If you had asked us back in March whether or not we thought we'd be reporting on spring/summer 2021 fashion and beauty trends come October, you would have gotten an "eh, we seriously doubt it." Alas, here we are, ears-deep in head-turning lip, lid, and hair looks courtesy of our favorite designers, who still—worldwide pandemic be damned—pulled out every last stop in the name of fashion. Spring/summer 2021's runways might have been different than most (or, okay, all) of fashion-month runways past, but the influx of designer- and makeup artist–induced magic didn't fall short and begs plenty to celebrate. Face shields and masks might have been considered an unexpected plot twist pre-2020, but the industry's best found a way to just—excuse our Tim Gunn voice—make it work.
From New York to London to Milan to Paris, we spotted so many screenshot-worthy beauty trends we're planning to replicate ASAP. We most definitely appreciate the artistry of OTT makeup and hair looks, but this is an ode to the comparably attainable fashion week moments that feel more chic pedestrian than Mars-extricated alien. Keep scrolling! 12 noteworthy beauty trends and the must-have products you need to re-create them are just below.
New York
Spotted at: Christian Siriano Collection, New York Fashion Week
Avante-garde graphic-eyeliner looks have been trending for a few seasons now, and they show no sign of stopping—2021 and beyond! Celebrity makeup artist Vincent Oquendo created the above magic at Christian Siriano using Maybelline's Hyper Easy Liquid Liner ($8). Leave your lids bare, or feel free to press any eye shadow of your choosing onto your lid for even more drama.
The must-have product:
Spotted at: Jason Wu Collection, New York Fashion Week
Faux freckles from the vacation we all wish we could go on were the main inspiration behind the fresh, sun-dappled complexions at the Jason Wu show. "The whole idea is that we can’t really go on vacation, so Jason brought the vacation to us,” makeup artist Erin Parsons told Vogue. "We wanted to keep the girls really fresh because if you’re on vacation, you usually don’t do too much makeup.”
The must-have product:
Spotted at: Tom Ford Collection, New York Fashion Week
Eyes or lips? Typically, we're directed to choose just one focal point, so we're refreshingly smitten with Tom Ford's full-out makeup maximalism this season. Lips were lacquered with electrocuted shades of high-shine pink, while the models' lids donned a disco ball gradient of shimmer and dimension. It's hard to know what New Year's Eve 2021 has in store, but, at the very most, it's probably this.
The must-have product:
London
Spotted at: Paul Costelloe Collection, London Fashion Week
Don't get us wrong, we loved the neon pink trend that dominated every spring/summer 2021 fashion week, but we couldn't not give a very enthusiastic nod to the earthy, sunset-dusted cheekbones of the models at Paul Costelloe. Darker skin tones go richer and more russet with your blush of choice, and lighter skin tones can veer more peach.
The must-have product:
Spotted at: Victoria Beckham Collection, London Fashion Week
Leave it to Posh to execute one of the chicest, yet incredibly wearable, beauty trends we saw during fashion month: nude lips with a touch of light-catching sheen. The London runway was the perfect opportunity for Beckham to debut her namesake beauty line's brand-new collection of lipsticks called, well, Posh.
The must-have product:
Spotted at: Bora Aksu Collection, London Fashion Week
We wish our lips looked this perfectly diffused underneath (or after taking off) our masks. Punchy shades of pink kept the blotted-lip trend fresh and really made the models' lips pop from underneath the whimsical gossamer face masks at Bora Aksu. We highly recommend Byredo's brand-new matte lippie to achieve a similar-looking vibe. (Pat and press it into your lips gently after you apply for a blurred effect.)
The must-have product:
Milan
Spotted at: Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini Collection and Ports 1961 Collection, Milan Fashion Week
As much as we love and admire fashion-week beauty looks that border on the supernatural, there's nothing quite so beautiful as glowing, practically naked skin. We saw the trend all throughout fashion month but were especially entranced by the candlelit cheekbones of the models at Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini and Ports 1961. To create the look at home, we suggest opting for a clear makeup gloss (like makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic's new formula below!) and tapping it onto all the high points of your complexion—the top of the cheekbones, your Cupid's bow, the ends of your brow bone, and wherever else you want to highlight your bone structure.
The must-have product:
Spotted at: Ports 1961 Collection, Milan Fashion Week
Anyone who said comb-overs died in the '70s and '80s clearly wasn't at this year's Spring/Summer 2021 Fashion Week showing. Sure, an ultradeep part lends more intrigue to any look, but it's especially perfect for the holiday season. The style automatically adds extra oomph and volume to your strands, and it pretty much begs for decoration—think clips, barrettes, and wherever else your heart takes you.
The must-have product:
Spotted at: Versace Collection, Milan Fashion Week
Irina Shayk can make even the most questionable beauty trend seem totally valid, but we're actually very on board with the soaked-siren beauty vibes of Versace's Milan showing. We're not going much of anywhere at the moment (and who knows what the future holds next spring), but for now, we're very happy to channel the trend post-shower, pre-Zoom meeting. Make your style work double time as a treatment by dousing strands with Oribe's glossy new oil elixir. (It's meant to be worn scalp to toe, so bonus points if you add a quick hit to your shoulders, chest, and neck.)
The must-have product:
Paris
Spotted at: Kenneth Ize Collection, Paris Fashion Week
From lips to cheeks to lids, it was hot-pink everything for Kenneth Ize at Paris Fashion Week. We'll totally understand if you're not willing to paint your whole face with the springtime hue, but don't underestimate the superpower of wearing hot pink on your lids or lips. For the latter, try Anastasia Beverly Hills's new lip stain in Hot Pink for cement-like wear.
The must-have product:
Spotted at: Chloé Collection, Paris Fashion Week
A major graphic-liner look can be an undertaking—especially if you're still building up your sea legs. (We certainly are!) The retro-looking cat eyes we spotted at Chloé are the perfect antidote, and it's easy to customize your look depending on how thin or thick you flesh out your flicked wings at the outer corners of your eyes. We love Surratt Beauty's handy Smoky Eye Baton ($35), which allows you to create a straightforward (and more understated) cat eye with the liner end or really build it up with the shadow at the other end.
The must-have product:
Spotted at: Chanel Collection, Paris Fashion Week
Sooty gray and black lids are completely unexpected for spring and summer, but paired with Chanel's elegant pearls and Edwardian hats, it somehow just works. Plus, if you keep the rest of your makeup aesthetic on the nude and minimal side (à la Chanel's models), the overall outcome reads more chic than overdone. We're obsessed.
The must-have product:
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