Black Cat Energy
The ’80s called and the “mob wives” have answered – with dramatic makeup.
Say goodbye to subdued and “clean”, and hello to bold and loud. Mob wife makeup is making its mark in 2024 – and in a very dramatic way. If you’ve seen new looks from the likes of Hailey Bieber and Dua Lipa, you’ll know what we’re talking about.
Makeup artist Larry Yeo describes this trend as an escape from the overworked and over-worn “clean girl” aesthetic, with a shift towards the ultra-excessive, “pretend-TV” look. “It’s all about the presumed 1970s/80s ‘Italian-American look’,” he says.
A throwback to the glamorous women from movies such as
Scarface (1983) or Casino (1995), the look is flashy with bright lips, heavily lined eyes, and just oozing sophistication and confidence. Forget barely there makeup and take things up a few notches by going heavy on every part of your face. It’s also not important to apply everything perfectly. In fact, a “morning after” effect is one of the fun – even sexy – features.
Larry recommends this look for a night out or an important evening dinner. His tips for achieving it: a strong-contoured eye showing a bit more old-school luxury, mid-contoured cheeks with a neutral blush suited to your skin tone, and a darkened mauve or stunning red lip boosted with liner.
“We have to be careful about how it works on the face, though,” he advises. “You can tone it down by taking one focus feature one notch down.”
To make it last, he recommends using any eyeshadow base, such as Hourglass Eye Primer, to ensure that everything stays in place.
“Bobbi Brown eyeshadow sticks are amazing for working on the depth and shadows before you apply powder eyeshadow,” he adds. “And M.A.C Colour Excess Gel Pencils (in navy, eggplant or black) are stunning, and last through wind, rain and tears.”
Larry also suggests evening out the skin with Sisley Phyto-Teint Perfection for a soft matte, but luminous finish. Touch up where needed, using Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer to hide signs of your late nights. Finally, finish off with Gucci Rouge A Levres Liquide Mat Lip Colour so your lipstick stays on without smudging.