INTERVIEW: Kristin Gallegos

For my interview series I wanted to highlight people who work with color everyday!
Kristin Gallegos is a make-up artist and personal friend of mine. Her style has always inspired me. She is one of those people you can't help but love. 

I had the pleasure of meeting Kristin a few years back. If my memory serves me well, we were at an infamous party held at "Luke and Leroy". Both of us were new to NYC and shared a 11211 zip-code (Williamsburg, BK). Kristin had relocated to NYC from LA, ready to take the city by storm. Kristin truly is one of the hardest working people I have ever met. I'm glad to have had the pleasure of watching Kristin blossom from a some-what shy girl who only wore vintage, into the dynamic fashion power house she is today. Here's a look at what Kristin is working on now & looking forward to in 2010.   

 INTERVIEW: 

KRISTIN GALLEGOS 

 Photo by: Hanneli Mustaparta

WW: How long have you been doing make-up now?  
KG: 5 & 1/2 years in NYC
 
WW: What agency are you with currently?  
KG: Bryan Bantry
 
WW: Where did you get your training?  
KG: A workshop at Studio Makeup Academy at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, Ca.  But mostly from assisting Dick Page and Lisa Butler, amongst others.
 
WW: How old are you?  haha, I know you shouldn't ask a lady that!
KG: How dare you!!!  A lady never tells!!!!  Just kidding, I am 28!
 
WW: What is your favorite color?  
KG: I am known for wearing all black.  Although that really isn't a color, its my favorite.  If I had to pick an actual color it would be "Greige", a mixture of grey and beige.

WW: What project/s are you currently booked or working on? 
KG: I just shot the Victorinox Swiss Army Campaign with Collier Schorr, V Magazine with Peter Lindbergh, Glamour with Arthur Elgort, and just got back from India where I was shooting Vogue India with Jean Francois Campos!


WW: How was India? did you get to any out door markets or sight-see? 
KG:  India was an amazing experience!  It was unlike anything I have ever seen in my life.  Being in a third world country really makes you appreciate what you have.  It puts everything into perspective.  I unfortunately worked most of the time and if I wasn't working I was traveling within the country to the next location.  So I didn't get to do much exploring.  But I had a lot of fun and had two amazing shoots there.

WW: Who are you looking forward to working with during Fashion Week?
KG: Naeem Khan is always a pleasure to work with each season.  And my good friend Katie Gallagher.  She got a lot of buzz last season for her first show.  I think this season will be amazing for her.
 
WW: Who are you looking forward to seeing during Fashion Week?
KG: I always look forward to seeing Carine Roitfeld and Anna Dello Russo! They really know how to bring it!  And hopefully there will be a Lady Gaga sighting...
 
WW: Are you working overseas this fashion week or just traveling? 
KG: I am not traveling to Europe for fashion week this season but definitely Paris for next season!

WW: Crazy that we are in a new decade? 2010! What are you excited about this year? Any resolutions?   

KG: I am very excited for the new decade!  I think my career is going to go to the next level this year!  I am excited for more traveling and working with more amazing people.  As for resolutions...I'm already on track with them but I'm not telling!!!
 

WW: You've always had such a great sense of style. What are you adding or changing to your style come Spring 2010? 

KG: Oh thank you!!  I plan on adding some Spring '10 Givenchy, Rick Owens, Peter Pilotto, Ann Demeulemeester, Hannah Marshall (a friend), Katie Gallagher, and perhaps some Commes! And more white, nude, and grey! I am also open to an amazing print.  As you can see I have a little bit of a shopping obsession!

WW: Honey! obsession is an understatement! I can't help but feel slightly responsible for feeding you to the fashion wolves, so to speak. Please tell me you're feet will be adorning the McQueen 10'' amazingness!!?    

KG:  Well you can't take full credit!  But you helped me take it to another level.  I don't know if the McQueenadillos are even being sold.  But I have photos of me wearing them on a shoot!  They are major!!!  It's like walking in pointe shoes.  Lucky for me I have 8 years of crazy ballet training behind me!

WW: How would you describe your personal style with both make-up and clothes?  

KG: My personal style is very dark.  As I said I mostly wear black.  I love interesting shapes and silhouettes.  I usually wear tight black jeans with some short of amazing shape up top or really short skirts and dresses!  And I love a bold shoulder!  In make-up I rarely change my look.  It's always a strong black smudgy eye with lots of mascara.  A natural face and lip.  On rare occasion I go completely natural or I will add a red lip.  That's always shocking!!  My look has been called "luxury goth", which I find funny!  And I get that I resemble Cher from the 60's a lot!  
 

Photo by: http://facehunter.blogspot.com/

WW: What key make-up looks are you liking for SP '10? & What should be left in '09?  

KG: I loved the bold lips on the runway that we saw at Givenchy, Prada, and Rodarte to name a few.  Also the absence or focus on the eyebrow.  I also loved the severe eyes at Rick Owen!  Stunning!

KG: What should be left in '09 is the super 80's inspired make-up a la Marc Jacobs!

WW:If you had a palette of colors that was signature to you, what colors would make up this pallette?  

KG: I definitely use a lot of neutral tones.  There would be black, white, terracotta, variety of greys, various taupes, nudes and browns.  But I love pops of color as well so I would also throw in some red, pink, purple, blue, green, orange, and yellow!  I love it all!

 (Here is a little palette I put together inspired by KG.)

WW: What are your thoughts about a bold lip?  

KG: I LOVE a bold lip.  Not everyone can pull it off though.  It takes a lot of self assurance.  And some people just don't have the lips for it!  I think if you are going to go for a bold lip it has to be the right shade for you as well.  And my advice is not to pair it with a dark eye.  Choose to focus on your eyes or your lips.  Most people cannot pull off a full face!
 

WW: Is less more?

KG: I think for the everyday woman, less is more.  Especially on the skin.  Most women think they need a full face of foundation when they should really only conceal where needed.  Subtle enhancements on the face are always best.  But there are exceptions to this as well.  People that have "a look" and can pull off more, by all means do it.  It just has to be well done and appropriate.  But, in fashion, sometimes more is more!  I love to experiment and really take it there in my work.  
 

WW: Who/what is inspiring you at the moment? 

KG: What always inspires me is the person in my make-up chair.  I work very organically.  I have ideas of course but once the person is in my chair and I start working the face in front of me inspires what the outcome will be.  And obviously the clothes are very inspiring to me.  Editorial is a very collaborative effort.  So the styling and hair will also inspire me.  It really all depends.  In general I am inspired by my travels and the different cultures I have had the pleasure to see.  And I am inspired by art, movies, pop culture, and music.  

KG: As far as my personal style goes I am inspired by various time periods like the 60's, 80's and 90's.  My style icons are:  Edie Sedgwick, Siouxsie Sioux, Patti Smith, Anita Pallenberg, Robert Smith, and Nico.  

WW: What bands are you listening to lately?

KG:  The usual suspects:  Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Beatles and The Zombies.  I like to stick to the classics!

WW: And who are you wearing most? 

KG: I am wearing a lot of Rick Owens, Ann Demuelemeester, Margiela and some Givenchy.  
 

WW:Quote of the moment?

KG: "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." -Coco Chanel