By Gretta Monahan
I don’t know about you, but the more we keep getting socked with snow in New England, the more my mind drifts to spring. And color. And all things pretty.
I’m thinking of warm-weather makeup and beauty more and more these days — the techniques and inspiring trends that started on the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris this year, as well as on the Academy Awards’ red carpet, and are more wearable than ever for every day.
Here are some of my favorites, as well as how to pull them off — whether you’re heading to the kids’ school play, pottery class or girls’ nights out.
Bold lips in the spotlight: At DKNY, they were almost goth-ish. At Giambattista Valli, they were bright, bright red. Both are somewhat unexpected for spring and summer, but done right, they make as beautiful a statement as any.
To pick up where DKNY left off, keep it pretty rather than scary. Choose a plum tone that isn’t too dark and be sure to blot well with a tissue so the outline isn’t overly stark. To bring Valli’s red to life (which was also a huge look at the Oscars, too — a la Emma Stone and Nicole Kidman), keep skin flawless, and take the time to choose the right red for you, matching it to your complexion. Also, make sure to keep eyes as clean as can be (i.e., minimal liner and mascara and no shadow) so the look isn’t too intense.
One of the cooler eye tricks that caught my attention was at the Elie Saab show, where we saw models getting lined with a modified cat-eye. Instead of the classic technique, which can be a bit much for running around all day, this was what I’d call a happy medium: a shorter flick (which, conveniently enough, is also a lot easier to draw than the original). This one’s easy to start out with in the morning, will take you straight through afternoon. Then simply add to it with a little extra black liner and shadow as you head out for the night later on.
On the hair front, a fun and always appropriate bit of sass came out of the Nicholas K show. The high pony made a comeback there, and it’s a great way to rev up just about any outfit — it’s as fresh and polished worn with a suit as it is with athleisure or even formal eveningwear. Just be sure to knot your pony higher than you usually would (even if it feels a little too high at first, it isn’t!) and then wrap a small separate section of hair around the elastic and secure it with a bobby pin for the cleanest look possible.
One of the most refreshing looks that surfaced at the shows was the no-makeup makeup looks that Chloe went for. Skin was as clean and clear as can be, lips were stained with barely there pinks, and a subtle touch of brown eyeliner (no mascara) kept models looking natural but not washed out. For those of us living in the real world (i.e., off the runway), this is a low-key but still pulled-together look that offers coverage, but celebrates our real features.
