6 Beauty Lessons We Learned at London Fashion Week
The backstage beauty in London this week gave a nod to the city’s nonchalance, rock ’n’ roll history, and its affinity for a well-made hat.
The backstage beauty in London this week gave a nod to the city’s nonchalance, rock ’n’ roll history, and its affinity for a well-made hat. Lipstick was applied with haphazard charm, punk-inspired crops were matched with Siouxsie Sioux-worthy eyeliner, and the New York Fashion Week–favored slicked-back ponytail took root under a wide-brim cap. Here, the six new beauty ideas we’ll be wearing in Milan.
Photographed by Kevin Tachman1/6A bold statement-lip color is the only makeup you need—and, lucky for fans of the split-second beauty upgrade, applying it just got easier. At Burberry Prorsum, makeup artist Wendy Rowe paired the models’ bright crimson lips with nothing more than a sunny glow. And while Topshop Unique’s pack of It Brits and their smudged, just-been-kissed red lips made lip liner seem downright fussy, the Antonio Berardi runway played on pops of pink, berry, and orange gloss.
Photographed by Coco Capitán2/6Fashion found its center (part). Slicked down and tucked behind ears at Thomas Tait, bound into low ponytails at Paul Smith, or woven into a single braid at Erdem—this week’s hair had the gravitas and graphic appeal of a stark middle part.
Photographed by Kevin Tachman3/6Your braid has a second life as graphic waves. It turns out all of the pretty plaits we ve been seeing on the runways are the gifts that keep on giving—offering the kind of shaken-out mermaid cascade we spotted at Mary Katrantzou once you let them down. At Jonathan Saunders, hairstylist Luke Hersheson took the idea even further by zigzagging a flat iron over sections of hair to create a souped-up take on next-day braid-waves—skip the shampoo.
Photographed by Kevin Tachman4/6The shag is back. Disco had its moment this summer, but Tom Ford swung the seventies pendulum back toward punk with matte, CBGB-ready choppy layers and charcoal-rimmed eyes. Inspired by Carlo Mollino Polaroids and Debbie Harry’s iconic bleached bob, hairstylist Sam McKnight’s roughed-up wigs with sideswept bangs had us ready to ditch the shine spray and dig out our teasing brush.
Photographed by Dexter Lander5/6Next spring, the best place to wear Christopher Kane will be on your eyes, lips, and cheeks. Yesterday, NARS Cosmetics announced a collaboration with the British designer to plenty of cryptic fanfare. And by the look of the shimmering pale pink lipstick Lucia Pieroni applied to the models for his runway show, it’s safe to say the upcoming collection—due out in May—will sell out in seconds.
