Interview with Vinicius Vilas Boas about the beauty of the Maurício Duarte fashion show at the N57 edition of the SPFW.
Born in Santo André, in ABC Paulista, but from Paraná at heart, Beauty artist Vinicius Vilas Boas is trained by SENAC and has a diversified career, including editorials, advertising campaigns, fashion shows and artistic beauty productions.
We spoke with Vinicius Vilas Boas to understand a little more about his debut when signing the beauty of a fashion show at SPFW, his creative process, his relationship with trends and his inspirations.
Follow the full interview below.
How does it feel to sign off on the beauty of your first fashion show at SPFW?
Oh, it was very exciting. The week before São Paulo Fashion Week moved me a lot. I grew up in a very small city, my family is humble, so the things I've been doing, such as signing up for São Paulo Fashion Week, for many years, were distant dreams for me. I believe that this invitation, that opportunity that Maurício Duarte And the John Fazzioli They gave it to me, it's an affirmation of the work I've been doing. I always liked fashion very much, from a very young age, I always accompanied it, and for a long time, it seemed like something far from happening. It was something that moved me, but I also think it's not just about me. It's about my entire family trajectory, about my family that cheers for me, that accompanies me. I think it's a dream that was very divided, between me, my friends, my mother, my brothers, so it was very special, I was very moved, very honored to be Maurício, to everything Maurício represents, to be the only indigenous brand in São Paulo Fashion Week, for the trust in my work and for leaving it in my hands, knowing that there is care. I think it was much, much more special than I imagined.
I have a friend who is indigenous and she is someone who has always kept me very informed, you know? So that today, at that moment, with Maurício's invitation, I would understand how things are connected. The importance of the Maurício fashion show in particular, besides being São Paulo Fashion Week and being my first fashion show. It was very exciting, I think that's the word, exciting, very special for me, for my career, and I think it's the realization of a dream, it's living a dream in life.
How would you describe your makeup style and how does it align with contemporary fashion aesthetics?
I believe that my beauty has a touch Clean, yet modern. I like to highlight specific points in my makeup. I don't consider my beauty maximalist, but rather with a touch of punctual modernity. I prefer lighter skin and a beauty Clean, but with a narrative behind it, a point of reference that complements the rest. It's hard to define, isn't it? The job itself. But I think that's what it would be, a clean and modern style. I think that fits well.
We notice a more surreal trend on international catwalks, perhaps the most iconic case being that of Pat McGrath, a maximalism. His style seems to be counterbalanced in the sense of freshness, of a very Brazilian liveliness.
It's interesting for you to mention this, because I have great appreciation for observing Brazil and the art that we have here. I've always sought to bring that to my work. Although we are living in a globalized world, where we have access to many external influences, I have always strived to preserve our identity. It's something I seek to incorporate.
What are your main sources of inspiration when creating makeup looks?
I think that these references come a lot from my friends, from the people I live with. I have the privilege of having inspiring friendships from various regions of Brazil, of different ethnicities. Those people that surround me are a constant source of inspiration. Naturally, this is reflected in my work, as it is a living part of my daily life, of my reality. I really like being Brazilian and I have a great appreciation for our art.
How did you approach collaborating with Maurício Duarte to ensure that the makeup complements his creations?
When I spoke with Maurício, we wanted cleaner beauty. Knowing the theme of the collection, Piracema, I was inspired by the fish that are part of this phenomenon. One of them, pirarucu, is used as material to build this collection. On the fish's scale, there's this silver and green reflection that caught my attention a lot. I think that brings up an idea of technology, you know? I thought a lot about that, about how to combine technology with Maurício's work. I thought a lot about that word: a original technology, something that would be intertwined with something current and contemporary, which is what we do. That's what his work represents to me: something very current, very contemporary. So I wanted to combine those two references. Thus, it brought points of light to beauty. I wanted to show in my eyes that reflection that goes from green to silver. And to bring more avant-garde fashion information, I wanted to bring that silver reflection to my mouth. It also combines very well with the metallic pieces that he mixed with indigenous handicrafts. This mix, I believe, will not distract from the main focus, which are the pieces, but it will complement, as if it were an accessory for the clothes that Maurício is creating.
What is your approach to dealing with the pressure and fast pace of backstage during SPFW?
I was very moved, it wasn't even an anxiety, it was an emotion. I was crying the whole time, because... It was an achievement and it's an achievement for me. As I had already participated in many fashion shows, I have been holding São Paulo Fashion Week for three years, so I already knew what it was like, how it worked Backstage. I was fortunate to work with professionals that I admire a lot, such as Laura La Laina, or Gui Casagrande, Jo Portalupi, Ziel Moura, people with whom I have done fashion shows and ended up learning a lot by watching.
My team was comprised of Senac students. Maurício's invitation was for me to sign Beauty and command this team. Since my first school was Senac, I understand the context and I know how special it is to have this opportunity. For me, it was even more significant. The week before, I conducted a meeting with them, went to Senac to talk to the coordinators, and on the day of the event, I felt confident, as I had the opportunity to demonstrate the beauty and explain the step by step before the fashion show. When I met the students, I noticed a very good receptivity on their part, they were truly willing to work with me, which made me calm. It was a special moment and what I wanted that day was for everyone to have a positive experience, without negative impressions, stress or tiredness. I wanted it to be a pleasant experience for everyone. So I was confident, believing that they would perform well, and in fact they delivered an excellent job.
How do you keep up to date on makeup trends and how do you incorporate them into your work?
I consume a lot of references. I have a folder with references from makeup artists that I admire a lot. I always follow their work. I also filter what matches my makeup style. So I like to absorb a lot of things. The reference is a crucial part of our work, because everything we consume visually ends up influencing our expression. I really like watching music videos, visual videos. Especially music videos, which inspire me a lot, because I am very attached to music. But this issue of following up with the artists, makeup artists that I admire brings up a lot of references. And from this set of references, I like to filter what I think it says about me or that makes sense. I also have my artist friends that I follow and who also inspire me a lot. We have a closer relationship and ended up exchanging ideas about the creative process. This gives me more inspiration to develop my own processes. I believe that this is how I can translate into my work what aesthetically matches what I want to express.
What are the most important aspects you consider when choosing makeup products for a fashion show?
I think that the performance that the product delivers is crucial. For a fashion show, a product must have a performance that stands out on the runway. It should be something light, that brings freshness, that shows beautiful and healthy skin. That depends a lot on the technology of the products as well. So for me, it is essential that these products perform well and provide naturalness to the makeup. I always like to take tests to see how they behave in light or in photos. It's very important to me that they result in healthy, breathing skin. Therefore, I make a careful selection of products that provide me with this effect on the final result.
How do you prepare to ensure that your makeup remains flawless throughout the show considering the long hours, the changing of outfits, the photo shoots?
I think the main thing for me is skin preparation. A well-prepared and hydrated skin will make any product perform its function better. Therefore, during a fashion week, I think it is essential to use powerful moisturizers, do massages and take care of skin health, preparing it properly and meeting the needs of each model. Each model has a specific skin type, so it's crucial to be sensitive to know what to use for each one. Some skin will need more hydration, requiring extra time for the massage. Or some may need not only a good moisturizer but also an oil to restore vitality. Thus, good skin preparation for a fashion week or a fashion show is very important.
What is your opinion about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry, and how is this reflected in your approach to makeup?
I think we still need to evolve a lot, even though we have already advanced and things have improved considerably. But in a country so diverse in terms of races, I believe that this issue needs to be constantly discussed and reinforced. People need to see themselves represented everywhere. Being representative is the minimum necessary, you know? For me, having the privilege that I have, it is very important that people see my work and realize the diversity of tones and skins that exist. It is essential that we continue to promote this discussion and to demand products and people that are present in these important spaces, so that others see themselves represented and feel inspired to occupy them.
Fashion is a very restricted environment, and it's crucial that more people have opportunities to dream and to reach those places. This is only possible through representation.
