BIG BLACK WINGED LINER
From everyday wings to smoked-out kohl and classic cat eye, big, black liner is guaranteed to come into fashion again and again. Whether it’s retro or even slightly goth, the look serves up some of the evening glamour we’ve been missing over the past 18 months.
At Chanel and Dior Haute Couture, slim black wings were complemented by royal blue shadow and liner. Both runways featured reverse cat eyes (smoked-out shadow underneath to create an upside-down, mirrored liner look). For more reverse cat-eye inspiration, look towards Schiaparelli Couture’s heavy inky liner below the eyes, complete with skinny, barely etched brows.
There was a nod to the ’60s at Giambattista Valli Couture, where the entire lid was covered with a black cat-eye while keeping the rest of the face (including under the eyes) neutral and bare for dramatic effect. A similar, top-heavy liner look was also seen at Balenciaga’s return to couture after 53 years. Over at Valentino, the dramatic black liner extended towards the brow bone, completed with black in the waterline. And at Erdem, NARS global artistry director Jane Richardson played with lines to create black graphic looks that winged up towards the temples and then back under the eyes.
For some everyday liner inspiration, look to Alessandra Rich and Prabal Gurung, who both featured classic wings on models – wearable, thick and sharp.