In true Fashion Fund style, Monday night’s awards gala was a celebration of the immense design talent of this year’s 10 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists. Before the winners were announced, though, guests were immersed in A Night of Dance – the theme of the night’s fashion show.

To bring the vision for the night to life, the work began backstage hours before the mix of models and dancers strutted down the runway wearing candy-colored wigs and dramatic eye makeup.

A dream team of beauty experts including esteemed hairstylist Bob Recine, Paul Mitchell’s lead stylist Noogie Thai, makeup artist Kabuki, and nail guru Mabelyn Martin worked their magic to get the 80 models show-ready.

In close collaboration with Vogue stylist Alex Harrington, each look was crafted with the designer in mind to complement their individual aesthetic.

Inspiration came from a variety of sources, from ‘50s beauty looks to Spanish flamenco dancers to Burning Man.

For Fund winner Christopher John Rogers, it was all about extravagance. Long wigs were cut into perfectly curled neon colored bobs held together with Paul Mitchell’s Extra Body Sculpting Foam and layered with Tea Tree Firm Hold Gel. “We wanted to create a fantasy of beauty. A neon color of expression that was just outrageous,” Recine said. The makeup was equally vivid — think body paint in bright hues with dramatic wing liner and glitter accents. In homage to Rogers’ Southern roots, Like Magic nail lacquer from Paintbox provided a show-stopping glitter polish that mixed champagne and rose gold tones to accentuate the look.

In contrast, the look for bridal designer Danielle Frankel’s runway showstoppers was more subtle. Opting for a more neutral color palette, the elegant pieces were crafted around the idea of a “runaway bride.” Kabuki opted for dewy skin with rosy cheeks, accented via M·A·C Cosmetics’ Hyper Real Glow Palette “Get Lit” on the cheekbones, and the Love Me lipstick in Pure Nonchalance for the perfect shade of pink. Recine opted for simple top knots with long, wispy hairs that gave the element of a “beautiful fairy” as models ran through the venue in dramatic tulle silhouettes.

Fellow runner-up Reese Cooper took it back to the 1950s – beehives, pompadours, winged liner and more. Paul Mitchell’s Extra Body Firm Finish Spray was used to hold the hairstyles in place, and the M·A·C Cosmetics’ Retro matte Liquid Lip in “Feel So Grand” was used for a statement red lip. The nail art was equally strong, featuring Like Desire Nail Laquer from Paintbox in a cherry-red shade with a French shape that was equal parts powerful and sexy.

Overall, each finalists’ distinct looks made a statement for individuality. “There’s nothing perfect about beauty,” Recine said. “Whenever you try to perfect beauty you forget its ultimate power, which is charm. Everything we do it has to be charming or fun or happy. Especially for a show like this when the winners are so excited and talented”.