If this past New York Fashion Week (NYFW) taught us anything, it’s that beauty is not about perfection, it’s about spirit. From shimmery and pierced nails to watercolor-washed lids, backstage artists made these trends their own.
Here are the season’s defining beauty moments, straight from the fashion week shows.
All Things Chrome
Nail artists leaned into chrome finishes and effects that catch the light, with subtle mirror-like sheen to full-on space cadet styles. This season chrome isn’t just a nail trend; it’s an entire mood.
At Shao, Pattie Yankee pushed the metallic vibe with futuristic icy chrome nails in several different styles. She created cracked-ice textures by pressing saran wrap into gel and peeling it away to leave a 3-D iceberg effect. Silver bullions in various sizes were strategically added, especially on the men’s nails, resulting in a rugged, dimensional finish.
For LoveShackFancy, Miss Pop went “Boho Chrome,” describing her understated manicures as “sparkling from within. Pearly, fabulous, flashing lights …” To get the standout nude chrome effect, it’s all about essie’s new “Liquid Sunrise.” Miss Pop explains, “Iridescence in a nail polish usually has a chunkier fleck. But here it’s, a very subtle, perfect shimmer.”
The Wet Look
Chrome’s shine spilled over to hair. Lead stylist for Aveda, Britt Dion, drenched models’ locks at Shao for a “wetter than wet” style with almost plastic, Ken-doll lines.
Using a neutral finish foam to give the hair structure and then going directly on top of it with Aveda’s Be Curly Advanced Coil Definer Gel to give it this “really, really, high shine to where it’s going to look like it’s still wet.” The look is finished off with defined futuristic lines that looked almost sculpted.
PatBo also took to the wet hair movement with twisted back buns drenched in Eco Style Styling Gel for a polished just-out-of-the-shower moment that felt surprisingly runway-ready.
Watercolor + Pastel Lids
These slightly hazy, beautifully defused eyeshadows tout stunning colors in a beautifully restrained way as if stepping right out of a painting.
At Pamella Roland, Rick DiCecca of Artistry Makeup channeled American artists, Georgia O’Keeffe and Andy Warhol, with “a dusty pink wash of color over the lid” and “a very dark purple, almost like a sunset, along the base of the lashes. We’re using all colors you’d see in the desert, colors you’d see in paintings …” DiCecca shares. “The thing I love about doing Pamela’s show is the models always walk away feeling beautiful.”
Collina Strada models wore soft shimmery water-colored shades washed over lids, while Pat McGrath for Anna Sui layered dreamy blue-purple shadow and topped it with light-blue mascara for her “Desert Bloom” effect.
The Return of the Side Part
After years of center-part dominance, millennials rejoice, the side part is officially back.
Unite lead stylist Narad Kutowaroo debuted sleek, deep side-parted blowouts for Pamella Roland, smoothing hair behind the ears for what he called “a very expensive finish,” that looked as if there were no product in the hair at all. He repeated a similar stunning side-parted look at Kate Barton.
Other shows featuring parts filled with ‘90s runway nostalgia, to hair swept across the face in an extreme part this season included Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Cucculelli Shaheen, and Sandy Liang.
Soap Nails – Clean and Fresh
Minimalist “Soap Nails” offered a softer approach to some of this season’s bolder trends. Simplistic in nature, these manicures are all about understated beauty.
At Kallmeyer, Pattie Yankee layered her own shades, one coat of “Barely There” topped with “Be Kind,” for the perfect nude on a rounded natural nail. “The designer just wanted a really clean aesthetic,” she said.
A Touch of Toughness
Juxtaposition is key to nailing the pretty meets tough trend. “I think that the Kallmeyer girl and the Saie girl is a little bit more effortless,” lead makeup artist James Boehmer shares. “It’s like the idea you’re primped and polished, but nothing tries too hard. It’s really about the texture of the skin.” Models received Danucera facials before makeup; Boehmer then used Saie Slip Tint Concealer where needed, added Saie Dew Blush Liquid Cream Blush, and dusted powder in the center of the face for contrast.
“We’re applying blush a little closer to the corner of the eye, so it has a little bit more edge and grit,” making it a lot less angelic Boehmer explains, then finishing the look off with smudged brown mascara for a “tough-girl edge.”
tarte also crafted a beautiful complexion with a smoldering eye and structured brow for LoveShackFancy. Using their smolderEYES paired with Brows for Days Framing Gel and Amazonian Clay Brow Pencil, lead artist Shyanna Lundi perfectly balanced elements of western edge to an otherwise romantic look.
Uncomplicated Waves
Styled yet never fussy, natural waves dominated this season.
TRESemmé Partner Justine Marjan wanted to enhance the models’ natural waves in a look aptly named “Windswept Waves” for Cynthia Rowley. Using TRESemmé A-List Collection Dry Texturizing Spray (available at Target). Marjan scrunched damp hair to define the wave pattern, adding flat-iron S-waves where needed.
At LoveShackFancy, Brent Lawler constructed “very soft, lived-in waves.” Ends were left straight for a natural finish, with a hit of Batiste Original Dry Shampoo to add extra volume.
Sculptural Hair
While effortless waves ruled the runways, accent hairstyles brought playful punctuation.
At Alice + Olivia, lead stylist Glen Oropeza customized each braided updo with woven fabric, pearls, and more. “The collection is extremely colorful and playful, so we wanted a hair look that could match many different looks,” he stated, using amika Supernova Moisture and Shine Cream to keep flyaways polished.
No matter your vibe, bold and edgy or clean and romantic, these new styles which will be everywhere next spring offer something to fit everyone. The best part? You don’t have to wait until the weather warms up to start experimenting. Get ahead of the curve and try out a luxe minimalistic mani or creative updo today!
Janine Silver
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