Kate* Middleton. You’ve got to hand it to her.
According to the National Press over the weekend – more specifically, Sali Hughes, Beauty Director for The Guardian – Kate did her own makeup on her wedding day.
Let’s just pause and think about this for a second.
Most brides will tell you it’s a good idea to hire a Professional Makeup Artist to take care of your makeup on your wedding day. This is often because brides worry that their nerves will get the better of them, preventing them from being able to do their makeup to the best of their ability (or worse, leaving them with no option but to ask one of the bridesmaids to do it at the last minute).
Having a Makeup Artist (MUA) there on the day can certainly take the pressure off (providing you hire the right one!). But it also means you’re pretty much guaranteed to look your best as you walk up the aisle to meet your betrothed.
Back to Kate. Not only did she decide to do her own makeup on her wedding day (this in itself is most impressive), but, she did it on the day she married an English Prince, on the telly, and in front of an estimated 2 billion people worldwide.
Brave? Sheer madness, surely.
I mean, it’s not as if she didn’t have the budget for an MUA?! (For those of you new to bridal makeup, prices vary depending on who you get but it can range from anywhere between £100 to £400/£500).
Perhaps it was a strategic decision of Kate’s/her advisors for Kate to do her own makeup, one designed to add a personal touch to an overall look which had been so highly considered.
Let’s look at what Kate did…
My first thought upon seeing her makeup was ‘Blimey, that’s a strong eye!’ (Kate had used rather a lot of dark eyeliner – I’d say definitely too much for a wedding – around the eyes).
My second thought – conscious of my eight years experience in bridal makeup – was more of a nervous doubting of my own knowledge. Had I missed the memo? Are heavily kholed eyes now ‘in’ for weddings? (Note: unless you’re an Indian bride or of Greek/Italian descent, dark khol is a no-no).
Perhaps Kate was worried her eye-makeup wouldn’t show up on the telly? Who knows. Sally agrees, saying the ‘excessive khol eyeliner..[would]…date an otherwise timeless look’.
Other than the heavy khol, I thought her makeup was really rather beautiful. I didn’t mind the ‘orangey blusher’ (which looked far more peachy/pinky from where I was sitting) and her lips maintained a lovely softness throughout the service, avoiding any kind of heavy gloss (equally disastrous for wedding makeup, not least because it sticks to the veil!). Kate has lovely brows but I would definitely have softened them.
According to other online sources, including Vogue.co.uk, Kate had lessons with a Makeup Artist before the day (names vary but Vogue suggests it was Arabella Preston). Still doesn't change the fact she did something most brides would really rather not have to worry about on their wedding day. Good on you Kate.
Sally goes onto say in the Guardian feature, ‘Kate just looked like herself’. Which is how it should be. I’m just disappointed there wasn’t a Makeup Artist Reveal(!) story following the wedding for me to dissect and admire…
What did you think of Kate’s makeup?
* Please note: I have chosen to use the Duchess of Cambridge's name, 'Kate', as she is more affectionately known, throughout this article, rather than Katherine, to highlight her normality as a former general member of the public. It is not my intention to offend or to be disrespectful to Her Royal Highness.
