If the Hunger Games had a beauty capital, this would be it. Ahead are some of the bizarre hair, nail, and makeup moments from the season
The F/W25 shows in New York felt less like a runway and more like the Reaping—only here, beauty was the weapon of choice. Hair looked like battle crowns, lashes fanned out in exaggeration, and makeup was a playground for texture. It was a sensory play, too, as the looks seemed to teeter between the surreal and the survivalist, making the runway feel like a twisted yet interesting vision of the future.
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Bold Blinks
Beauty at Thome Browne was a feathered fantasy. Isamaya Ffrench, in collaboration with Lashify, gave the extra-long lashes an Effie Trinket kind of flutter, something you’d expect from a winged creature to match the avian-inspired elements in Browne’s designs. Hairstylist James Pecis’ hair direction was part origami, part avian. At the same time, subtle tie-print details were painted on the lips, “a nod to the designer’s visionary collection,” as per Ffrench in a press statement.
Galactic Lips
Christopher John Rogers returns to the NYFW calendar with a metallic bomb after a five-year hiatus. Makeup artist Alex Levy called the focal point of the look the “galactic lip”—a shimmering, chameleon-like metallic that changed colors from every angle. Alex Levy envisioned the look to be a mature woman’s ‘going out’ lip. “In the Christopher John Rogers world, our nude is a shimmer nude,” explained Levy.
Bends on the Fast Lane
Christian Siriano gave us business in the front, party in the back. Celebrity hairstylist Lacy Redway reinvented the sleek bun, tying it back with a bunch of coiled twists she aptly called the “Trackside Twist,” matching the automotive-themed designs on the runway. This look was all about high speed and high style—perfect for the high-octane glam of Siriano’s designs.
Claws to Impress
Nails over at Alice + Olivia were the kind of statement pieces you’d expect citizens of the Capitol would have. Famed nail artist Miss Pop crafted press-on nails piled high with pearls, chrome, and 3D embellishments, making each hand a statement on its own. Each set of nails seemed to match the models and their looks—all the way down to the brooches.
The New York runways were indeed a dystopian dream come true. Bold lashes, metallic lips, sculpted hair that probably took bottles of hairspray to achieve—they’re not for your average Monday, but the high drama, high concept theme was an interesting observation this season.
Featured Image and Photos: MISS POP, ALEX LEVY, LACY REDWAY (via Instagram), THE IMPRESSION
