The curtains have closed on yet another Paris Fashion Week. But while the spring clothes will have to wait, there’s an abundance of see-now-wear-now beauty that’s yours for the taking—or at least some mid-day mood boarding. For an instant dose of freshness, healthy skin was paired with lips that sparkled—whether from a thick layer of lightweight gloss or layered in sparkling sequins. On the illustrative eye make-up front, there were knife-like strokes of eyeliner and twinkling washes of shimmer punctuated by splashes of bright colour. Bold tints also found their way into hair, with an array of fluorescent-bright fantasy dye jobs that were an accessory all their own. Finally, hair of all textures was either shiny and sculpted for a lustrous finish, or left loose and air-dried to capture a more come-as-you-are spirit. Here, a deeper look at the six biggest trends of Paris Fashion Week.
Ethereal Summer
Softly pressings of shimmering shadows came in many forms throughout the week. At Coperni, make-up artist Fara Homidi supplied “opalescent accents” on the eyes and lips, while at Lanvin, pro Diane Kendal used a similar cellophane-like violet on the lids, adding an extra pop by way of glittering marigold on the inner corners. Earthier iterations were at Ottolinger, where swirls of silver and terra cotta pigment played off the gleaming golden Cupid’s bows and at Chanel, where metallic sepia-toned lids served as a subtle nod to the ’90s.
Punkish Eyeliner
As has been the case in today’s eye-centered beauty landscape, there was no shortage of unexpected takes on pitch-black and brightly coloured eyeliner. Among the most standout were the punk-leaning, Siouxsie Sioux-worthy designs: See Chloé’s surf punk slashes, Dior’s razor-sharp double liner, Balenciaga’s jagged cybergoth flicks and, of course, the different exaggerated spiky shapes at Valentino. The pro tip to keep in mind? “The liner should be kept as horizontal as possible,” says Hannah Murray, the pro behind Chloé’s designs. “It shouldn’t be angled upwards as this doesn’t feel punk.”
Lips that Shine
There’s no limit on shine and texture when it comes to lips this season. The most sumptuous take on this notion came courtesy of the Acne show, were Peter Philips embellished pale peach pouts with layers upon layers of holographic sequins. At Giambattista Valli, Isamaya Ffrench topped off coral lips with a clear, high-shine gloss. Lacquered lips also added a dose of translucent shine at Koche and Nina Ricci. The fact remains: Lip gloss is a thing again.
Wet-Look Hair
From slightly damp to cinematically drenched, there were an array of wet-look strands on the Paris runways. Embodying the latter were the “washed up at sea” lengths at Vivienne Westwood, which appeared sopping wet thanks to the prosthetic water droplets that had been scattered throughout them by Ffrench. Offering up a bit more pared-back, shower-fresh take were artfully rustled, gel-slicked lengths at Chloé, Lanvin, and Miu Miu. In that sense, a hint of shiny, sculpting product goes a long way.
Fantasy Dye Jobs
Real or not, a shocking dye job will always be a thrill on the runway. One of the week’s most talked about moments was the display of choppy wigs at Loewe, which hair legend Guido Palau brought to life in collaboration with Blanche Milano’s Davide. Cast in color-matched-to-the-collection shades like peachy pink, deep turquoise, and amethyst purple, they were designed to be an accessory in and of themselves. Directional takes on fantasy color also turned up at Dries Van Noten, with its range of woven-through, graphic-printed neon wefts, and Valentino, where one model’s fluorescent lilac waves dazzled showgoers.
Surrealist Glamour
Of course, the drama of Paris Fashion Week wouldn’t be complete without some surrealist glamour. One of the most mind-bending moments was Givenchy’s take on exaggerated lashes, with bottom, wing-like feathered fringe placed along the outer corners of the eyes. Then there was the Kenneth Ize show, where makeup artist Fara Homidi subverted traditional ideas of the face as a canvas by painting one model’s nose metallic gold; the gilded statement as striking—and head-swiveling—as a piece of surrealist jewelry. And on that note, there was, of course, Schiaparelli’s signature elongated gold-plated talons.
