Italy’s X Factor returned for its second live show on Thursday 29 October at the Repower Theatre in Milan, and while the vocals did the talking in the voting, the hair and make-up gave viewers plenty to study. Vanity Fair Italia went through every look of the night, noting that make-up was handled by KIKO Milano and hair by Alfaparf Milano.
A judges’ table of contrasts
Paola Iezzi went full retro: a fire-engine red lip with a satin finish, luminous skin and glossy jet-black hair set in soft side-parted waves, very much a 1950s screen siren. Host Giorgia put the focus on her eyes instead, with generous mascara, sharply defined brows and shimmering silver-grey shadow, balanced by a soft pink lip and sleek straight hair.
Across the table, the men stuck to their signatures. Jake La Furia kept to his usual white peaked cap and sunglasses, Francesco Gabbani paired a barely-there moustache with a neat fade that was left a little tousled on top, and Irama relied on his ash-blond curls, styled to look deliberately undone.
Curls, braids and a nod to goth-glam
Among the contestants, natural texture was the theme. ALÌA, the singer from Desenzano del Garda, piled her copper curls into a towering bun with loose strands framing the face, a very 1990s touch. Lenanie and the band Mad Dog let their curls do as they pleased, while Patrizia wore long, mermaid-style waves with grey-lilac eye make-up. The trio Le Distanze took their cue from The Cure, with pale skin, black eyes and a hint of burgundy lipstick, and Alex Fontana slicked his hair straight back with a wet-look finish.
The night ended with a sing-off between Lenanie, from Irama’s team, and Veronica Bruganelli, from Jake La Furia’s. According to Sky TG24, Irama, Francesco Gabbani and Paola Iezzi voted to keep Lenanie, so Veronica, who had worn a tight Lara Croft-style braid and glossy pink lips, left the competition. The live shows continue every Thursday on Sky Uno and NOW, with the final set for 3 December.
Want to borrow a look? A red lip like Paola Iezzi’s pairs beautifully with ruby earrings, Le Distanze’s burgundy mood suits garnet rings, and grey-lilac eyes look lovely beside amethyst earrings. For a sleek bun or braid, statement earrings do the rest.
Sources: Vanity Fair Italia; Sky TG24; Affaritaliani; Leggo.
