From gothic makeup to barely-there nude lips, the Fall 2023 season had some unforgettable beauty moments.

February’s Fall 2023 runways included the ones of Christian Siriano, Prabal Gurung, Rodarte, Anna Sui, and countless others presented at New York Fashion Week. And, while generally, all eyes were on the intricate designs and extravagant pieces, it’s often the hairstyle and makeup choices that undoubtedly took the prize for the season.

Regardless of the fashion show season, the runways of New York Fashion Week are always reliable sources of inspiration when it comes to beauty looks. Needless to say, brands like Christian Siriano and Proenza Schouler offered guests arriving and returning from such shows memorable beauty moments.

From Sandy Liang’s academic-inspired show to Rodarte’s gothic presentation, there was a little bit of everything.  Rodarte’s return to the runway was incredible thanks to makeup artist James Kaliardos, who transformed the models into the protagonists of a “gothic fairy tale.” The models were part Maleficent and part rock and roll, with Siouxsie and the Banshees-inspired eye makeup, dark lipstick and powdered matte skin. On the other hand, the wild eyes of Anna Sui proved that dopamine makeup was going to be a big makeup trend in 2023. The collection itself was inspired by The Peppermint Lounge and the 1960s. “The makeup is a reflection of the bold and vivid fashion sense of the era, with an explosion of colour and tantalizing textures,” said team Pat McGrath. Others, however, took a more classic approach to hair and makeup, opting for pristine red lips, as we saw at Siriano and simple yet elegant lips as at Proenza Schouler and Jason Wu.

Keep reading for the standout hair and makeup looks from the Fall 2023 runway shows in New York.

VIVA MAGENTA, FLORAL ACCENTS & BOLD LIPSTICK

Christian Siriano himself was inspired by the “romanticism of gardens” for his new collection, and the hair and makeup people interpreted it in a very literal sense. He presented his collection in a floral-themed runway show with shades of bright pink, red and purple lipstick accented by strong contour lines leading to the lips. Pantone’s color of the year, Viva Magenta, was also present. Lacy Redway, Unilever stylist and celebrity hairstylist, also said of the looks, “Christian’s collection is stunning. It’s ethereal and romantic. We were inspired by the handmade floral details found throughout the collection to reflect them in the hair by creating a rose twist, with a ‘stem’ of hair that goes down the crown of the head and joins the rose bun in the back.”

NATURAL HAIR LOOK

Proenza Schouler was inspired by “Portraits of Women”, which encompass different moments in life: walking, jogging, working, meeting friends or any other simple moment. While a cropped skin-first look is nothing new, the hair for the show was also noticeably undone. Guido Palau with Bumble and Bumble had the models air dry their hair. “Her beauty and realism are enhanced through selected hair products to highlight her genuine and natural way of being.” Says Guido Palau, who worked on the skin and makeup, keeping the whole look glowing, dewy and natural, with no makeup, no brow product and minimal coverage.

DOPAMINE MAKEUP

Fashion label Anna Sui showcased its latest Fall 2023 collection during NYFW, focusing on bolder beautiful beauty looks. Wild eyes were key for the label. The eye makeup bordered on neon, and the mascara was coloured, too. The creative designer got inspired by The Peppermint Lounge and the ‘60s. “The makeup is a reflection of the era’s bold and vivid fashion sense, with an explosion of colour and tantalising textures,” says team Pat McGrath.

GOTH “WEDNESDAY” MOOD

For this Fall 2023, creative designers put much effort into creating extravagant darker beauty looks inspired by “Wednesday”. Darker hues had their moment during most runway shows. Fashion labels Rodarte, Sandy Liang, and Proenza Schouler showcased their latest Fall 2023 collection, giving goth-inspired looks on the runway. Models wore essential makeup to portray the mood: dark lipstick, dark nails, and heavy eyeliner. “The collection is more fairy than goth, so we really wanted to do strong and bold makeup and linear eyeliner eyes with a dark black or blue lip,” says NARS makeup lead James Kaliarados. “I think a lot of girls I know really want to look like this, so it’s not totally costume or fantasy – it’s really something people want to be a part of.”

PALE LIPS

Pale Lips are becoming the trendiest beauty looks so far. Fashion labels KGL and Coach unveiled their collections focusing on nude lips to their skin tone and creating a simple, edgy and chic look.