.

Q: How do you describe your look?

BD: My look is “put together.” I am not really into high glam, because I am not that… ambitious, but I am really into makeup. I always have my eye liner on, my hair done, and a nice pair of black flats.

Q: What is the correlation between your music and makeup?

BD: I am a child of the '80s. When I was about five years old, MTV was made illegal in my hometown, so it felt like I was stuck on a deserted island with both Cyndi Lauper and Boy George’s music. They didn’t want you to pay attention only to their music or makeup—they wanted you to pay attention to both! I am obsessed with their music and also the looks they cultivated that ultimately defined the decade. So, for me, there is always a very strong correlation between music and makeup.

Q: Where does your instinct for colours come from?

BD: I’m passionate about colour. My best friend and I sit and look at Pantone books for fun. We’ll be like, “Oh my God, Pantone 93 is amazing!” That’s the kind of stuff I do – it’s inspiring, I’ve always loved colour. Maybe it has something to do with the Wizard of Oz. I remember that being the most amazing moment ever, when the colour comes in. 

Q: Do you have a favourite product in the collection?

BD: M·A·C Liquidlast Liner—I can’t live without it! A close second is the Shade & Smoke Shadow/Liner with dual colors, I really love versatility in makeup, it’s my favorite thing. I hardly ever use a product in the way it’s meant to be used. 

 Q: What was the inspiration behind the colours in this collection?

BD: Being able to combine the colours, and the ability to look good on girls of all skin tones and types.