One thing was very clear at New York Fashion Week: there’s a growing rebellion against perfection. In the age of the painstakingly composed Instagram and the unattainably retouched editorial it’s refreshing to see designers shunning polish and keeping it real. From dewy natural skin and messy hair to neutral nails these beauty looks have us inspired to pare back, scale down, and embrace our natural features. (Then pile on the fabulous clothes.)
The Trend: Real Skin
We are forever inspired by the effortlessly chic French girl and her minimal beauty routine, and the runways thoroughly embraced that vibe. Looks were heavy on the moisturizer and light on foundation so you could actually see the skin. At Rag & Bone, models channeled New Wave goddess Jean Seberg.
Photo: Courtesy of Nars
The Trend: Real Skin
At Prabal Gurung models were given an outdoorsy, post-hike glow.
Photo: Getty Images
The Trend: Real Skin
Alexander Wang proved that it’s cooler to do makeup without brushes and tools.
Photo: Courtesy of Nars
The Trend: Day 3 Hair
We loved the models’ manes at Tibi where Unite Editorial Director, Kevin Ryan described the look as “lucky messy hair”—a.k.a. that moment when you casually brush your fingers through your hair and everything miraculously falls into place.
Photo: Getty Images
The Trend: Day 3 Hair
DVF proved that you don’t need every hair in place to still be ladylike. We’re still dreaming about those loose twisted chignons.
Photo: Courtesy of Tresemme
The Trend: Day 3 Hair
At 3.1 Philip Lim, slept-in, air-dried hair took the place of too-perfect beach waves.
Photo: Getty Images
The Trend: Basically Bare Nails
We love a neutral nail for its ability to go with anything and hold up when the chips start to appear. There were beautiful, natural tones everywhere from Donna Karan to Rag & Bone.
Photo: Courtesy of Deborah Lippmann
The Trend: Basically Bare Nails
The pretty polish at Rag & Bone had pink undertones.
Photo: Courtesy of JinSoon
The Trend: Basically Bare Nails
Over at DKNY, Essie nail artist Michelle Saunders gave models the “fastest manicure at Fashion Week”—sometimes even allowing the models to swipe their own polish straight down the middle of their nails for a quirky DIY effect.
Photo: Courtesy of Essie
