Milan Fashion Week has an undeniably strong visual identity. Thanks to the powerhouse designers that show in Italy’s fashion capital, we associate it with strong women, bold colour, and collections that a modern woman would wear IRL.
The beauty looks created for AW17 reaffirmed these ideas, with strong contours and graphic shapes, flashes of electric colour, and a wearability that would translate easily from catwalk to commute.
Lacking inspiration of late? Click through our favourite Milan AW17 looks to put the fire back in your beauty arsenal…
Gucci
Makeup artist extraordinaire Pat McGrath brought an otherworldly edge to the already whimsical Gucci AW17 show. She employed a variety of makeup and hair styles, with teardrop jewels on models’ cheekbones, nose jewellery and glasses adding to the eccentricity.
Photo: Pietro D'aprano/Getty Images.
Applying jewels to lips, McGrath layered them in angular points up to the Cupid’s bow, leaving eyebrows, eyes and skin super-fresh to emphasise the doll-like look.
Apply a lip primer before building up a matte red lipstick, using a lip liner to create sharp contours around the mouth. When the colour has set, use makeup glue to apply varying ruby diamante jewels all over. Leave skin dewy and clean and let your lips do the talking.
Photo: Pietro D'aprano/Getty Images.
Sharp-angled high-shine lips were also seen at the show, paired with superhero-style feather eye masks and wild, blown-out hair.
Photo: Venturelli/WireImage.
Some models donned pink to peach faded sweeps of eyeshadow to match their Bowie-esque hair.
Photo: Venturelli/WireImage.
Marni
Pat McGrath was back for Marni, using black kohl to create varying graphic shapes around each girl’s eyes, reflecting the individuality of each look in Francesco Risso's debut collection.
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.
Keeping skin bare with a blurring primer, take your cue from Siouxsie Sioux and draw hypergraphic black outlines to suit your eye shape. Then, smear edges for a less polished vibe.
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.
Dolce & Gabbana
You can count on the towering Italian duo to present a classic red lip and eyeliner combo. Eyes were minimally winged and lips perfectly covered in a part-matte, part-glossy rouge. Every inch a look fit for rococo palaces, the designers employed non-models – ranging from musicians to social media stars and aristocrats – to walk the show, proving that this look is wearable on just about anyone.
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.
Prada
Pat McGrath used cream eyeshadows for the Prada show, topping the lid with a sky-blue line, and coming full circle with black on the lower lid. These eyes were far from neat, though – smudge your colour using your index finger for undone rock’n’roll peepers. Keep eyebrows in shape with clear gel and dab a small amount of balm on lips to keep the rest of the face refined.
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.
Fendi
No-makeup makeup has reigned for seasons now and, while designers returned to more playful and experimental beauty this autumn/winter, Fendi kept things simple with glowing skin, a noted lack of mascara, and buffed lips. A highlight, though, was the natural texture of the models’ hair throughout, ranging from salty waves to springy curls.
If you like the look but can’t face the thought of no makeup whatsoever, tinted moisturiser, brushed brows and a brown mascara help create the illusion of barely-there maquillage.
Photo: Estrop/Getty Images.
Versace
Three’s a trend and, thanks to Pat McGrath, we’ll be sporting black around the eyes come autumn. At Versace, the makeup artist applied thick black vertical wings across the models’ lids, thinly pencilling in the lower lash line. Once again, faces were fresh – McGrath’s Labs Skin Fetish kits use a trio of highlighting products to keep skin glowing – with the eyes bringing all the drama. Super-easy to replicate, your eye colour will be striking against the black.
Photo: Venturelli/WireImage.
Electric red and cobalt blue hair extensions were woven into models’ hair for the show, reiterating the ‘80s club punk look. Recreate by taking sections of hair and covering with wash-out colour spray – just like you did for ‘90s school discos.
Photo: Estrop/Getty Images.
Moschino
Global Beauty Director for YSL Beauty and renowned makeup artist Tom Pecheux crafted the looks for Jeremy Scott’s AW17 show. With models looking straight outta the ‘60s, Pecheux arched brows to a pin-up point and used nudes to create a neutral lip before outlining in a peachier shade for definition.
Eyes were the main focus with graphic cut creases, winged liner and, of course, a ‘60s full false lash. Apply blush under cheekbones in sandy shades for truly swinging ‘60s skin.
Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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