1990s Beauty Trends at New York Fashion Week Spring 2018
7 Totally '90s Beauty Trends That Came Back on the Spring 2018 Runways
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During New York Fashion Week Spring 2018, we heard hair and makeup artists talk about how their looks were inspired by 1950s glamour or 1970s rock stars. But there's one decade that's much closer to the present — and to our millennial hearts — that we've seen emulated on NYFW runways. That decade is the 1990s.
Yes, models are sporting beauty looks that first hit the runway before some of them were even born. From Linda Evangelista's blue smoky eye to Naomi Campbell's glossy nude lip, read on for a breakdown of these vintage looks. (Yes, the 1990s are considered vintage now. Feel old yet?)
1995: Big, Bouncy Curls
In Paris, Amber Valletta gave us a twirl in a Karl Lagerfeld hoop skirt that had volume rivaled only by her big, blond curls. This shoulder-skimming length nearly defied gravity with its poofy-ness.
2017: Big, Bouncy Curls 2.0
A model for Cynthia Rowley's presentation sported a softer style that was anchored with dark roots. This midlength look feels more modern, since it has a stronger middle part and more defined curls.
1997: Ponys Gone Wild
Kate Moss gave good face — and a runaway topknot that cascaded over her forehead. The relaxed frizziness of her faux cowlick was reminiscent of how we look when we wake up after sleeping in our ponytails, but more fashion.
2017: Ponys Gone Wilder
At Helmut Lang, a model showed off the polished way to let your pony hang free. Even though the updo is asymmetrical, it comes off as more elevated than your middle school side pony due to its posh curl and supersleek styling. No frizz here!
1994: Naked, Glossy Lips
When your headdress is a shimmering feather boa, your best bet is to take a minimalist makeup approach. For the 1994 Chanel show, Queen Naomi Campbell worked glossy nude lips as if it were going out of style. Except it didn't! Because . . .
2017: Naked, Glossy Lips Return
. . . Rihanna went and made the Fenty Gloss Bomb! By now, even people who live under rocks have heard of Rihanna's new, universally flattering gloss shade (and if you're lucky, you've sniffed the applicator, which smells like vanilla-peach heaven). Praise Rihanna, this look is back! (And accessible to all.)
1995: Blue Eyes
Apparently needle-thin, out-to-there glasses weren't eye-catching enough for Karl Lagerfeld, so makeup artists drew baby blue shadow all around Linda Evangelista's eyes. The result was gorgeous (she looked like a glam character from Avatar) but a little heavy handed.
2017: Blue Eyes Go Electric
For the Rachel Comey show, makeup artist Romy Soleimani used Nars Curacao Velvet Eyeliner ($24) to turn the models into glamazon currents of electric blue. We love how this thick, bushy eye shadow was drawn on to mimic a brow line. The optical illusion was head-turning, but we're not complaining.
1993: Graphic Content
At Lagerfeld's 1993 show, Claudia Schiffer rocked French Revolution chic with a Marie Antoinette-esque wig and a graphic line drawn down her face. Like all great art, this avante-guard look wasn't appreciated in its own time, but since 2017 is weird . . .
2017: Lips Get Graphic
. . . people are lining their lips the same way! Specifically, the people at the PH5 show did this, by outlining nude lips with a dark red color.
1994: Flowers in Her Hair
At the 1995 Chanel show, Naomi looked like Spring's poster child with pastel flowers in her hair. We can't help but think that the buds were strategically placed to look like 1990s space buns.
2017: Flower (Singular) in Her Hair
Twenty-two years later at The Blonds' show, models rocked down the runway wearing just one huge red hibiscus flower that hairstylist Kien Hoang actually sewed into their hair. This tropical look was further underlined by the models' wet hair look.
1996: Linda's Bob
We (and every America's Next Top Model contestant who doesn't want to cut her hair) all know how Linda's career was made the moment she got a bob. At the 1996 Ralph Lauren show, she reminded us all just how damn great this side-parted chop looked on her.
2017: Kendall's Bob
At his Spring 2018 show, Tom Ford wanted his models to cut off all of their hair. Hairstylist Orlando Pita's solution? Faking a crop using tons of hairspray and pins. The result was pure '90s vibes (and us realizing just how much Kendall Jenner looks like her mom, Kris).
