Byblos, Milan Fashion Week / Picture: Popsugar

Ah, its that time of the year again! We have emerged from a month-long run of Fashion Weeks with Paris Fashion Week strutting through its stint just yesterday. Prior to this, New York, London and Milan Fashion Week had taken their turns on stage to show off their collections. But amidst all the fabric, glitz and glamour, we take a look at the rising beauty trends across all four Fashion Weeks. Here’s a sneak peak: bold eyes are big this season!

New York Fashion Week

Short hair don’t care

There was a distinct trend for pixie cuts, sharp bobs and even shaved heads at New York, as the models took a weight off their shoulders with edgy, short haircuts. Proenza Schouler showcased square bob cuts that skimmed the jaw, adding another layer to the chic outfits worn by the models.

The new cat eye

Forget the traditional smoky eye or feline flick — this season was all about graphi colour blocking. Prabal Gurung led the way with bold streaks of eyeshadow in bright blues and greens that hovered above the eyelids and featured squared-off edges. This added a whole new punch to their collection, with makeup juxtaposing the nude hues that many of their clothes bore.

Quirky details

Of course, it wouldn’t be New York without a few quirkier offerings. Jason Wu‘s electric blue mascara clashed beautifully with his models’ two-tone crimson lips, while Thom Browne eschewed lipstick and brow pencils altogether in favour of appliqué-style pieces of fabric attached to the models’ faces.

London Fashion Week

Stain, don’t paint

A softer approach will be in order next season when it comes to applying lip colour. At shows including Preen, the models sported deep berry-toned hues smudged at the outer edges for a more whimsical, imperfect look than the painted-on lacquers we have seen over the past few seasons. Lip stains surely give off a more natural finish as compared to the strong matte liquid lips from the previous year.

 Eyeshadow: go square

We saw it in New York at Prabal Gurung’s show, and the squared-off eyeshadow trend touched down in London, too, thanks to Versus Versace. The models sported geometric oblong bands of deep, bold shadow for a contemporary and slightly robotic look.

Ponytails are back

The humble ponytail once again found a place on the catwalk, thanks to brands ranging from the heritage label Burberry to the contemporary J.W. Anderson. While Burberry messed things up a bit and used product, to add texture to its slightly rough-round-the-edge ponytails, Anderson opted for long and sleek, worn to the side and pulled over one shoulder.

Milan Fashion Week

Versace, Milan Fashion Week

Bold Eyes

Versace showed it meant business with its nude lips and graphic, square-winged eyeliner. The brows were also heavily filled in for extra gravitas. One the other hand, things took on a more daring tone at Byblos, where orange and green eyeliner were used to define the eyes and add to the sleek color-popping effects of the clothes.

Dark and Chic

Black is still the new black! Marni went for a grungy effect, opting for smudged kohl-rimmed eyes and a wash of dark shadow that almost reached the browbone, with the rest of the models’ faces kept bare. Channelling the inner city chic look, it’s evident that the eyes are the star of the show this season.

Paris Fashion Week

Maison Margiela, Paris Fashion Week

Colourful Contrasts

Yes, more on the eyes! Maison Margiela went bold and colourful as always, opting for a two-tone, color-blocked winged eye, paired with fluorescent orange lashes for extra impact. Fashion forward Kenzo was the latest house to adopt the growing trend for oblong eyeshadow, painting an opaque white hue across their models’ lids. Overall, the looks were bold and strong, keeping in line with the collections’ vision.

Bare-Faced Beauty

Saint Laurent kicked things off on the opening day with a bare-faced beauty look that centred on glowing skin, under-eye highlighter and unbrushed eyebrows. Despite the bare-face of their models, it was the unusual headgear at the Rick Owens show that caught the eye.

Jewels and Tones

No, not jewel tones like two seasons ago. This time, facial embellishments and angular features are in style. Manish Arora took an abstract route from its counterparts, decorating the models with facial beads dotted around the eyes and forehead. Alexis Mabille showcased a sleek vibe, thanks to razor-sharp side parts and a holographic gold and green eyeshadow.