The New York Fashion Week fall/winter 2024 circuit left me with a palpable craving for fall. No, I’m not coveting preppy polos and pumpkin chai candles—at least not yet. This time, I’m dreaming of gilded eyelids and hair tattoos. I never thought I’d see the day I’d be hoarding tiny gold leaves and hairspray, but according to Christian Siriano, nothing complements a flouncy ball gown quite like the subtle shimmer of gold flecks peppered throughout the hair. And for those who’ve confined their lip liners to the standard contours, the daring looks from the Kim Shui and Aknvas shows call for an experimental awakening.
Herewith, ELLE.com rounds up the fresh-from-backstage beauty trends that will rule the upcoming year. After all, it’s never too early to start borrowing from the fall runways, even if PSLs are off the menu for now. Scroll through for the top seven beauty trends that captured our attention.
Golden Girl
Though last season found Christian Siriano twirling through the land of balletcore, the designer took a sharp turn into Dune territory for his most recent show—and he had the most shimmering parts to show for it. At the Christian Siriano fall/winter 2024 presentation, models traipsed down the runway in Dune-inspired “celestial space buns” from Tresemmé partner and celebrity stylist Lacy Redway. The boxy buns rested beneath deep center parts, which Redway embedded with bits of reflective gold leaf. She also dusted the top of the buns with the glimmering accents, using Tresemmé Mega Control Grip ($8) to keep the decorations in place. PS: While gold leaf looks ever-so-luxe, you can actually score it on Amazon for about $6.
Hair Tattoos
At Collina Strada’s fall/winter 2024 show, Bumble and Bumble artistic ambassador Evanie Frausto created ethereal hair tattoos. Inspired by the presentation’s metal band theme, Frausto gave models slicked-back, tight-to-the-head shine using Bumble and Bumble’s Bb.gel ($27), Holding Spray ($30), and Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil ($45.) Next, he applied star and fairy wing tattoos—made of colored strips of hair—to the sides of the head. The tattoos may be a bit tough to replicate at home, but the lacquered-down hair can be achieved without a trip to the salon. Start by creating a clean middle part, then shellac your hair within an inch of its life, working the gel in section by section.
Gilded Glam
Glazed-donut skin has evolved into a gilded, glowy sheen that will pop up on eyelids, cheeks, and even foreheads this fall. At Christian Siriano’s fall/winter 2024 show, Charlotte Tilbury’s pro artistry team played up the metallic fashion with a dipped-in-gold beauty look. They swathed eyelids in gold and dusted models’ faces with champagne-hued shimmer. To get the look at home, try the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Highlighter Wand ($42) in—what else?—Goldgasm.
Gold also made its way onto fingertips. At Tiffany Brown’s fall/winter 2024 show, Tara Haye of Nailing Hollywood created micro-French manicures, gilding the nail tips with Dazzle Dry’s 14-karat metallic gold Lunar Love ($22.)
Soft-Focus Skin
At PatBo, makeup artist Charlie Riddle partnered with Stila Cosmetics to create smoky eyes with dark plum shadows and inky wings. He juxtaposed the smoke show on the eyes with a soft-focus look on the skin. Cheeks received the dewiest treatment from Stila’s Blush & Bronze Hydro Glow Cheek Duo in Apricot & Golden ($32), which makeup artists dotted on with their fingers backstage. Meanwhile, lips had the faintest hint of shimmering pink.
Doll Nails
Backstage at Marc Jacobs’ fall/winter 24 show, nail artist Jin Soon took to Instagram to share a close-up look at the “doll-like” manicures that graced the runways. After filing the models’ nails into a short, rounded shape, she gave them shellac manicures using CND’s glossy opaque hues: Bare Chemise ($15), Satin Pajamas ($15), and Field Fox ($15). Over at Helmut Lang, Choi kept nails sheer and glossy, sending models down the runway with glazed manicures.
Bare Minimalism
Minimalistic makeup was the look du jour at several shows, and clean, glowing skin was the canvas in demand. At Proenza Schouler, hair was easy and undone, and makeup had a low-key feel. Proper skincare was a priority backstage, where models prepped their skin with a two-step regimen from Kate Somerville. First, the Delikate Recovery Serum ($98) calmed the complexion; aestheticians topped it off with facial massage using the Delikate Recovery Cream ($76.) Et voila: Clean skin was ready for the runway.
Airbrushed Lips
But hold on, it wasn’t all minimalism. At Kim Shui, makeup artist Romero Jennings went romantic and moody, channeling maximalist ‘90s glam. After dusting models’ lids with MAC’s Dazzleshadow Liquid in Diamond Crumbles ($25), he went in for a glossy lip with an airbrushed effect. MAC’s Lip Pencil ($18) in the black-plum Nightmoth shade lined models’ pouts, which he then filled in with Silky Matte Lipstick ($25) and topped off with clear Lipglass ($17.)