Ever since make-up became accessible, morticians have dutifully applied it to the faces of the dead. Both men and women, should they choose to have an open casket at their funeral will be wearing make-up. Without getting too gruesome - death isn't the most flattering of states for the skin, as you can imagine. Nobody wants their family to see them with sunken eyes, dull, greying skin, cracking lips, looking cold and lifeless, afterall. But who caters for those whose make-up plays a vital part in 'who they are'? Morticians are...well, morticians - not make-up artists. Although they do take the steps to make sure that the deceased looks like them self (often completely replicating their daily make-up from photos) - I know I'd rather have an actual make-up artist painting my face when I'm gone. I find it a comforting idea, that somebody might take the time and effort to make me look like me when I'm dead, with my usual full face of slap.
Now, I have nothing against a make-up brand filling this gap in the industry. I don't think that really, deep down, anyone has a problem with 'a' make-up brand filling the gap - I think it's the idea of Illamasqua filling the gap that is causing a stir. Ilamasqua aren't exactly known for being low key, are they? Even I couldn't imagine rocking a token Illamasqua look to the grave - glitter and falsies, razor sharp 'brows and bright lips. With their dark, alternative, theatrical image, it's easy to assume that they are just trying to earn goth points. Like a 14 year old kid in chains and a Manson shirt, desperate for attention, 'Look at how different I aaam!' However, if a more...well, politically correct, polite...ok, bland company had filled the gap - would anybody be concerned? If Bobbi Brown had stepped in? Or Esteé Lauder? Probably not.
Well, bravo, Illamasqua, I say! Bravo! Not only have you cemented your goth credentials, you've filled a gap which really I think only you could. Plus, at £450 a cadaver, nobody could knock your business sense, could they?
What are your thoughts, dear readers? Have Illamasqua gone too far? Are they taking a brave step in a new direction? Glamorous or grotesque?
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