Katie Withington: blue eyeshadow
IF MY LOVE OF MAKE-UP HISTORY THROUGHOUT THE SEASONS has taught me anything, it’s that a stash of creamy blue eyeshadows will never go out of style. From Naomi Campbell to Twiggy, blue shadow has brightened up runways and red carpets for decades, while it has also played an integral role in pop culture, music and film. Debbie Harry, Princess Diana, Mia Goth in X… Past and present, the list of cultural references is endless.
Fashion Month made a big case for the return of blue eye make-up. SS24’s presentation of strong lids came in two blue waves. The first was pastel prints of cornflower and cool sky, best embodied by Antonio Marras. Soft and whimsical, this powdery palette came with distinctive
1990s nostalgia: think Christina
Ricci in Buffalo ’66.
The second blue wash felt more like a dirtier, grungier revival. Deep navy and metallic cobalt, as seen at Pierre Cardin, made for a moodier make-up statement. But dark-blue shadows zooming all the way to your browbone? It’s safe to say, this look is not for the faint of heart.
There are some easier takeaways for everyday. I often rotate my signature black liner with Violette’s striking royal-blue Yeux Paint or switch out mascara for a noughties lash colour.
Celebs have been quick to lean into Y2K nostalgia too, with Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner both opting for subtle washes of aquamarine in recent months. To achieve this effect, I’ll reach for the About-Face Shadowstick in 2002, Flavedo & Albedo’s Velvet Eyeshadow in Sky, or Euphoria’s own Half Magic Chromaddiction Matte in Sky Juice.
Creamy blue eyeshadow will never go
out of style