THE BEAUTY OF NYFW

When it came to our first dose of fashion-week-born make-up looks and hairstyles, New York brought the drama.

Brightly painted eyes proved to be a gutsy theme. Chromat’s models alternated a neon yellow and blue pairing with diffused red. Helmut Lang’s runway flaunted pink and yellow. Never one to be outdone, Jeremy Scott’s S/S ‘20 show provided serious Instagram fodder, with sci-fiworthy pastel wigs and glow-in-the-dark shadow.

Meanwhile, the Tory Burch S/S ‘20 show proved that ‘90s hair accessories are back: note that hair comb. Expect to see high-street versions soon.

Embellishment is always a fave backstage beauty ploy at Fashion Week. In New York, AREA went the whole hog with diamanté drops round models’ eyes, as well as the odd chainmail beard. No, really. NARS’ team, headed by Sada Ito, stripped it back at ADEAM to a glistening diamanté duo on the outer corner of each eye.

Back on the hair highway, Lauren Philippon treated us to long and chunky plaits interwoven with wide strips of floral fabric. Pyer Moss saw cornrows and box braids adorned with jewellery from designer Johnny Nelson, which featured 21 iconic black women in music, including Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone and Beyoncé.

Our favourite look? The cloud eyes at Mansur Gavriel. Matching your eyeshadow to your jumper sounds way too ‘80s throwback, but this iteration was a wonder.

If that’s what S/S ‘20s’ backstage beauty set can muster in the first few days, we can only imagine what is yet to appear.