Alex Box is one of the most influential make-up artist’s working today, creating looks for designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, McQ, Peter Jensen and Gareth Pugh. She’s also a veritable style icon, dressing today, according to her Facebook status in ‘fluro pink hot-pant suit and matching tights, 20-inch patent platforms and a crop jacket.’ Well, what did you expect? “I never feel inhibited,” she announces boldly. “I really like to see what I can get away with… it’s fun, it’s costume.” Adding, “One of my most complimented outfits is a £5 Sainsbury’s glow in the dark skeleton costume, but because I wear it with high heels and costume jewellery it’s perceived differently. Clothes for me are meant to be a journey into persona.” Alex is not only an eye-tingling style sensation and tip-top make-up artist; she is also the Artistic Director behind the illustrious Illamasqua make-up range. For Alex make-up and clothes are symbiotic. “They work together and without each other the other can’t exist. Like flowers and bees,” she explains. “Actually there is a massive 2-foot stuffed Ikea bumble bee that I sewed to a Karl Lagerfeld jacket hanging at the back of my wardrobe. I love anything that stands out and works for strange reasons.” In a dream world what would the make-up maestro own? “If I could own anything…” she ponders, “it would be the YSL archive, the fake gold costume jewellery made for MGM in the 30s and 40s, anything by Freddie Burretti (who shaped David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust persona), all Gareth Pugh’s clobber, and a weather machine so I could make it just the right temperature all the time to wear a deep ‘V’ Le Smoking jacket with nothing underneath…”
