The Trends Translated

House of Holland, spring/summer 2010

Seen at: Antonio Beradi, Charles Anastase, Proenza Schouler (pictured), Sass & Bide

Prada, House of Holland and Topshop Unique all championed the acid-bright lip for summer. For autumn the mood has changed and the statement lip has gone gothic. Blackcurrant, burgundy and raisin lips rule whether they are a simple stain or a precision lip - matte or layered with gloss. The key to the new season statement lip is to ensure your complexion is naturally perfect (work to cover blemishes rather than masking your whole face with foundation) with barely a whisper of blush and a simple slick of brown mascara. “A young girl wearing what would traditionally be an old lady lip shade is what’s interesting to me at the moment” says Terry Barber. You want the lips to do all the talking after all. Try Topshop Lips in Vamp, £8 blotted on for a stained effect or applied with a lip brush for precision; layer with Illamasqua'sIntense Lipgloss in Hermetic for added glamour.

Anna Sui, spring/summer 2010

Seen at: Margaret Howell, Matthew Williamson, Todd Lynn, Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana (pictured)

Backstage at the London shows the beauty journalists were getting worried. The message was coming through loud and clear: ‘mascara is out’. In real life it’s unrealistic to expect women to walk out the door sans mascara, so it’s best to adapt the look with a light slick of brown mascara instead. ‘No mascara is less try hard, it goes against glamour.’ Terry Barber, MAC’s Director of Make-up Artistry told ELLEuk.com. The best way to work the look is with a flash of colour. ‘A strong lip can be made to look more edgy without mascara’ added Terry. Opt for a mascara that won’t give too much length and no volume; try MAC’s Fibre Rich Lash Mascara, £12.50. “Brown is back, it’s chic and very 90s. Conservative make-up is being reinvented as cool”. If you feel a bit lost without your ramped-up lashes, look to the Dolce & Gabbana show for inspiration and smudge a little brown pencil into the outer corners of the upper and lower lash line. This will accentuate your eyes and give you an understated, yet sultry look.

Alberta Ferretti, spring/summer 2010

Seen at: Chloe, Emilio Pucci (pictured), Prada, Versace, Balmain

Fashion’s mood for a/w 10 is chic, sophisticated and grown-up with a 1970s twist (see Chloe, Celine and Stella McCartney for inspiration). One of the best ways to translate that into beauty is with a perfect complexion. Charlotte Tilbury said of Chloe “It’s the make-up of a French actress…very expensive and ultra luxe”. Look to foundations with a good coverage to give a healthy, cashmere finish to the skin; we like Lancome’s Teint Miracle, £25 (at Selfridges) and Laura Mercier’s Crème Smooth foundation, £40 (out September). You’ll need to ramp-up your tool kit with foundation and concealer brushes to ensure a professional finish, try MAC or The Body Shop. Finally, ensure you top your complexion off with a finishing powder for staying power; Guerlain’s Le Voilettes Mineral loose powder, £33 (out 7 August), comes in a gold pot complete with a puff, fitting the ladylike theme perfectly.