7 Beauty Lessons We Learned at Paris Fashion Week

Paris, March 10, 2016: French girls may be known the world over for their effortless, undone good looks—but let’s take a moment to talk about that particularly strong-willed beauty known as la Parisienne. At the city’s best runways this week, she was out in full force, sending a jolt of high glamour through the collections with her signature sex appeal. From re-imagined smoky eyes to the glossiest rouge-noir lip and the most dramatic hair color transformations, the best moments indulged in the provocative power of beauty—while simultaneously reminding us to just have fun and stop taking it all so seriously. Whether you trade your middle part for a strong side swoop or natural waves or try a line of glittering crystals along your lashes, here are the seven beauty lessons we intend to test-drive this season.

The Parisian play on the season’s dark lip phenomenon takes words like luxe and high-shine to the next level. At Louis Vuitton, shades from black cherry to merlot were painted on in an ombré and sealed with a vinyl-esque top coat—the color combination encased in a glossy top coat—while Dior sent models down the runway in a “poisonous” merlot that we plan on investing in immediately.

Slicked-back hair is experiencing a high-octane revival, from Dries Van Noten’s glossy boyish waves to Stella McCartney’s sleek, marcel-front ponytails. Still, it’s safe to say that none came close to topping Saint Laurent’s scraped-back, wet-finish hair, with its sexed-up, Helmut Newton–esque connotations.

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Mornings just got simpler with the resurgence of the high, clean-swept ballerina knot. Valentino imbued the style with modern flair, allowing a few wispy strands to frame the face. To transition from day to night, just add statement earrings.

It’s time to reinvent the smoky eye. Black edgings were traded for brown geometric wings at Givenchy, offering a softer take on the hard-edged trend—even with the addition of bleached brows. At Dries Van Noten, models’ eyes were brush stroked with inky clouds of black watercolor-like shadow, while at Chanel, the brand’s famous quilted bags were reinterpreted on eyelids with a to-the-brow application of hatched dark shadow.

When it comes to this season’s hair, it’s all about the quick change. Those who have trouble with commitment would do well to look to Céline, where hair was parted either to the side or directly down the middle, each offering a completely different aesthetic that’s easily undone with a simple comb through. Looking for a total hair overhaul? At Balmain, top models debuted with full-on color swaps, an ideal means for breaking out of a beauty rut and experimenting with a new mane identity.

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 The best evening makeup is both eye- and light-catching. Exaggerated cat-eyes gleamed with crystal embellishments at Anthony Vaccarello, while Isabel Marant relied on the subtlety of a perfectly highlighted cheekbone. For festival season, we’ll be taking cues from Giambattista Valli, where models’ upper lids and brow bones were edged in a silver, multicolored glitter that read futuristic, fun, and offhand in the best way possible.