The Best Beauty Trends From The Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2021 Shows

Dior: Ethereal Golden Glows And Statement Headbands 

Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Haute Couture SS21 collection for Christian Dior was all about the fantastical, mystical and complex world of tarot cards, defined by the French Maison’s use of esoteric motifs, dark jewel tones and dusty gold palette. Dior’s Creative and Image Director, Peter Phillips, perfectly complemented the house’s elegant Renaissance style gowns with wisps of gold eye shadow painted ever-so-slightly on models eyes, coupled elegantly with velvet-like skin. Hair played an important role in telling Chiuri’s story too, with hairstylist Guido Palau’s elegant updos topped with raw crystal-studded crowns. 

Want to recreate the look for yourself? Phillips used the Dior Forever foundation and Dior 5C eyeshadow pallete JUNGLE. 

Valentino: “A Touch Of Glitter” 

Famed makeup artist—and recently titled British dame—Pat McGrath created a glittery masterpiece for Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Valentino SS21 couture show, held at the breathtaking Galleria Colonna, Sala Grande, in Rome. Bringing her signature extravagance to the runway, some models were completely covered in gold glitter, lips and all, while others had the bold sparkle painted alongside their temples. Hairstylist Guido Palau kept things simple, yet dramatic, with long straight strands completed with middle parts. 

Chanel: The Return Of The Flower Crown

If you thought floral crowns belonged only on the fields of Coachella, Chanel’s hairstylist Damien Boissinot would have you firmly mistaken. For the fashion house’s SS21 couture show, models’ hair was pulled back into sleek ponytails, while makeup artist Lucia Pica steered clear of festival glitter in favour of subtle washes of rust shadow, while natural beauty was given a boyish and lived-in finish. 

Schiaparelli: Bold, High-Shine Red Lips 

Artistic director Daniel Roseberry’s extravagantly sculpted body parts, bold accessories and avante-garde creations took centre stage at Schiaparelli’s couture show, with a minimal approach to hair and makeup—except, of course, for a dramatic red lip. A beauty trend we can emulate, even if only over zoom. 

Fendi: Mettalic Finishes And Sleek Finger Waves 

It may have been Kim Jones’ star-studded runway—filled with famous faces such as Demi Moore, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Bella Hadid, Cara Delevingne and more—that was all the talk from the designer’s couture debut for Fendi, but the stunning beauty can’t be overlooked. Metallic and flowing designs were finished with a gunmetal smoky eye by makeup artist Peter Phillips, while hair was pulled back into sleek finger waves to let Venetian glass combs sit atop, letting the house’s waist-length earrings took front and centre. 

Iris Van Herpen: 3D Manicures 

Our nail game may have weakened of late, but if Iris Van Herpen’s SS21 couture show is predicting, our manicures are about to become bolder than ever before. Nail artist Eichi Matsunaga created otherworldly designs for the collection, described by the fashion house as “transparent 3D printed exoskeletal” set onto nude nails. Not exactly ideal for day-to-day life, but the daring creation is certainly one to behold.