GUCCI WESTMAN

Portrait by Ben Hassett for Models.com

#IndustryNow The cycles of social media impel us to embrace then move on from trends and discourses faster than ever before. The life span of a single work––an editorial, a campaign, a show, a stint––is shorter for it. Fashion’s only unconditional term is the future: operating a year ahead, after all. So, in an industry where change and relevancy are the full stops at the end of every sentence, Models.com wanted to highlight individuals who add permanence to the community–some at their start and some at their top. Photographer Ben Hassett gets up close and personal for Models.com with the creative forces often behind the scenes. They are the Industry, Now.

As far as celebrity makeup artists go, Gucci Westman practically set the bar with her “second skin” glamour bringing actresses like Cameron Diaz and Emma Stone that much closer to realizing their full star power potential. One of her lofty, breathtaking looks or a full-on transformation on the cover of a glossy means a celebrity can have an impact viewed at any distance from the newsstand. It was that aspirational level of cosmetic supervision and a tip-off from Grace Coddington that hoisted Westman’s career to the top and garnered her Vogue covers by the handful. The California-born, Sweden-raised makeup artist has since overseen the vanity mirror for Annie Leibovitz, Peter Lindbergh, Harley Weir and Cass Bird. After a run as artistic director for Lancôme, Westman became the global artistic director of Revlon until 2015. In 2018, she drew on her 20-some years of experience and established her line of consciously crafted and clean products under Westman-Atelier.

What has allowed you to stay true to a personal vision as the industry trials ways to adapt to modern challenges?
As a brand founder, I obviously am aware of everything that is going on and the power of social media. As a brand, all of these shifts make things more complex. You need to believe unequivocally in your mission and then tap into an authentically like-minded community. You have to create innovative, honest content across multiple channels to spark that community. In this current climate of activism and transparency, you have to be accountable, nimble and willing to act fast.

How has heightened attention to self-image influenced your work and craft?
I’m concerned by the idea that such heavy transformational makeup is having such a moment if it’s spending hours altering your appearance through makeup, or surgical procedures and filters on top of that; what message is that putting to our children? It’s saying that you are not good enough the way you are, so you need to transform yourself in order to gain the affirmation of others. My brand speaks to enhancing the natural beauty of women and empowering them just as they are with a little boost, I’m hopeful that the pendulum will swing back to that type of aspirational self-image soon.

Have the reasons you started doing what you do changed along the way?
No, I’ve been on the same focused mission throughout––I want to create the cleanest, highest performing, therapeutic makeup I possibly can.

What was the turning point in your career?
This is the turning point!

Is making beautiful things enough?
No, they need to perform, be clean, do much more for you than simply be beautiful.

How does design naturally and seamlessly evolve with the times? How much do you need to reinvent with an original design?
I think not focusing on what other brands are doing is important, sticking with your vision; I have always been inspired by fragrance design rather than makeup.