Introducing: James Molloy and M.A.C Fashion Sets

On Friday I had the delightful experience of meeting James Molloy (Director of Makeup Artistry at M.A.C Cosmetics for Asia/Pacific) and testing out the new M.A.C Fashion Sets range that will be released this coming Monday. 

James is a delicious creature! Heralding from rural Northeast England and always having been creatively inclined, I asked him how the translation of his love and affection with colour, texture and glamour into working as a makeup artist was received by those in his hometown? He chuckled and recounted how growing up he had learned that boys played football and not with makeup. We giggled at how silly that is!

With 11 years experience in the beauty industry and having worked on projects ranging from fashion weeks to music videos and MTV awards to print editorial, I asked for a career highlight. With much passion James described his love for collections by Alexander McQueen. We shared a beautiful moment of despair recounting our reactions to McQueen's death. Nowhere more intensely was McQueen's death felt than in James' homeland. We were both quite intensely affected by the passing of the poster child of young British fashion. Big fashion moment. 

Working in a job that has seen James travel extensively and work on a broad range of projects I wondered what trend has stood out as a favorite across his career so far? Bleached eyebrows! We chattered away about the sultry alien energy that a bleached brow creates. I recounted with much amusement the tragic case of having my eyebrows destroyed (read: ripped off) by a mall beauty salon one week prior to my graduation from fashion school. Isn't it incredible how soul crushing I found that experience but I could imagine choosing to have my brows bleached/made invisible would be incredibly empowering?

Obviously I'm a die hard M.A.C lover but I asked what has enchanted him most about this makeup mega brand. James explained to me that he is captivated by the dynamic energy of M.A.C artists around the world who inspire him no matter where in the world he travels. I cheekily asked where in the world his favorite M.A.C store is? His eyes sparkled as he exclaimed: "Tokyo!" 

I asked James what his advice he has young creatives starting out in their chosen industries. Focus and determination to make it are two of the factors that he believes will take someone a long way. His suggestion is to keep your end goal in mind while setting smaller goals in between to stay focused. So many great things can be achieved at a young age... Look at Mr Molloy!

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M.A.C Fashion Sets are 3-piece collections of lipstick, lip glass and nail lacquer in 7 palettes. The seven colourways are inspired by the top selling hues across the world and each region has a different palette on offer.  My favorite is the Saint Germain set inspired by Seoul! 

Available May 14th for 6 weeks at all M.A.C locations.

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