The fashion looks at Paris Haute Couture Week aren't meant to be wearable. It's not a major revenue stream for any of the designers. It's not about real life. Instead, haute couture works as a display of ingenuity, wit, and artistic achievement. And in the past, the beauty on the runway has very much followed suit. We've been awed by Chanel "croissants," intense red blush, and everything Pat McGrath has ever done to push the envelope.
But as we've cyber-stalked the skilled makeup artists and hairstylists who create fairy tales and fantasy from hairspray and foundation, we noticed something a little different this time around. Dewy faces, natural lips, and heavily shadowed eyes are having a moment. Models are stomping down the runway in looks that lend focus to their individual features, rather than the makeup itself.
Take a look for yourself, ahead. We’ve rounded up the beauty trends we think will have you mentally taking notes. They're techniques and ideas you can use the minute you see them, not over-the-top looks to pad your Pinterest. Because this year, Paris Haute Couture got real.
At Alexandre Vauthier, makeup artist Christelle Cocquet strobed with darker tones by sweeping a tawny foundation shade, or cream bronzer, on the cheekbones. Blend a sheer pop of pink on your pout, brush up your brows, and the look is yours.
Photo via @sammcknight1.
Valentino wanted to embody impulses from the soul this season, and we think the beauty looks do just that. Guido Palau, hair expert and Global Creative Director of Redken, framed the faces with gold bands tucked at the nape of the neck to emphasize the freshness of the complexions. The models wore nary a stitch of makeup, save for a pale-pink overall finish.
Photo: via @maisonvalentino.
Makeup artist Tom Pecheux showed us how to bring on the drama with this shaded shadow. Lining the whole eye with black, he highlighted downward from the browbone with a lighter powder that drew attention to the doll-like lower lashes.
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
Queen of makeup innovation Pat McGrath took the opportunity to turn the Maison Margiela models into beauty-trend testers. Pastel brows reference the lilac-hair moment, except a lot more minimal. The muted, dark-nude lips allow the arches to work.
Photo via @patmcgrathreal.
Two different kinds of eyeliner were used to create this heavy cat-eye. Skip the shadow and follow Peter Philips ' lead. The creative director of Christian Dior Makeup rimmed the eye and elongated the lashline with Diorshow Pro Liner Waterproof and Diorshow Art Pen, topping it off with a mascara primer and curling formula. "Whether exaggerated, underlined, framed, or ringed, the eyes were the dominant feature. Eyeliner was drawn on in a...sophisticated graphic style," he says.
Photo courtesy of Vincent Lappartient for Christian Dior Parfums.
The second look Philips created for Dior maintained the liner as the central focus. Only a handful of models wore gold on their lids instead of black. He envisioned these looks as "a punctuation using the Dior Addict Fluid Shadow in Phenix, applied with a brush in broad, gold colorblocking, to obtain a dramatic, gold, textured effect."
Photo courtesy of Vincent Lappartient for Christian Dior Parfums.
McGrath documented the show on her Instagram this week, dropping hints, specifically during the Versace show, about new additions to her Pat McGrath Labs makeup line. We're hoping it's this metallic-blue shadow (or liner?). Or possibly an ombré lip kit? We can't get over the candy-apple dab of color along the center of the lips (see: model on the right): It gives the mouth an instant plump.
Photo: via @patmcgrathreal.
The liner trend carried through to Elie Saab, but instead of drawing it outward toward the ears, Pecheux drew a flick above both the lash and the crease. Hairstylist Orlando Pita topped off the look with a deep side-part and soft, but structured barrel curls.
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
Ralph & Russo took us back to pure elegance with angelic, otherworldly gowns. The exquisite silhouettes and pastel trains were juxtaposed with sleek, braided updos. The models sported radiant skin, glossy lips, and smoky eyes.
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
Okay, now we're convinced that gold is becoming a thing. These creamy eyelids were subtle, but striking. Makeup artist Romy Soleimani added a pale-pink lip tint to complement the glowy faces.
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
Romantic fairy tales at the Trevi Fountain with K. Jenner? Yeah, we're into it. Sam McKnight created these dreamy, soft ringlets before pinning them at the crown of the head for Fendi's 90th-anniversary show. The final touch was the furry ribbon tied into the pulled-back style, giving the overall theme a dream-like feel.
The makeup was minimal: classic, black wings on the eyes, topped off with a pale-pink lip balm and a minimal, natural contour on the cheekbones. The Wendy Darling aesthetic just got high-fashion.
Photo: Victor Boyko/Getty Images.
This is the most wearable look out of the bunch. Makeup artist Linda Cantello blended out the smallest bit of gray eyeshadow, filled in the natural shape of the brow, and ever-so-slightly contoured the face. Here's proof that minimal faces can complement bold clothes.
Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images.
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