The Makeup And Hair Looks To Pair With… A Trophy Dress
From Jodie Turner-Smith’s flowing, bright green maxi to Florence Pugh’s open-back scarlet gown, statement dresses stole the show at this year’s Fashion Awards. When your dress takes center stage, consider a counter-strategy when it comes to your hair and makeup. Here, MALENA HARBERS explains how to pare back your beauty look to complement striking party-season attire
Add luster to locks
While there’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to choosing which hairstyle to pair with a statement gown, try to stay away from anything ornate (ditch the hair accessories) or an over-styled approach. After all, you can still look polished when your hairstyle is simple. An effortless option is to wear your locks down, whatever your hair type, and style them neat, not tousled, before adding a hit of gloss (worn best by Naomi Campbell) to really elevate the finish – opt for high-shine sprays or run some lightweight oil through the lengths. Less is more, though: you want glossy, lustrous locks, not a wet-look vibe. However, if your trophy dress has a low-cut back or intricate detailing, look to a simple high pony to show it off. Again, whether you wear hair sleek, wavy or curly, the key here is to add high shine.
Get your glow on
If your outfit is overly patterned or textured, take reference from Jodie Turner-Smith and Lily James and keep skin fresh and natural for a modern feel. The new foundation formulas are ideal for this, offering a veil of coverage that still looks like skin, so your complexion looks luminous, not ‘made up’. Adding a sweep of bronzer to the forehead and hollows of the cheeks, and a hint of luminizer to the top of cheeks, brow bones and inner corners of the eyes, will help to brighten and illuminate your look. For eyes, consider a hint of sheer gold or copper shimmer paired with a sleek black eyeliner, too. You want to keep the look clean and polished but still party-appropriate, so go for lashings of mascara and a more heavy-handed liner, but limit color on lids and cheeks to let the embellishments of your dress shine. Finally, a brow gel swept through your arches (try Rose Inc Brow Renew Enriched Shaping Gel to strengthen and soften hairs while holding them in place) works wonders to pull the look together.
Work a complementary lip
If you’re opting for a glowy, fresh-faced approach, look to rosy nudes with a satin finish or warm beige glosses for a natural lip. Westman Atelier’s Lip Suede in Les Nudes is great here. It offers four neutral shades (brick, beige, pink and rose), so you can create the nude that best matches your skin tone. Alternatively, a pop of color looks great when you’re donning metallic or shimmering shades. A classic red lip never goes out of style, or take a cue from Florence Pugh, who paired a bold, dark lip with her scarlet dress for a directional feel. Whichever standout shade you choose, keep it more matte than glossy, and dial down the drama on your lids – a bronzed lid with a few coats of mascara works well. Choosing one feature to focus on keeps the look fresh and modern – and all eyes on the dress, of course.
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