Have you ever seen Michael Powell's and Emeric Pressburger's 1951 film The Tales of Hoffmann? It is one of my all time favourite films. It's an filmed version of Jacques Offenbach's 1882 opera, a lush follow up to Powell and Pressburger's 1947 ballet film The Red Shoes. The first tale is the story of (get ready for this) a life size wind up doll, and it is just as strange as you can imagine, predicting Real Dolls in an 1820s setting. Go here to see the act. Around the 11 minute mark, you see the dancing dolls. The makeup on the dolls is similar to the makeup of these models of Ottawa Fashion Week, and this is credit to the makeup artists. I do not know if anyone working on this project was aware of this film, it does have a cult status but is not universally known, but the makeup work here is a tribute to that wonderful film. It was interesting that when the models went onto the runway representing the Serendipity line of Kelsey McIntyre, the chosen music was the seventh movement (Aquarium) of Camille Saint-Saens' The Carnival of the Animals. Saint-Saens was a contemporary and friend of Offenbach.
If you gt a chance, check out Grace Odumo's fabulous site http://www.613style.com/ for the rest of the pictures from Ottawa Fashion Week. Another note...the models were wonderful to work with.
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