KT Auleta

One great thing about the relatively new creative outlet of fashion film is that it allows photographers to bring some of their most cherished images to life. KT Auleta, the director of today’s dazzling poolside spectacular, had one such image resting for years in her portfolio. “It’s a picture of a girl wearing a visor, sitting in a pool,” says the photographer-turned-filmmaker, whose work has appeared in i-D, Vogue Russia and Self-Service.  “She’s smiling, you can really see her skin, and she looks filled with such spirit. I always wanted to do something more with that photograph.” To work this potent visual into the glittery splashy short film you see before you, set at a swimming pool on the Gold Coast, Long Island (retreat of choice for millionaires and movie stars), Auleta teamed up with celebrated makeup artist and Lancôme Creative Director Aaron de Mey, who is famous for his no-holds-barred love of high-impact color and sparkly, glossy finishes. The film’s star, Hungarian model Enikő Mihalik, is one of De Mey’s favorites—he waxes lyrical about her “elegant toughness,” “Siamese cat eyes” and “latex-like skin.”  Her jewelry comes courtesy of the Italian jeweler Bulgari. Beneath the film’s luxe, seductive shimmer lies a more subtle narrative, indicated by Auleta’s inclusion of the Anne Carson quote as the film closes. “There’s this idea of transformation through cleansing in the water,” says Auleta, “like the myth of a burning phoenix, ascending and changing.”

Aaron de Mey explains how to get Enikő's look in the film:

The black, liquid-lined feline eye was achieved using Lancôme Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner in Black. I drew the shape upward and outward to make Enikő's eyes look dynamic and slightly punk. Two sets of false lashes were applied to the top lash line and coated with Lancôme Hypnose Waterproof Custom Volume Mascara in Black to define and enhance the eye shape created with the eyeliner. For the lips I applied Swarovski crystals individually to a light layer of Shu Uemura eyelash glue. I used Lancôme Teint Miracle Natural Skin Perfection foundation to perfect and even the skin tone. The eyebrows were bleached to erase them so that the focus was shifted to the eyes. Click here to read De May's fall makeup recommendations.