Beauty often slips from our radar amidst the chaos of fashion month. Seldom does a particular makeup palette or hairdo hit the headlines during the four weeks of sartorial mayhem.
One could go as far to say that these carefully concocted blends are often overshadowed by a new trend, colour palette or controversial slogan debuted on the catwalk. Yet, those with an eye for hair, makeup or skincare understand the significance of beauty when it comes to fashion week - after all, a mere lick of lipstick has the potential to make or break an outfit.
The most eccentric sister of the Big Four fashion capitals, London has a way with stand-out beauty looks. Ever-subversive and avant-garde, the city is a mecca for artists wanting to experiment with new aesthetics, and thankfully, many designers are keen to comply.
© Getty ImagesMetallic eyeshadows clash with bowed lip linings, crystal-dotted cheekbones, messy wet-look locks and spidery lashes in neon shades nobody would expect. London Fashion Week regulars, including but not limited to Chopova Lowena, Di Petsa, KNWLS, Ashish and Yuhan Wang, continue to experiment with their progressive hair and makeup offerings, enhancing their collections brush-by-brush.
As we look forward to uncovering what the city’s brightest innovators have in store for us this season, we're taking the opportunity to look back at the beauty moments that made us gasp in the past. Discover some of our favourites below.
10 Dazzling backstage beauty moments from LFW:
16Arlington AW22
16Arlington's AW22 runway show delivered a masterclass in subversive beauty. Models hit the runway with razor sharp bangs finished with fiery red and icy blue painterly highlights.
Mithridate AW24
Delicate layers of gold leaf caressed the faces of models at Mithridate's AW24 runway show. The dainty, wafer-thin material, which was carefully placed on the models' hairline parting and foreheads, was elevated by a dewy complexion and amber eyeshadow blend.
Huishan Zhang SS23
Huishan Zhang opted for a silver touch when planning the beauty looks for his SS23 collection. Models' fingertips were dipped in metallic silver paint, complementing slicked-back hairdos, tangerine eyeshadow palettes and natural, dewy complexions.
Chopova Lowena SS23
Never one for minimalism, Chopova Lowena paired coiling frontal bangs and peachy, blushed complexions for SS23. However, the highlight of the look was the doubled Cupid’s Bow, drawn onto the lips with a plum pencil that contrasted with a glossy rouge base.
Richard Quinn SS23
Dramatic opulence lies at the heart of Richard Quinn's ever-alluring collections. Wet-look updos, barely-there blends and softly brushed brows contrasted the vibrant silks of the dazzling collection, which was flanked by whimsical floral embellishments topped with feathery leaves.
Maison Sara Chraibi AW25
Jewel embellishments and crystals are always a popular choice at fashion week. Maison Sara Chraibi demonstrated the enduring beauty of the makeup look for AW25, peppering models' cheekbones with glimmering droplets that were enhanced by generous swathes of silver highlighter and a light rose lip.
KNWLS SS22
Marrying dark romance and messy party girl flair, KNWLS knows exactly how to execute the beauty blend of dreams. The designer did just that for SS22, opting for shimmering, petrol-hued lip tones and metallic pink-orange square manicures that radiated 80s glam.
Halpern SS23
Michael Halpern shut down his eponymous luxury fashion brand in 2023 after six years on the London Fashion Week schedule, yet his hair and makeup offerings never left our mind. Sharp, zesty orange eyeliner topped with crystals took centre stage at the Halpern SS23 show.
Chet Lo AW25
Beloved for its spiked, futuristic designs, Chet Lo often uses beauty to enhance the label's colourful pieces. For AW25, the designer amped up the texture, crimping models' locks and championing XL, spiked nails that reflect the brand's signature motif.
Preen By Thornton Bregazzi AW20
Also hopping aboard the gold leaf train, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi sculpted models’ faces with the fine material for AW20. To ensure the gilded accents took centre stage, the look was pared back elsewhere, with softly flushed skin and no eyeshadow or liner.
