This February, London Fashion Week [1] went entirely remote, but going virtual didn't stopped designers from showing off their creativity both through the clothes they created, the digital presentations they planned, and the beauty looks they chose to complement their collection. In fact, the hair and makeup looks we saw at LFW were heavy on the eyeshadow and the hairspray — in a very good way.
In seasons past, we've gotten used to seeing lots of "easy hair" and "no-makeup makeup" come down the runway, which I'm not going to like, got a bit snoozy. But the London shows this season offered us loads of exciting and eye-catching beauty moments. There were sky-high hair sculptures at Simone Rocha and Osman, real flower petals glued under the eyes at Bora Aksu, and lots and lots of velvety red lipstick (seen at Erdem, Vivienne Westwood, and Paul Costelloe to name a few). And whilst all of these looks were seen through our screens, they were no less inspiring and impactful. Keep reading for a round up of all of our favourite hair and makeup moments from London Fashion Week February 2021, so you can see for yourself.
Flashes of Glitter at Mark Fast Autumn 2021
"The idea for this look was to capture the effect you get when light reflects on water," makeup artist Pablo Rodriguez said of the look he created for Mark Fast's digital show. "The main feature were a few pieces of chunky silver glitter placed on the centre of the eyelid on top of the lash line, so they catch the light when the models blink. The rest of the look was all about metallic pastels on eyes, lips, and cheeks".
Petal Power at Bora Aksu Autumn 2021
Aksu pre-filmed his autumn collection in the Neoclassical central hall at the Tate Britain. Fitting, as the beauty look created for the show was a true work of art, featuring dried flower petals placed under the models' eyes by makeup artist Janeen Witherspoon, and intricately moulded milkmaid braids by hairstylist Daniel Martin.
Graphic Milkmaid Braids at Bora Aksu Autumn 2021
Another look at Martin's intricate plaits for Aksu's autumn/winter 2021 collection.
Technicolour Cherubs at Vivienne Westwood Autumn 2021
For the fashion house's digital presentation, makeup artist Pablo Rodriguez and hairstylist Anthony Turner created three dreamy looks for the fashion house's digital presentation. For this look in particular, which Rodriguez dubbed "technicolour cherub", the global director of artistry for Illamasqua dipped into the brand's Experimental Artistry Palette [2] (£39).
Eighties Nostalgia at Vivienne Westwood Autumn 2021
The second look at Vivienne Westwood was inspired by Sarah Stockbridge, the designer's muse from the late '80s and early '90s. "The key elements were the dark eyebrows with platinum blonde hair (paired up with black eyeliner and a beauty mole, and matte red lips," Rodriguez said via press release.
Electric Liner at David Koma Autumn 2021
At David Koma, makeup artist Pablo Rodriguez went for a statement eye, circling the eye with liner in vibrant cool tones. "The inspiration came from 1960's graphic liners in green or blue as they are the key colour accents for the collection," Rodriguez said via press release of the look. "It was an overlay of two liners: the green or the blue is applied almost all around the eye, bold and graphic on the top, soft and blended on the bottom; and a thin line of black on the top lash line to add extra intensity. Eyes are the main focus; skin, lips and cheeks were paired down with dewy skin and clear lip-gloss."
Electric Liner at David Koma Autumn 2021
To create the look at David Koma, Rodriguez used the Illamasqua Colouring Eye Pencil, which launches this summer. To try the look at home, you can dip into the green and blue shades from the Illamasqua Experimental Artistry Palette [3] (£39) (£TK).
Ballerina Ponytails at Erdem Autumn 2021
Not only was Erdem's autumn 2021 collection inspired by Margot Fonteyn, quite possibly the most famous English ballerina of all time, but it also featured four dancers from the Royal Ballet performing alongside the models. To translate the ballet theme into the hair — without just doing a to-be-expected ballerina bun — hairstylist Adam Reed gave the models' slicked back ponytails that were topped off with both wide headbands and feathered, Swan Lake-style accessories (shown here).
To create the look, Reed did actually create a chignon at one point in the process. "We created a beautiful ballet bun that we then took down and used the texture that we created with the bun to showcase a lived-in pony held at the nape of the neck," he said in a press release from L'Oréal Professionnel, who sponsored the show. The look was achieved using three key products: L'Oréal Professionnel Techni.Art Pli Shaper [4]
to create texture and hold, L'Oréal Professionnel Tecni.Art Beach Waves [5] for that soft, worn in, dancer look, and finally L'Oréal Professionnel Tecni.Art Savage Panache Powder Spray [6], "which we worked through the ends of the hair to create a beautiful worn in ponytail with the hairline a little looser to give the effect that they might have been sweating a little while dancing," Reed added.
Classic Makeup With a Twist at Erdem Autumn 2021
The three makeup looks at Erdem were also inspired by the ballet. "I wanted to create a look that evoked the feeling that dancers experience during a performance," said makeup artist Jane Richardson, adding that "we worked to capture the colour, and elongated expressive lines in all three of the beauty looks." The exaggerated winged liner was created with eyeliner pencil and dark eye shadows, whilst the bold red lip was the the combination of the Nars Precision Lip Pencil in Porquerolles [7], topped with a mix of Nars Matte Lipsticks [8] in Ravishing Red Matte and Inappropriate Red.
Dramatic Wings and Fascinators at Stephen Jones Millinery Autumn 2021
To compliment his dramatic head toppers, milliner Stephen Jones chose what at first looks like a classic beauty look: black winged liner and red(dish) lipstick. But stare a little closer and you'll notice those wings are sprinkled with silver glitter flakes, while the model's lids are covered in a sheer, holographic shadow.
Sculptural Segmented Ponytails at Osman Autumn 2021
Designer Osman Yousefzada presented his autumn 2021 collection with a film titled I'm Coming that was shot via Zoom and featuring models and collaborators from around the world. Shown here is Sakeema Peng Crook, a London-based trans activist and dancer, wearing the most beautiful hairstylist — a twisting, sculptural arrangement of segmented ponytails — created by hairstylist Ryo Narushima [9].
Rose Gold Shadow at Osman Autumn 2012
The second model in Osman's autumn 2021 fashion film was Akuach Thiep, who wore the most stunning gold-tinged pink eye shadow — the handiwork of makeup artist Porsche Poon [10].
Touches of Blue at Ahluwalia Autumn 2021
Mimicking the blue-toned backgrounds in Ahluwalia's autumn 2021 fashion film [11], makeup artist Bari Khalique used the Bari Khalique [12] as a higlight and contour or sorts — smudging the shades on both high and low points of the models' faces, creating an abstract, almost Picasso-like effect.
'60s Glamour at Tolu Coker Autumn 2021
The British-Nigerian fashion and textiles designer presented her autumn 2021 collection with a fashion film titled Soro Soke: Diaspora '68. As you may gather from the name, the film "aims to reestablish dialogue between this generation and those which have preceded us," referring to the British Nigerians of the '60s and '70s. To complement the nostalgia-laden collection, the hair and makeup had a decidedly sixties vibe, with bouffant hairstyles and heavy black eye makeup, complete with floating liner along the brown bones.
'60s Glamour at Tolu Coker Autumn 2021
This colourful braided blunt bob for Tolu Coker's autumn 2021 fashion film — which uses strips of cobalt fabric as braiding hair — was less nostalgic and more really fun and eye-catching.
Bejewelled Braids at Simone Rocha Autumn 2021
Hairstylist Cyndia Harvey's towering braided hairstyle at Simone Rocha was a true work of art with its intricate loops and moody-coloured gems woven throughout.
Bejewelled Braids at Simone Rocha Autumn 2021
So cool, it deserves another look.
Flower Power at Linus Leonardsson Autumn 2021
You can't help but feel cheery when looking at this floral face paint from sustainable designer Linus Leonardsson's autumn 2021 presentation, created by London-based makeup artist David Gillers. [13]
Paul Costelloe Autumn 2021 Hair and Makeup
Presented to a digital audience, the collection saw Costelloe looking back to when he was a young designer working in Paris in the late '60s and early '70s. Floating black eyeliner, heavy mascara, and a swooping side part helped to evoke the era of mod. To get the hair superslick, hairstyist Cos Sakkas and his team prepped the hair with label.m Volume Mousse [14] (£17), and finished off the look with the label.m Hairspray [15] (£15).
Candy Floss Hair and Fuchsia Blush at Molly Goddard Autumn 2021
"Candy floss hair" is how hairstylist Luke Hersheson described the floaty, purposely-frizzy style he created for Molly Goddard's autumn 2021 show. The makeup for the collection was equally as sweet, with makeup artist Miranda Joyce using various shades of pink on around the eyes, on the lips, and draped from temples to cheekbones in an even more exaggerated take on the '80s makeup technique.
Elegant Red Lips at Rixo
Rixo debuted its first bridal collection [16] during LFW, and whilst each model wore a different beauty look for the photoshoot, we always love a bride with a bold red lip.
Exaggerated Blue Lips at Lula Laora Autumn 2021
Makeup artist Daisy Moore created a few graphic makeup looks for the Lula Laora,but we can't get enough of this metallic blue lipstick with a sinister-looking cupid's bow.