New York Fashion Week’s Fall/Winter collections have unveiled a wave of beauty trends that are poised to dominate the next 12 months. Moving away from perfection, the overarching theme is playful, bold, and artfully undone glamour. Here are the 10 key looks to know.
1. The “Quiet” Updo
Intricate, voluminous updos are giving way to lower, softer styles. Runways featured “quiet” ponytails, undone next-day knots, and simple nape-of-the-neck braids. The mood is romantic, lived-in, and effortlessly poetic.
2. The Bottom Liner Revival
A definitive trend, heavy kohl-rimmed lower lash lines were everywhere. Ranging from crisp graphic lines to smoked-out grunge vibes, this look offers a bold, retro statement that’s easier to master than a perfect winged liner.
3. Hair as Clothing
Hairstyles are becoming literal accessories. The trend pushes towards creating a seamless, continuous silhouette between hair and outfit. Think of outerwear that matches your hair’s color and texture, or intentional styles like braided halo crowns and “permanent” hair scarves that frame the face like an Olsen twin’s iconic tuck.
4. Artful Distortion
Perfect, precise makeup is out. The new mood embraces intentional imperfection, with deconstructed elements like clumpy, foil-flecked mascara; smudged, asymmetrical eyeliner; and purposefully blurred lipstick. The philosophy extends to hair with “intentional hat hair” tufts and to nails with matte top coats covering only half the nail for a spontaneous, structural effect.
5. The “Sleepy Girl” Smoky Eye
The hollowed, concealer-eschewing eye look is intensifying, with inspiration leaning into a vampiric or “sleepy” aesthetic. This is achieved with smoky brown shadow halos or rosy-brown pencil smudged under the waterline for a fresh-but-tired, just-rubbed-your-eyes effect.
6. Fiery Red (Not Burgundy)
Forget the typical moody fall berries. This season is all about bold, vibrant reds. Runways were punctuated with bright vermillion lips and intense scarlet nails, proving that fiery red makes a striking statement against cozy winter knits.
7. Delicate Pink Blush
Berry-stained cheeks are being replaced by a pretty, romantic flush of cool-toned pink blush. Ranging from soft washes to high-impact metallic shades, the look evokes a windswept, “frozen from the winter but still chic” sensibility.
8. Icy, Colorful Metallics
Moody metallics are out. In are vibrant, frosty shimmers in bold colors. The trend appears as platinum accents on Cupid’s bows, chrome lips, gleaming purple eyes, and nails with a subtle, satin-like sheen for a touch of opulent shine.
9. The Deep Side Part
The side part has fully taken over, with deeper parts making a stronger statement. The look draws from ’60s and ’90s inspiration, seen in Bardot-inspired topknots, polished blowouts with side-swept bangs, and Veronica Lake–inspired waves with modern, beveled ends.
10. Graphic & Colorful Eyeliner
Eyeliner had a major moment, focusing on sharp, graphic lines. The trend ranged from ultra-precise wings to colorful flicks in shades like plum and teal. A key technique was forgoing heavy lashes to let the bold liner remain the sole, dramatic focus.