While we’ve seen our fair share of no-make-up make-up looks already during New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 (ahem, Victoria Beckham and Narciso Rodriguez), there have been a few hair and make-up moments so bold they made us do a double-take.
To be clear, these aren’t the kind of looks one can assume are FTRO (for the runway only). They aren’t the braided extensions that came to the models’ knees at Philipp Plein or the bushy, cornflower blue brows at PH5. In fact, we won’t even count the crystal-studded under-eyes at Jeremy Scott in the mix.
No, these are the looks that make a major statement while still being wearable – for some – in real life.
Vote below on whether you would try yellow eyeshadow, black lipstick, neon hair ties and more.
YELLOW EYESHADOW
Not-so-mellow yellow: Sunny eyelids accentuated the (mostly) colorful clothing collection at the Novis Spring/Summer 2018 presentation
We were ready to write off yellow blush and eyeshadow as an out-going Instagram fad until we saw the models at the Novis Spring 2018 presentation.
Swaths of vibrant yellow shadow across their lids captivated onlookers as much as the colorful clothing collection.
Make-up artist Uzo used a mix of Nars shadows in Fashion Rebel, Goldfinger and Douro ( available for spring) to get the standout shade.
Our advice if you’re going to give this one a go? Prep eyelids with a light cream shadow or primer to make the yellow really pop.
NEON HAIR TIES
Always buzzing like neon: Rihanna’s hairstylist used day-glow hair ties to give models, including Joan Smalls (right), a ‘utilitarian chic’ vibe at the singer’s Fenty x Puma show
While design duo Mansur Gavriel was quietly trying give neutral, leather scrunchies a comeback, Rihanna lent cool-girl fashion cred to another hair accessory of the ’80s: neon hair elastics.
Hairstylist Yusef Williams wanted to give models including Joan Smalls and Adriana Lima a ‘utilitarian chic’ vibe at the Fenty x Puma show last night.
To do so, he blow-dried hair with the Dyson Supersonic dryer and then pulled the model’s hair into two ponytails, a low one and a high one, that he the combined using a brightly colored bungee elastics.
‘We were going for an athletic cool, bad girl, graphic with a little bit of edge hair,’ he said.
The singer-turned-designer-turned-make-up-entrepreneur even wore a similar style herself for the show.
BLACK LIPSTICK
Edgy: ‘The black lip is a very aggressive kind of look, but in this context with …clean looking skin it just gives it a different kind of edge,’ said make-up pro Dick Page of the look at Linder
Black lip color is a fashion week staple, with at least one designer sending women down the runway with darkened pouts for as many seasons as we can remember.
But lest you think the hue was going anywhere anytime soon, let the models at the Linder presentation prove you wrong.
‘My inspiration for this look is based on the feeling of seeing a lot of skin,’ said legendary make-up artist Dick Page. ‘The black lip is a very aggressive kind of look, but in this context with the fresh, very clean looking skin it just gives it a different kind of edge.’
To create it, Dick began by applying Mehron L.I.P Color Cream in Noir to models’ mouths and then blotting it. He then used the brand’s E.Y.E Liner Pencil in Black ‘to get a bit more weight into the corners and into the bow of the lip.’
He continued blotting to diffuse the product and soften the edges of the lip.
TEAL EYESHADOW
Birds of a feather: Channel your inner peacock with bright teal eyeshadow like the one used on several of the models at the GCDS show
In what may have been yet another nod to the ’80s, several models walked the GCDS runway with vibrant teal eyeshadow that extended from their lash line practically all the way up to their brow bone.
The designer, however, was more inspired by the novel The Swans of Fifth Avenue, a story about a high-society party girl, than the bygone decade.
To bring the woman to life via make-up, Maybelline New York artist Grace Lee used the teal color to create a look that was ‘bold, luxurious and full-on fun.’
To re-create the eye image, follow Grace’s how-to:
1. Cover the lid up to the crease with Lasting Drama Waterproof Eye Pencil in Cashmere White.
2. Brush Expert Wear Eye Shadow in Teal the Deal on top, blending up into the brow bone.
3. Add a touch of the sparkling turquoise shade Facestudio Master Fairy Highlight Illuminating Powder to the middle of the lid.
4. Finish with several coats of black mascara.