This season, Milan Fashion Week was a more muted affair, ushering in a return to craft and the elegance of simplicity. Bottega Veneta reissued popular characters from Matthieu Blazy’s first and second seasons, Gucci harked back to the Tom Ford era in its post-Michele transition, and Prada paid homage to everyday heroes.
An air of relative restraint permeated the hair and make-up too, in timeless red lips, accentuated eyes, slicked-back hair and pretty pastel moments.
Below, Vogue rounds up the best beauty trends from Milan Fashion Week fall 2023.
Slick it back
Wet-look hair dominated the runway this season. At Diesel, hairstylist Gary Gill evoked a sense of subcultural cool with swept-back lacquered locks, whereas, at Fendi, Guido Palau kept things sporty with a ’90s twist, slicking models’s hair back and adding multi-stranded side fringes. Elsewhere, Virginie Moreira’s glossy chignons at Ferragamo offered something clean and modern.
Seeing red
Lips got the “worn in” treatment at Gucci courtesy of global makeup artist Thomas de Kluyver, updating the classic red with fiery orange-tinged hues. Meanwhile, Pat McGrath kept things timeless at Dolce & Gabbana with a sultry crimson pout.
Come as you are hair
There was an emphasis on individuality at a lot of the Milan shows this season. Hairstylist Paul Hanlon leaned into this at Gucci, creating a smorgasbord of different looks: a neoprene red pixie cut, two-toned hair, micro fringes, messy swept-to-the-side locks, and casually-placed clips that felt incidental. It was the same at Bottega Veneta, but less statement-y. A celebration of natural beauty, Duffy kept things low-key and naturalistic.
Bold lines
Eyeliner played a key role this season: feline flicks kept things sexy and elevated at Dolce & Gabbana courtesy of Pat McGrath, while kohl in the waterline brought a rock and roll edge to Etro’s bohemia.
Pretty in pastel
Pastels stole the show at Prada courtesy of makeup artist Pat McGrath. Using a delicate palette of muted hues—mauve, pale pink, mint green, chalky orange—McGrath crafted beautiful feathered lashes for a subversive yet angelic twist. Meanwhile, at Diesel, Inge Grognard added washes of color to models’s eyes for a subtle pop.
This story originally appeared on Vogue.com.
