Putting aside notions of that “raw,” “cool,” “downtown' girl for a second, the Oscar de la Renta show (as always, but this season especially) presented a woman who tried and fucking nailed it. Tuesday evening's show at the Prince George Ballroom said it very clearly: “Sorry everyone else, time to go home,”

Diane Kendal was on fire here, and the skin looked flawless. She was using four key MAC products—a thin line of Creme Liner in Black on the top lid, a soft pink Powder Blush in Buff on the apples of the cheeks and some Cream Color Base softly blended on the lid and into the hollow. Then, depending on the girl, a red or nude lip pencil—both made extra-matte with a topping of Transparent Finishing Powder.

Then there was Guido's hair (interesting note: Diane and Guido teamed up for Wang last Saturday, too—clearly a very different beast). Clean ponytails with a hint of volume tied back with a black ribbon. There was no short hair here—girls with shorter cuts like Xiao Wen Ju were sporting extensions. Alicia Torello went for a clean buffed nail, not a thing on it. It all came together to create aching perfection, as over the top as that may sound. It was so perfect, it hurt a little. The location had a lot to do with as well: Imagine Titanic meets the ballroom from the Beauty And the Beast. The lighting, too, was so lovely and dreamy. But this is nothing new—Oscar turns out perfection every season. It's always nice to have something to rely on.

Photographed by Tom Newton.

For more backstage beauty from NYFW, click here.