Sure, your summer makeup routine may have consisted of…well, not much. But it’s autumn now and an optimal time to flip on the glam switch. The good news is the season’s best looks offer some fabulous looking escapism we could all use right about now. And there’s no need to find an excuse to delight and dazzle—just go for it. Make things interesting at Zoom happy hour, catch some stares during your Slack meeting, work some eye candy with your mask, or have your video date instantly intrigued. You have nothing to lose…except those minimalist summer vibes. 

FLOATING LINER

Miu Miu

If you’re like me and can never quite get your liquid liner become one with the base of your lash line, then this one’s for you. At Prada, Miu Miu, and Stella McCartney swift liner strokes (from free-form thin flicks to middle-of-the-lid thick swatches) hovered on lids. This liner pen and its brushstroke precision will get you there.

ARTSY EYES

Self Portrait 

For days when black feels blah, take a walk over to the bright side. A swipe of neon orange illuminated eyes at Self Portrait while it was all pretty in pink at Monse. At Chromat, more was more with a vivid combo of shades catapulting the cat eye into new, cool territory. This palette has all the opaque, paint-like colors you need to get the look, also seen at Maison Margiela.

BRIGHT RED LIPS

Marc Jacobs

We could all use the cheeriness of a cherry lip right about now. The red was big and bold at Oscar de la Renta with makeup artist Tom Pecheux at the helm painting pouts. Pat McGrath went with a more classic blue-red hue at Marc Jacobs double downing on its sultriness with winged lids.  Shop the exact shade used on Jacobs' runway, named, unsurprisingly, Oh Miley. Red lips were also the thing at Jason Wu.

HAUTE HAIR ACCESSORIES

Fendi

A hair accessory has the ability to quickly transform a ’do that is perhaps straying into don’t territory. From the fresh upside down headband look at Fendi to bodacious botanical barrettes at Miu Miu to crown-like glory at Simone Rocha, hair with extra zhush is the name of the game. Twist your hair up and go for it, wearing it backwards--- as per celebrity Hair Stylist Sam Knight. Not so daring? Simply sport this headband the traditional way.  Hair accessories also had a big presence at Lanvin and Gucci.

CRYSTAL EYES

Giambattista Valli

Last year Zendaya and the cast of Euphoria made bedazzling eyes a thing, and designers have now made it fashun. Inspo to make everyday a little extra: Giambattista Valli’s eyes were completely encased in bling; there was the magical maze of liner and crystals at Valentino; and more subtle brow embellishment at Christopher John Rogers.  Go bold, adding multiple face crystals as seen on the runway, or simply add two for a taste of the trend. For even more subtle bling, replicate the look we gave Hailey Bieber for the inaugural cover of Story + Rain. 

BLURRED LINES

Tom Ford

And then there’s always alluring smudgy black liner. It’s effortlessly sexy whether it’s purposeful or the fortuitous result of a long day without touch-ups. Max Mara presented a masterful rendition of the smudge dousing upper and lower lids in sooty brilliance. Layer color from lash line to brow to create the smudged and gradated shadow seen at Tom Ford. Tom Ford Beauty palettes Body Heat, Suspicion, and African Violet were used to create the look. This look also dominated at Marc Jacobs and Dior.

Runway Photography: IMAXtree.com