Blink and you might miss it. Such is the speed at which New York Fashion Week passes—as the city’s sartorial stalwarts unveil the stages on which their spring/summer 2024 collections will come to be. A general survey of the past few days will recall the highlights from the Big Apple; Peter Do’s debut collection for Helmut Lang, Stuart Vevers’s ode to the city as he celebrates 10 years with Coach, Ralph Lauren’s glamour-filled return to the scene and of course, the star-studded affair that was Michael Kors. Not to forget all the moments in-between such as the offbeat, kooky garments of Sandy Liang and Singaporean-born Grace Ling’s debut at NYFW.
There is truly nothing like playing witness to the scene unfolding, especially when you’re privy to a gasp or two escaping the front row every now and then. It’s when you know the look is a hit in the making, be it in the preciseness of its cut, the unbelievable way it contours the body lines or perhaps, the fabulously-styled entrance it made on the runway. The latter, no doubt assisted by the electrifying and dynamic beauty look accompanying it.
At the spring/summer 2024 shows in New York, there were simply no shortage of such hair and make-up moments. Should we be leaning closer in, there was in fact a clear focus across the board; it was all about the eyes this season. Abstract liners were drawn up at Eckhaus Latta and Helmut Lang. Whilst the painter’s hand was called upon to fashion the stupefying shadows adopted at Prabal Gurung and Tiffany Brown. One reigning hair trend was spotted on both the runway and out on the streets; see the ribbon-mania that’s gripped us all at both Sandy Liang and Christian Siriano.
As with every season, we would be hard-pressed not to file in our favourites—for safekeeping and necessary inspo in the future. Henceforth, spy our collation of the most astounding runway beauty looks from the NYFW spring/summer 2024 season.
1 / 9
Helmut Lang
Peter Do sought to recall the early aughts at Helmut Lang—an ode to the heydays of the eponymous designer himself. He certainly did as such when it came to the taming of the mane; those zigzag hairbands reminiscent of the ’90s meant to slick back the gritty texture of his models’ tresses. To truly deliver the full brief of early New Yorkers, make-up artist Daniel Sallstrom sought out an easy enough yet striking stroke of liner for a slash of androgynous beauty.
2 / 9
Collina Strada
We’re looking at a picture-perfect moment of when fashion meets beauty in the middle. Rather contrarian to the AI-generated mood atop the runway, miens and manes carried a rather natural feel to them—as if effortlessly thrown together. But it was surely not; as locks were playfully braided together with ribbons, cut and dyed from the same cloth worn by the models themselves.
3 / 9
Prabal Gurung
Frosty, wet looks are not going anywhere it seems—as emblazoned across every model’s mien on the Prabal Gurung runway. Instead of just focusing efforts on creating a glossy lip however, a kaleidoscope of colours were slicked on the lids in a multitude of colour variations. Some gleamed a soft sunset yellow whilst others took on a two-tone escapade.
4 / 9
Christian Siriano
The reigning #Balletcore trend is here to stay—only on Christian Siriano’s runway, it transforms into the dreamier, more fantastical version of the TikTok-favoured aesthetic. Think everything from ruffled frocks, voluminous pouf skirts and tons of romantic lace. What they both have in common? Ribbons galore. As such, long pastel strands threaded into the manes of models were only matched by peachy looks of glamour designed out of copious doses of blush and luscious lip swatches.
5 / 9
Tiffany Brown
Sometimes, all we really do need is some unsolicited colour-coordination. Such was the brief at Tiffany Brown—as a vibrant dusting of powder blue enlivened peepers, the same swirling shades that were seen on the garments. The use of negative space also harmoniously reflected the cloudy, dreamy dye-effect on some of the looks.
6 / 9
Laquan Smith
There are a couple of things we love here. As intergalactic, high-shine glamour ruled at Laquan Smith this season, it was distinctively conveyed through the lustrous, gleaming skin of the models—the kind that screamed with sex appeal. To match this effect, the peepers received some beautiful navy liner work, and it even extended to the model’s fluttering, gravity-defying lashes. And if that wasn’t enough, a cold, seductive pout carried the overarching aesthetic’s every tune.
7 / 9
Grace Ling
Grace Ling’s futuristic vision is one currently solidified by her use of metalwork in her designs. In order to fulfil this otherworldly aesthetic, the use of attention-grabbing manicures was no doubt necessary. To that end, a variety of fiery talons were spotted—teamed by bleached-out brows—leaving her models with an unnatural edge.
8 / 9
Eckhaus Latta
As if to mirror the tactile sensuality exuded from the garments, it seems Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta had their eyes on, well, the eyes. Where peepers were encircled in nebulous geometry and brows were etched out using a thin, felt-like black. If you’re asking us, some of the shapes drawn seemed to convey a zoned-out, nonchalance of sorts.
9 / 9
Sandy Liang
Known for her quirky-cool aesthetic, Sandy Liang is on her way to becoming ubiquitous. So it only makes sense that her on-runway beauty moments are easy enough for the girls she’s looking to design for. We’re looking at a light dotting of blush that hones in on one’s natural radiance and a swatch of gloss on the pout. By way of reminding everyone that there’s always room for self-expression and then some? Zoom in for a scatter of those bedazzled sequins accenting the eyes.
