Nicky London on Marla Belt
Did you ever meet someone and know that the person had many other lives?
That’s the vibe I got the first time I met Marla Belt at Mac Pro in 2004. The stunning
Marla Belt originates from Ohio and came to the Big Apple in 1990 to attend FIT & Parsons. Studying illustration and earning a BFA degree, Marla soon fell into makeup and started to work for MAC. Aside from excelling in makeup, Marla is an excellent designer and started sewing at age 16 taught by her seamstress aunt. Her first show was at Spa and resembled a retro 1980 flash back to the Blitz Kids days. “When I was a kid I was inspired by seeing Bella Lugosi’s Dracula. I nicked my mums old 60’s skirt that had crinoline under it”. “We didn’t watch much TV as children and that encouraged me to dress up and make things.” “I was always creating something.” Marla is still creating. Her apartment in Midtown Manhattan is filled with books on vintage and antique clothing, fine art paintings and makeup. There is always something on the dress mannequin under construction. Lately though, she’s been redecorating. She also loves to watch late 70’s and early 80’s videos such as Adam Ant, Visage and Culture Club. Music is a huge inspiration to Marla. I never know what she’s going to be listening to. Sometimes it’s old German World War 1 propaganda music or early Depeche Mode and Japan. She is currently assisting makeup artist Pat McGrath. Marla’s away a lot traveling so I don’t get to see her as much but she tells me about the incredible Galliano couture runway shows and the amazing photo shoots with Steven Meisel. Pat McGrath is an incredible business woman and makeup artist with a very busy schedule and it all sounds very exciting.