Welcome to 2021. A new year, a new you—so why not look the part as well? Why not cut the fringe you’ve always wanted to? Or extend your usual colour palette of browns and taupes to include blues and oranges?
Whether it’s for Zoom calls or just to dress up around the house, it’s time to shake up your beauty routine. In need of some inspo? Look no further: From dramatic eyes to Hollywood-glamour lips, here are the top spring/summer 2021 hair and makeup trends to try out this season.
Colour blocking
Brighten up! Our annus horribilis is over—it’s time to celebrate. Wipe the darkness of 2020 away with strategically placed pops of technicolour. There were shimmery green and mauve notes at both Halpern and Gareth Pugh, hot pinks at Tom Ford, and yellow and turquoise at Chromat.
Orange is the new black
Pantone might have declared ‘Ultimate Grey’ and ‘Illuminating Yellow’ as the colours of 2021, but we’re making a case for vibrant orange. Take the tangerine lips at Versace, the orange bobby pins at Dries Van Noten, faded peach-wash at Louis Vuitton and subtle sunset hues at Burberry, courtesy of Isamaya Ffrench, who incidentally launched her collaboration with Byredo at the end of last year featuring a glittery, vivid, orange-colour stick.
A bold lip
In times of war or hardship, sales of beauty products tend to soar, which is particularly the case with lipstick. And let’s be honest: a bold lip can transform your mood, even if it’s covered by a mask. If anything, that makes it feel more illicit. This season, channel your inner Hollywood screen siren with a classic red lip, teamed with a delicate wing as seen at Dolce & Gabbana and Vivienne Westwood. Or sex it up with some gloss as per Max Mara and Molly Goddard.
Feeling blue
Out with the old and in with the blue. The Euphoria-effect was still in full force at the SS21 shows. Take, for instance, the electric-blue lids at Cornejo and Bethany Williams, the indigo lashes at Charlotte Knowles, the icy lips at Bora Aksu or aquamarine shades at Tomo Koizumi.
Hair accessories
Flowers for spring? Revolutionary, especially when arranged in the hair so ethereally, as it was done at Rodarte and Maison Margiela. Elsewhere, there were floral turbans at Dolce & Gabbana, bijou bows at Giambattista Valli, elegant netting at Chanel, pearls at Simone Rocha and crystals at Acne.
Fringe benefits
If you’ve been considering getting bangs, now is the time to do it. And if you haven’t, let us persuade you. Jane Birkin, Jean Shrimpton, Brigitte Bardot — nothing says iconic more than a trademark fringe. It was the standout hair trend at the SS21 shows. There was the shaggy French-girl fringe at Hermès; witchy micro bangs (think The Queen’s Gambit) at Balenciaga and Valentino; and supersize offerings at MM6, Prada and Paco Rabanne.
Dewy skin
In a global health pandemic, and with vaccinations only just starting to roll out, wellness has never been such a priority. Think bare faces, dewy skin, lightweight makeup and that all-important glow. Make like Paloma Elsesser at Marni and Anna Ewers at Etro, or the girls at Victoria Beckham, Supriya Lele, Burberry, and Rodarte, and start the New Year looking the picture of health. Bolster your skincare routine and nourish your body because in 2021, it’s all about beauty from within.
Dramatic eyes
With masks and facial coverings the new norm, it’s no wonder that eyes are becoming the site of self-expression. And it’s back to black for most. See the moody kohl-rimmed eyes at Batsheva, Alice + Olivia, Dior and Giambattista Valli, and the high drama, Cleopatra-like flicks at Valentino. For softer alternatives, consider Lucia Pica’s smoky-grey matte lids at Chanel and Rosetta Getty.
Extreme DIY dye jobs
DIY technicolour tresses: it was the look of lockdown and it’s set to continue into 2021, only this time with added drama. Check out the lime-green buzz cuts at Gareth Pugh, the minty locks at Valentino, neon mohawks at Christian Cowan, and the hot pinks at Matty Bovan.
