Let’s face it, glowing skin, red lips and sleek, glossy locks will never really go out of style at fashion week or elsewhere.
But it’s always exciting to see the boundary-pushing ideas, which often inspire real-life trends, make their catwalk debut. This season’s highlights include the dramatic feather lashes at Thom Browne; the colourful threads makeup artist Lynsey Alexander used in lieu of eyeliner at Ganni; and the romantic flushed cheeks and wispy locks at Bora Aksu.
On the Fall 2025 runways, we saw echoes of select hair and makeup looks from last season, including bright monochrome eyeshadow, retro updos and deliberately messy tresses.
But there were also plenty of fresh ideas — both highly editorial and more “everyday” — to serve as inspiration for next season.
Surreal lashes
At Vaquera, Harris Reed, Thom Browne and Courrèges, the makeup was focused on the eyes. The extra-long lashes from a few seasons back are trending again, but they’re even bigger and bolder than before. Who needs mascara when you can have feathers, black cellophane and brow-grazing falsies?
Embellished puckers
We’ve seen facial embellishments in recent seasons, and for Fall 2025, they drew attention to the lips. There were lip stickers at Marc Jacobs and Thom Browne (similar to what we saw at the Setchu Fall 2025 men’s show in January). And at the Antonio Marras show during Milan Fashion Week, makeup artist Ricky Morandin applied what looked like pieces of red foil in place of lipstick.
Bold braids
Several designers opted for statement braids this season. There were sleek, elaborate updos by Sam McKnight at Annie’s Ibiza, and at Antonio Marras, hairstylist Eugene Souleiman’s pretty creations were decorated with sparkling accessories.
In contrast, many of the braided hairstyles for the Meruert Tolegen show were vertical and deliberately asymmetrical, creating much more drama.
Crimped hair
We’ve seen the return of ’90s fashion and beauty in recent years, and (for those of us old enough to have had one the first time around) it may be time to dig up the crimping iron from storage. At Chet Lo, the hair was straightened and crimped in distinct sections, while at Alexander McQueen, manes were also crimped here and there, but left to look undone.
Lined lips
Another ’90s trend having a comeback? Noticeable lipliner. At Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood, makeup artist Daniel Sallstrom lined the models’ lips in contrasting and unexpected hues, while the dark liner was more polished, but no less dramatic, at Mame Kurogouchi.
