Runway Beauty

It’s safe to say that whether it’s a couture or ready-to-wear collection, a designer’s runway presentation is meant to catch the eyes and spark the imaginations of the industry insiders and A-listers in attendance.  As the expertly coiffed and painted models walked the fall runways, trends shifted from bright and airy spring palettes to bolder red lips and graphic eyes. And in our 24/7 media culture, in-depth coverage of each show appeared online followed by a myriad of “how-to” videos, before rolling racks were wheeled back into their to showrooms.

No matter how mesmerizing the jewel-toned eyes paired with a bright orange-red lip were at Jil Sander , or how many instructional videos are available online to recreate the look, the question often remains “Could I pull that off?” The truth is yes – and no.  The trick is to simply pick one or two elements as do most beauty and fashion editors.  Here are some of the runway trends that can translate into your everyday look.

No. 1 Bold Color

Bold lips in a range of reds, wines, deep berries and oranges are a trend that all women can wear with a little determination.  They key is to find a texture you are comfortable wearing:  sheer, opaque, glossy or matte. If you are new to bold color or rarely wear lipstick, try a pigmented balm or moisturizing stain, which will help you avoid dry, cracked patches of leftover color.

Jil Sander Photo Credit: Luca Cannonieri

For day, keep the rest of your makeup fairly natural.  A neutral, sculpting powder or light, matte bronzer can work nicely for both blush and shadow. If you are comfortable with liquid liner, a thin line across the top lashes with a few coats of black mascara is a perfect finish. And for evening, a bronze or silver smoky eye can pair nicely with a red lip. However, the ultimate match is a vintage cat eye with a half strip of lashes and gorgeous sheen on the cheekbones.

No. 2 Strong Eyebrows

Strong brows are back in a big way on the runways. Long gone are the bleached and concealed brows of seasons past. All you need is a light fill-in a brow marker or brow wax is perfect.  Try brushing them up and out to create a full look.  If you’ve over-tweezed for years or don’t know how to fill brows in properly, buy a brow kit with stencils and practice.  Lash serums may even help brows grow back in if they’re really bare.

No. 3 Metallics

Metallic-glazed lids were another major stand-out on the runway. For daytime, use a neutral metallic liner or a sheer wash of crème shadow on the lid. Make sure to pair with either black or black-brown mascara and wear the rest of your makeup however you’re comfortable. For night, be fearless and smudge a deep gorgeous violet or a vibrant teal-green along the top and bottom lash lines, then smoke out the lid.

Vera Wang Photo Credit: Michele Morosi

No. 4 The Ponytail

Whether teased at the crown, parted harshly down the middle and heavily sleeked, embellished with a feather or headband – or a combination of all three as seen at Valentino, the ponytail was and is prolific.  A soft or hard part that is slicked down with a smoothing cream looks amazing for day, and teased works well for evening. Embellishing the ponytail by simply wrapping and securing a piece of hair or black ribbon around the ponytail holder with a bobby pin should be the minimum for every ponytail, but using a piece of lace, a leather wrap bracelet or a stretchy ring to cover the ponytail holder adds a simple touch for evening.

Gucci Photo Credit: Luca Cannonieri

No. 5 Nude Palettes

A nude palette for the entire face was the alternative to bold color, and was often paired with more tailored designs and sleek hair like the models at Marc by Marc Jacobs. To wear this look for day, use a foundation and concealer created for HD cameras to perfect skin. Then swipe a sheer, skin-toned crème shadow across the entire lid with fingers. Use leftover shimmer on fingers to pat along cheek bones, and the bow of the upper lip. Set everything with an HD powder; add a coat of mascara and a bare, lip-toned balm on lips. If skin looks too washed out, add bronzer along the outer edges of the face and under the cheekbone, then add more color to lips. For night, make highlights stand out more and add a heavier nude blush and lip.  Make sure to add a bit more mascara, and line the inner rim of the upper and lower lash line with black water-proof liner.

Written by: Rachel Perrin

Perrin is a makeup artist and studio hair stylist with Artists by Timothy Priano and The Bridal Team Chicago.  An admitted product junkie, Perrin’s work has been recently published in Cosmopolitan, Maxim, Good Housekeeping and Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, and a number of European publications