6 Beauty Lessons We Learned at London Fashion Week
There was a new femininity in the air at the London shows this week—and if the lineup of lacy slip dresses, sheer fabrics, and fluttery ruffled details on the runways didn’t convince you, just look above the neck. Things took a turn for the darkly romantic in the form of a rich oxblood lip or a velvet hair ribbon that was gathered softly around the neck. That’s not to say there weren’t rebellious jolts of color—but even graphic statements, like a rimming of cobalt eyeliner, looked undeniably, well, pretty. Here, our take on the six beauty lessons we learned in London this week, from the backstage to the front row.
Photo: Courtesy of Topshop Unique1/6Turning up front row at Topshop Unique, Alexa Chung made the week’s best case for losing a few inches from last season’s shoulder-grazing bob. Her new chin-length cut proved that a quick seasonal trim is the best (and possibly easiest) way to revive a signature look.
Photo: Get The Gloss / @getthegloss2/6If you’re in the mood for a makeup risk, let it be boldest, brightest blue. At Jonathan Saunders’s Spring collection, backstage pro Lucia Pieroni pulled off one of the week’s most wearable pops of color backstage with a graphic rim of cobalt liner that brought the face into sharp focus.
Photo: Courtesy of Anthony Turner Hair / @anthonyturnerhair3/6The slightly deranged braids at Phoebe English were madcap and British in the best way possible—boasting the wind-spun finish of a romp in the Highlands or the fuzzy texture of having fallen asleep in last night’s plait. The style at J.W.Anderson (shown) was slicker and more streamlined but no less interesting: Models’ tightly bound hair resembled a braid from a distance—but upon closer inspection, it revealed itself as a trompe l oeil twist that s sure to be a hit with urban girls in search of a speedy workday upgrade.
Photo: Splash News4/6Arriving front row at Versus Versace, FKA twigs offered a real-world lesson in how to wear the no-makeup makeup look spotted on countless runways in London. She traded her favorite bold ruby lip color in favor of a bold, brushed-up brow and fresh scrubbed skin with a hydrated sheen that bordered on supernatural.
Photo: Courtesy of Vanessa Moody / @vanessa_moody5/6If nothing comes between you and your red lipstick, you re going to want to consider giving the classic palette a high-impact reboot Whether you dial it up a notch with a hyper-saturated primary shade à la Topshop Unique (at right), or darken it to a bordeaux hue that borders on plum (Burberry Prorsum), the color of the moment steers clear of the middle ground.
