New York Fashion Week is in full force, which means that a new era of beauty trends are upon us: The hair, makeup, and nail looks brought to life on the runways are bound to leave an impact for months to come. It’s no surprise why—the best of the best in the beauty business are responsible for dreaming up the statement-making, or in some cases, subtle glam to grace the catwalk. Designers like Pat Bo, Prabal Gurung, and Alice & Olivia have already put on their sprin/summer 2023 shows—and the fashion speaks for itself (we’ve also rounded up the best looks of the season for your perusing pleasure). But we’d like to take a closer look at the beauty magic that went on backstage and behind the scenes.
From the resurgence of side parts (we saw them at Christian Siriano and Tommy Hilfiger) to one-off moments (à la the dreamy chrome glaze jelly nails at Rebecca Minkoff), New York Fashion Week is shaping up to be an overflowing pool of beauty inspo. Here, we’ve rounded up the best beauty looks so far—and asked the masterminds behind the scenes to share their mood boards, go-to products, and backstage secrets from NYFW.
Old Hollywood Glamour at Christian Siriano
With a fashion show stationed in Elizabeth Taylor’s old townhouse, it’s fairly apt that the hair and makeup inspiration was drawn from the ‘40s and ‘50s. Hair, which was led by stylist Lacy Redway, was dubbed a “modern take on the iconic Audrey Hepburn bun,” featuring a deep side part and slicked down side bangs. The era also inspired the “classic bombshell” makeup, which was led by Sofia Tilbury for Charlotte Tilbury. With a feline flick, dewy skin, and a pop of red on the lips, the completed look oozed Old Hollywood glamour.
Natural Skin at Kate Spade
Think: Caught in the rain. From wet hair to dewy skin, the look for the Kate Spade showcase was natural, albeit slightly enhanced. “The whole concept was seeing the girl’s skin. If they have freckles, we wanted to play up the freckles. If they have a tan, keep the tan. We wanted this fresh, healthy skin,” lead makeup artist Laura Stiassni told Marie Claire. Hair, which was lead by Jenny Kim, took a similar laid back tune. “It’s quite literal—she’s got wet hair. The biggest thing was trying to make it look beautiful and not swampy. It was about putting the right amount of movement into the hair to make it look natural.” Her go-to product? Castor oil. “It’s a two for one: It’s good for your hair and gives a really beautiful luster.”
Soft & Smoky at Pat Bo
“Gunmetal glitter” was the name of the game at Pat Bo. “The girls are all in very shimmery, sexy outfits so we wanted something to compliment that and not take away,” lead makeup artist Charlie Riddle says. He kept the skin, brows, and lips uber-natural, pulling all the attention to a soft, smoky eye. The two-product look is quick and easy to achieve—all you need is five minutes.
Spiky Buns at Jason Wu
Glowy skin (courtesy of 111Skin), ‘90s-inspired eye makeup, and an ever-so-slight contour complete with Jason Wu Beauty eyeshadow, set the stage for this beauty look, but the hair is what landed it on our list. Olaplex ambassador Jimmy Paul created three separate looks: Sleek, braided twists, with the ends sticking out, short natural textured bobs, and braids. “I wanted the hair to look purposefully messy yet put together at the same time,” he tells us, referencing the quintessential “busy New York woman” as his inspiration.
Bold Bubble Eyes at Alice & Olivia
Simplistic, bold eyeshadow had a moment at a handful of shows this season, but the pops showcased at Alice & Olivia made it one of our favorites. Elyse Reneau, Executive Director of Global Beauty at Too Faced, explains that the look is a play on designer Stacey Bendet’s iconic black “bubble eye.” A more subtle, albeit equally as gorgeous, part of the look is the blush placement, which was positioned right under the eye. “Putting it right underneath the center of the eye makes it look very youthful,” explains Reneau. “It’s a trend that came out of Asia and it’s making its way over here. It makes you look like that natural flush, it’s very joyful.” As for the skin? It was prepped with Arbonne skincare.
