THE STYLIST THE EYEBROW QUEEN - Meisha Wright

They have been lauded as Adelaide’s
answer to Trinny and Susannah, although
local fashion stylist Lucy
MacGill and eyebrow queen Meisha
Wright wince at the comparison. Why?
They aim to provide “hot fashion advice” for
their clients rather than “wardrobe do’s and
don’ts to enhance and disguise”. Undoubtedly,
though, Trinny and Susannah’s fame has legitimised
and popularised their skills.
Before the British duo established themselves
in the media, our makeover divas were
guiding women to style enlightenment with
clever fashion advice and subtle grooming
tips. Many may remember Wright behind the
Estee Lauder Brow Bar when it launched in
Myer Adelaide City in February 2005. She was
invited by the brand to lend her expertise to
the counter having already established her
reputation as an eyebrow specialist both here
and interstate. Today, she works from her own
studio and is booked out months in advance.
While MacGill, who said goodbye to a successful
fashion career in Sydney, has been
fashion wholesaling and in demand as a wardrobe
planner and stylist.
As individuals, they are hot on the fashion
scene. Together, however, they are even hot-
THE STYLIST
THE EYEBROW
QUEEN
&
What’s the hottest ensemble for the season? It’s
fashionistas Lucy MacGill and Meisha Wright, who
are on the eve of launching an online fashion
experience for Adelaide and the world!
words christine esau photography david solm
ter. In fact, they are ‘the new black’… a phrase
the pair has coined for their interactive beauty
and fashion online business, itsthenewblack.
com.au, which launches next month.
“Women are time poor, so we decided to
launch an online shop selling stunning pieces,
including labels we have sourced locally and
overseas, plus a vintage component and accessories,”
explains MacGill.
“It costs nothing to access the online site to
shop or you can subscribe to access the makeover
components, including interactive beauty
and fashion advice.”
With impeccable and impressive contacts in
the industry, gained from their combined 35
years of experience in fashion and beauty, the
pair will give clients online access to labels
such as Superfi ne, Citizens of Humanity, Diesel,
Issla and Tibi, and there will be information
about the hottest European and US makeup
products and trends. Plus, the site will give
individual style advice.
“They can email a picture of themselves
and get one-on-one beauty and styling tips,”
says MacGill. “They can even email examples
from their wardrobe and get suggestions on
how to update their look, as well as items they
should source to fi ll gaps.”
Sitting in Wright’s elegant Kent Town studio,
seated on a chocolate-coloured sofa and
surrounded by fragrant candles and modern
art, MacGill explains the online shop is the
next level for their independent businesses.
And, after having worked together on photo
shoots for the past four years, it cements their
working relationship.
“We respected each other’s professionalism
straight away and over time that respect
developed into friendship to the extent that we
talk to each other several times a day and
wouldn’t consider introducing an element into
our businesses without seeking each other’s
advice fi rst,” says Wright.
Statuesque, at almost 180cm tall, Wright is
passionate and poised. On the day of this
interview, she is immaculately groomed in
black, with several statement silver arm cuffs.
At barely 150cm, MacGill is petite and pragmatic
and the image of relaxed boho couture,
in white Diesel jeans, an embellished t-shirt,
fur vest, long scarf and leather string jewellery.
Together they are a somewhat daunting
duo, each oozing uber-cool fashion savvy and
self-confi dence. MacGill estimates she is invited
into seven women’s wardrobes a week to
cull and sort the ‘heroes’ from the ‘villains’,

Makeover divas
Lucy MacGill and
Meisha Wright.
wardrobe secrets
theAdelaide magazine 39

and Wright plucks about 40 eyebrows a day,
offering advice as she goes on other ways her
clients can improve their appearance.
“We can all be beautiful, but sometimes we
need guidance,” says Wright. “That’s what
gets us going. It is so good to see the difference
we can make. I am passionate about my
work. Sometimes I even fi nd myself stopping
absolute strangers to suggest ways they could
improve their appearance.”
Both women are well-respected in an
industry known for its fi ckleness and have
developed plenty of style savvy from their
years of experience both here and interstate.
MacGill, whose only school detention was for
reading a fashion magazine during chapel,
started her fashion career at Sportsgirl in
Rundle Mall. Wright, who as a schoolgirl cut
out images of hair and makeup styles from
hundreds of fashion magazines in order to
create her own style folders, enrolled in a
makeup course.
By the age of 24, MacGill had worked her
way up through the ranks at Sportsgirl to be
the regional manager of the chain in Victoria.
Meanwhile, Wright’s reputation as a makeup
artist was spreading faster than a Chinese
whisper. She was appointed Laura Mercier’s
state manager and trainer, then became part
of the brand’s international makeup team,
working in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Frequently frustrated by the number of
women she met with poorly shaped eyebrows,
Wright found herself reshaping brows during
makeup sessions. Word of her artistry spread
like wildfi re. A Sydney client organised a day’s
worth of appointments with a group of her
friends and pleaded with Wright to fl y up and
pluck from dawn to dusk. Such days became
regular occurrences and Wright now fl ies to
Sydney every eight weeks to see regular clients
and is booked months ahead.
After her years at Sportsgirl, MacGill joined
emerging fashion designer, the late Mark
Keighery, who had just opened his fi rst Marcs
stores in Sydney’s Paddington and Chatswood,
to build his wholesale business. She became
his muse and within a short time she had developed
a $10m annual turnover for his label.
As a result of sharing a taxi with a stranger in
Italy, who was carrying a suitcase full of jeans,
Keighery imported the designer’s label Diesel
into Australia a couple of years later. MacGill’s
enthusiasm encouraged Keighery to build up
the Diesel business, too.
“It was an exciting time,” MacGill says. “I
had this amazing lifestyle, travelled the world
and formed a great network of friends and
fashion identities, including Antonia Kidman,
Jodhi Mears (Tigerlily), the late Mark Keighery,
Tiffany Tilley (Sydney-based socialite) and
Rebecca Davies (Bare). I still catch up with Tiff
and represent Jodhi’s label in SA.”
But the bubble burst when Lucy’s marriage
ended. She returned to Adelaide with her twoyear-old
twin sons Ben and Jack to pick up the
pieces, then opened Platinum boutique in
Rundle Street. Along with her fashion pieces,
MacGill offered style advice to customers and
explained how to avoid fashion mistakes.
After selling Platinum in 2005 to concentrate
on wholesaling ranges for some of her
mates, MacGill launched Wardrobe Therapy to
help clients cull the clutter and source hero
items and established herself as a consultant
fashion stylist. “I think I’ve worked in most of
Adelaide’s best-dressed women’s wardrobes,”
she says. MacGill and Wright found their paths
crossed regularly when they were booked for
styling and makeup, respectively, for fashion
and advertising photographic shoots. As their
friendship grew, they began referring clients
to each other. They enjoyed taking on projects
where they could work together on a complete
makeover and were thrilled when asked to
jointly run a style workshop last year, which
sold out within days.
“We sort of push each other to the limit, but
we have a lot of fun,” adds Wright. “Because
we can have a good laugh together it keeps it
all upbeat. Otherwise, we couldn’t keep doing
it. Often we have different ideas to start with,
but by the time we talk, we usually come up
with the right result, like what labels to buy for
the online store.”
The idea to go online with itsthenewblack.
com.au was the result of a conversation the
pair had with David Mau, who is an Adelaide
web designer at Neoterik, a Queensland-based
advertising company, who saw the potential
for Wright and MacGill to reach clients. He is
the fi nancial partner in the online store and is
responsible for building the website.
WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO FIND
A WAY TO HELP MORE WOMEN...
I BELIEVE THERE IS A GODDESS
IN EVERY WOMAN
“The personal work is so rewarding, but we
knew we needed to fi nd a way to help more
women than we could fi t between nine and
fi ve,” says MacGill. “I believe there is a goddess
in every woman, but we both have a life,”
she laughs. In fact, both juggle their careers
with family life: MacGill’s boys are now nine
years old and she has been with partner Jim
Rawson, who is behind JR’s Surf & Ski, for six
years; while Wright and her partner Simeon
Caric have a seven-year-old son Cimor.
Their new venture is the culmination of
what these style mavens have learned and
brought to the industry over many years. They
say that while most women are brand aware
and love fashion, they lack confi dence in putting
it together, so their website aims to break
through that. “We like to think we can help
make women who feel beautiful on the inside,
feel they look just as beautiful on the outside.”
We’ll click to that!
beauty tips
Meisha Wright reveals her
summer secrets…
wardrobe secrets
Brows Go for slightly fuller but shaped brows
that balance your face. They should only ever
be tweezed and trimmed, never waxed.
Bronzer Use a bronzer to impart a natural
glow. I love Guerlain Sheer Bronzing Powder
in Blondes 01 or Brunettes 02, $79.
Face highlighter I can’t live without this.
Look out for the limited-edition
mineralised fi nishes, such as Champagne,
$48, from MAC.
Blusher Keep cheeks fresh in soft pink or
apricot. A hot blush is Laura Mercier Nectar,
$40, or try Guerlain Rose 255, $63. It’s a great
colour for almost everyone, or MAC Pinch o’
Peach, $40, for a softer colour.
Lipstick Hot lip colours for summer are corals,
all the way from soft apricot to intense melon.
Try Guerlain Kiss Kiss lipstick in Peach Shine,
$48, and MAC Lipglass in Pink Lemonade, $34.
Foundation This should be sheer and
natural. I love Laura Mercier Moisturising
Foundation, $78, or Guerlain Divinora
Silky-Smooth Fluid Foundation, $78.
Eyes Lashes: heavy lashes are sexy and
striking, but avoid lumpy mascara. Lids: keep
all dark colours blended for a clean, sexy
look. Anything bronze or metallic is hot. Try
MAC Shimmer Pigments, $39, on top of your
eyeshadow. Under the eye: instead of
eyeliner, use eyeshadow. Laura Mercier
Coffee Ground gives a deep, ash brown or
Deep Night gives a midnight blue to keep
the white of the eye brighter, each $40.
Primer For a long-lasting glow, use a primer.
My absolute favourite is Guerlain Midnight
Star, $98, it’s a fantastic gift for any woman.
Or for an everyday option, try Chanel Blanc
Universal Sheer Illuminator, $62.
theAdelaide magazine 41

wardrobe secrets
42
theAdelaide magazine
fashion tips
Lucy MacGill reveals her
shopping secrets…
Best season update An oversized clutch;
stacked peep-toe heels; a pair of Tom Ford
sunnies; a tie-dyed skinny scarf; an oversized
ring. Put a gladiator-style sandal with your
maxi dress rather than a heel. The whole
‘couture meets bohemia’, all layered
together. Think expensive hippie.
Best summer accessory I am showing a lot
of fringing in my Angel Wings accessories
collection, as well as some tie-dye fi ltering
into scarves and clutches. An oversized
tie-dyed clutch would be my pick for best
’08/’09 accessory worn back with anything
from skinny jeans to a party dress and caftan.
So easy and effortless!
Best dress If budget isn’t an issue… Issa,
a label out of London, cuts the best dresses
in the world. They are available at Belinda in
Sydney (www.belinda.com.au) and are so hot.
Also, Michelle Jank’s beautiful dresses
(stocked at Belinda). Other great buys?
Kate Moss for Topshop (www.topshop.com),
Lee Mathews (www.leemathews.com.au),
Kirrily Johnston (www.kirrilyjohnston.com.
au), and Ginger & Smart (www.gingerand
smart.com).
Best shoes Cherri Bellini, 282 Rundle
Street, city, 8232 2829; Mary Kyri heels,
www.mary-kyri.com (also stocked at
Cherri Bellini).
Best trends The ‘tregging’ – think trouser/
legging – in everything from metallic to
high-shine black; feathers are hot, from bags
and capes to dressing-up dresses; lavish lace
and feminine frills of the Victorian period are
back (to make it more modern, add jewel
clutches or go for bold leather belts and
boots to toughen the look).