Haute Couture Fashion Week is all about the drama, as theatrical beauty and hair plays out amongst the labyrinthine craftsmanship and creative genius of fashion’s finest.
Glittery lips at the Atelier Versace show.
Here, we have curated the most memorable makeup and hair moments from Paris – beauty maximalism at its very best.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 05: A model walks the runway during the Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 5, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
The Curly Beehive
In classic Karl fashion, Chanel’s Haute Couture extravaganza was nothing short of fantastical. The Grand Palais housed a mock Chanel Atelier, with models sauntering between sewing machines and sample cuts of cloth – all with gigantic curled beehives. The exaggerated doll-like hair was a standout, and held neatly together with a simple black, bow headband. Hair was pulled tight in a culmination of corkscrew curls that popped up sky-high from the crown. The mane masterstroke.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 05: A model,hair detail, walks the runway during the Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 5, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)A model walks the runway during the Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 5, 2016 in Paris, France.PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 05: A model walks the runway during the Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 5, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Smudgy, Silver Eyes
At Armani Prive, lids were lined with metallic silver and smudged with black kohl. The lived-in, next-day eye has been a recurrent trend of late, and was made even more striking with the stone-like silver. A glorious gradient of greys and black made for come-hither eyes to match sexy, boss-lady dressing.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 05: A model walks the runway during the Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 5, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 05: A model walks the runway during the Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 5, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 05: A model walks the runway during the Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 5, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
The Exaggerated Wing
A winged liner imparts a certain classicism, so Dior repurposed that concept and made it exaggerated, in keeping with the theatrical proportions of Haute Couture. Bold, thick and texta-like – chunky lines were drawn all the way around the eye, fluted outwards in line with the brow and artfully flicked downwards, just before the inner corner; part dramatic mod, part Cleopatra and a whole lot of pow.
A model walks the runway during the Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2016 in Paris, France.PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 04: A model walks the runway during the Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 04: A model walks the runway during the Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Helmet Braids
With the braid obsession rife, an artistic take on the trend was manifest in Ralph and Russo. A meticulously tight braid was pulled back in the centre, with slicked hair on either side, whilst a single rope was strategically placed across the top of the forehead, reminiscent of a halo.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 04: A model walks the runway during the Ralph & Russo Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Bord/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 04: A model walks the runway during the Ralph & Russo Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Bord/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 04: A model walks the runway during the Ralph & Russo Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Bord/Getty Images)
Glitter Lips
Half of Atelier Versace’s vixens stormed the runway with deep, plum pouts, whilst the other half sparkled under the bright lights with disco red lips. A deep hue of crimson was mixed with iridescent flecks of glitter – disco queen meets va-va-voom as only Versace knows how.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 03: A model walks the runway during the Atelier Versace Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 03: A model walks the runway during the Atelier Versace Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 03: A model walks the runway during the Atelier Versace Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
With her lyrical turn of phrase and penchant for uber-glamour, Chrisanthi Kaliviotis is in her element writing about beauty for The Carousel, while weaving in fun fashion and pop culture references. She also loves a road test, so we send many of the new hair tools that arrive her way (she actually knows how to use them). Have you seen that hair?