The French fashion house made a grand return to Scotland earlier this month for its first catwalk show in nearly seven decades, drawing inspiration from Scottish fashion and history for a stunning display at Drummond Castle near Crieff, Perthshire, famously known as the "Versailles of Scotland" and featured in the TV series Outlander.
The star-studded event, attended by celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Rosamund Pike, and Anya Taylor-Joy, paid homage to the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France with a spectacular showcase of tartan outfits and traditional Scottish pipers.
In a move to celebrate local talent, Dior’s Paris team handpicked a selection of Scottish make-up artists to work alongside the core team led by Creative and Image Director for Christian Dior Makeup, Peter Philips. Portfolios were submitted to Colours Agency Scotland, and 18 talented artists were chosen to assist in creating the beauty looks for the 90 models who graced the runway. Among these artists were distinguished alumni and staff from West College Scotland including past students Laura Long and Lauren O’Donnell, who now works for STV alongside staff member, Caroline Grehan Dunn who is the colleges Curriculum Quality Leader for Hair, Beauty, Make-up at our Paisley Campus.
The preparation spanned two days, with the first day dedicated to testing and perfecting the looks on each other and the models. The second day focused on the show itself, involving final touch-ups and ensuring every model was camera-ready.
Additionally, some past students were selected to provide VIP make-up services to Dior's elite clientele. These include makeup artists Claire Aitken, Lauren McGowan and Leigh Blaney, who provided make-up for VIP clients at Drummond Castle; salon owner and makeup artist, Louise Ballantyne, who had the honour of providing make-up for actress Minnie Driver.
Head of Health Wellbeing and Care, Wendy Sheridan-Price said,
“This collaboration marks a significant milestone for West College Scotland, showcasing the exceptional skills and professionalism of its alumni on an international stage. We are extremely proud of our alumni and staff’s successes, and it is fantastic to see their talents highlighted by this unique and inspirational event.”