Report by Anna-Marie Solowij

“Of course I’m here for the shows, but actually I have an equally busy cultural agenda, too,” explains make-up artist and Visionaire co-founder James Kaliardos.
Kaliardos is a regular at London Fashion Week, in his role as International Make-up Artist for L’Oréal Paris. Backstage at Matthew Williamson, touching up Freja’s 1990s minimalist make-up look [see right], Kaliardos appears rested, despite his arrival in London from New York late the night before.
“I used this new gadget – L’Oréal Paris’ Revitalift Pro-Contouring System – to massage my face, and it is amazing! Twenty minutes and you look like you’ve slept for a week,” he quips. “It’s as good as the relaxation exercises I do in my classes at The Actors Studio in New York.”
Kaliardos deserves the title of polymath: multi-talented (he prefers multi-interested), Kaliardos loves theatre, auditioning for acting roles to improve his stage skills (London’s Soho Theatre is a favourite venue). He is also an opera singer (he performed Verdi in Paris last July), while other passions include photography (Ryan McGinley’s Moonmilk show at Alison Jacques Gallery is on his list this visit), art and culture. “I was once in Qatar with Richard Avedon and we saw this wonderful sheikh – that whole cultural world fascinates me,” he says.
As a film and fashion buff, he saw The September Issue – twice – and despite knowing that world, he says that he learned much about the pressures of producing a glossy magazine like Vogue. “How Anna juggles the creative spirit and commercial obligations… I adore the unparalleled quality of the fashion imagery – Grace’s work uplifts the entire industry,” he says.
Even eating can be a creative pastime for Kaliardos. “I went to this cute restaurant on Lexington Street [Andrew Edmunds] that was full of characters.” He frequents Claridge’s for tea, J Sheekey and The Wolseley. “And if only Tom’s Kitchen was open 24 hours, I’d come back to London more often,” he laughs.
Photography by Anna Bauer

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