As soon as Niko Riam opened the Area show, with her Bantu knots adorned with crystals, it was set to be a beauty moment to remember this New York Fashion Week. Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk, of course, are no strangers to the gem adornments that have grown to become a staple of the 3-year-old label but the predominant feature spilled above the neck this time too. Hairstylist Jawara described the look as “bodega crystal braid” with most models hair precisely parted down the middle with a singular braid and then adorned on top with variations of colored crystals wondrously resembling hair streaks and parts or woven into braids and buns. Some models hair jewels even morphed into web-like bauble face masks. To offset the over-the-top hair moment, makeup artist Jen Myles created a bronzed, sun-kissed look using MAC Cosmetics.
