We all knew that Pat McGrath was an insanely talented makeup artist. The woman affectionately referred to as 'Mother' knows how to cultivate incredible skin. But her latest work at Spring Summer 2024 Haute Couture Week has me speechless. These are the Haute Couture beauty moments I can't stop thinking about.
Maison Margiela
I'll start at the top: Maison Margiela by John Galliano. The fashion was obviously spectacular, beautiful, awe-inspiring. But the makeup, my god. I can't even begin to imagine how long it took her and her team to pull that off (fortunately McGrath has shared a little BTS on her Instagram). Acid-bright eye shadow, water colour blush, 30s-era super-skinny brows, green lipgloss, I could go on. And then there was the skin: glassy, reflective, hyper-real. So shiny it was like a mirror. Chromatic, even. So how did she do it? McGrath hasn't fully revealed her secrets (and nor should she have to) but the internet is pretty certain Kryolan's Liquid Glass was her weapon of choice. It's stage makeup in the best possible way. Unbelievable.
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Schiaparelli
And then there was Schiaparelli, also by McGrath. While not as dramatic, the SS24 show beauty look also relied heavily on super-real skin. McGrath actually noted that she used her own Sublime Skin Highlighter in Nude Opal (a coral Champagne with iridescent pearls). Heaven.
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CHANEL
I also need to call out the CHANEL show. Lisa Butler is the woman behind CHANEL runway beauty, and I find her work edgy but always aligned with the classic feminine feeling that CHANEL embodies. The highlight at the couture show was beyond beautiful, like a soft lilac with a holographic sheen. Much more wearable that Margiela, but a fresh take on illuminator. The product she used was the iconic Baume Essentiel in Lilas. Sadly it's not available in this market (you could try your luck on eBay) but a quick Google has confirmed that the Hourglass Highlighting Stick in Pink Flash or the Fenty Highlighter in Confetti are close matches.
Consider these skin-inspiration for the season ahead.
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Images: @patmcgrathreal, @lisabutlermua
