With a pair of standout runway and red carpet debuts occurring in the same week, it's safe to say that Quannah Chasinghorse's ascent to fashion ingenue status has been nothing short of meteoric. Last weekend alone, the 19-year-old opened and closed the Gabriela Hearst show and was profiled in the October 2021 issue of Vogue, highlighting her rise in the industry and work to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Next, on her busy New York schedule—a trip she made with the matriarchs of her family—was attending the 2021 Met Gala. Hosted for the first time since the pandemic took hold of the globe, the evening celebrated the legacy of American fashion. It was also an opportunity for Chasinghorse—who has a deep connection to her Hän Gwich'in (from Alaska and Canada) and Sicangu/Oglala Lakota (from South Dakota) ancestry—to bring more Indigenous representation to a powerfully high-profile stage.
For her Met Gala debut, Chasinghorse chose a gold Dundas x Revolve gown with help from stylist Tabitha Simmons and paired it with authentic Navajo jewelry, flown to New York City by her aunt for the occasion. Picking up on the reflective tones of her metallic gown, Gucci collaborated with Simmons to create a light-catching eye look with shimmering Peau de Soleil highlghts and a mix of Eye Pod shadows.
"Quannah is strong, passionate, and gorgeous," says Gucci, who focused on makeup that would enhance her natural beauty. "We kept the complexion very fresh with an emphasis on the eyes." That refined and radiant canvas left the focus on Chasinghorse's traditional Yidįįłtoo tattoos; each distinct marking, along her chin and the corners of her eyes, proudly commemorates a special moment in a Hän Gwich'in woman's life.
Before starting on makeup, Gucci prepped Chasinghorse's complexion with 111Skin's hydrating and nourishing products, including a soothing eye mask and cream. Then, she applied three Vital Skin shades—V, VI, and VII—for a supernatural finish. To boost skin's warmth, she swept on an authentic sun-kissed bronzer in Coup de Soleil and subtle contour along the cheekbones and bridge of nose with Biscuit. A touch of Rodan + Fields Brow Gel shaped the eyebrows, while Baby Cheeks in Bichette enhanced her healthy flush.
"All the eye colors contain golden undertones to match the dress," Gucci explains of dipping into a range of Eye Pods shades for the occasion. "We brightened Quannah's lids with Bisou from the new Rendez-Vous palette, which paired nicely with Peau de Soleil." She then amped up definition along the tearline with a combination of metallic black (using Noir from the Les Nuits palette), khaki green (in Bonne Chance in the Rendez-Vous palette), and Chanel eye pencil plus liquid liner. The final touch was a rosy hue (using the Les Nudes palette) layered over Chanel's Rose Naturel lip pencil, plus a sweep of Eye Love You Mascara for fluttery deep black lashes.
"These are all shades I would actually wear," says Chasinghorse, happily peering into a compact at the final look, which felt authentically glamorous yet natural to her. With a quick last touch up from Gucci and hairstylist Holly Mills, she was out the door— and ready to take the red carpet by storm.
To discover all the products used for Quannah Chasinghorse's striking Met Gala beauty, click here! Then learn how to apply Gucci's dream eye shadow palette—Rendez-Vous—our newest trio of clean-cushiony colors.
