Blame it on Brexit, but London’s Spring 2017 shows were rife with riffs on British identity. There were the wonderfully drenched up-dos, slick-backs, and damp lengths that, en masse, became a celebration of the nation’s reputation for rainy days. Exaggerated floral motifs—worn on the face—called to mind the English rose, while off-kilter eyeshadow gave a nod to the “Godmother of punk,” Nina Hagen; elsewhere, today’s It Brits got their due in the form of punchy haphazard braids and bare complexions pumped up with swipes of Technicolor lipstick. Even the country’s sudden spa addiction had a moment in the spotlight by way of gleaming, hyper-moisturized skin that showed up everywhere from Anya Hindmarch to Gareth Pugh. Here, seven beauty lessons worth taking from across the pond.
Photographed by Driely S1/7The Supermodel Side-Sweep Is Back
Break out the mousse. Backstage at Topshop Unique, hairstylist Duffy produced a textured take on the new perm, as seen on Taylor Hill, Grace Elizabeth, Stella Maxwell, and the rest of the bombshell cast, with a small curling iron and the volume-inducing product. The key to those major, gravity-defying waves? A deep, throwback side part.
Photo: Courtesy of James Pecis / @jamespecis2/7There Are Endless Ways to Reinvent the Braid
How many ways can you twist a pretty plait? The possibilities are endless. Intricate, tightly woven buns walked the runway at Bora Aksu (shown) and sporty schoolgirl ponytails stole the show at Simone Rocha. Elsewhere, Erdem’s plaited knots were secured with a balletic black ribbon, Emilia Wickstead featured unraveling French braids, and miniature fuzzy ropes snaked around the head at Preen.
Photographed by Driely S3/7Ditch the Umbrella—And Embrace Hurricane-Head
When rainfall is part of your national identity, why not wear it with pride? Drenched lengths (conjured from the sky or otherwise) were pressed, twisted, and combed in every direction. Bella Hadid looked as though she had used rainwater as a styling tool for her stroll down the Versus Versace runway, a look conjured to match Markus Lupfer’s inclement-weather-ready collectsion with a simple brush-back of a wide-tooth comb. And Christopher Kane topped his parade of glittering confections with an equally light-catching side-swept slick that officially rendered a blow-dryer unnecessary.
Photo: Getty Images4/7Face Mist Is the New Highlighter
Put down the shimmering skin illuminators: If Peter Pilotto, Duro Olowu, and Gareth Pugh were any indication, a generous blast of rose water will be spring’s most important beauty staple. Anya Hindmarch (shown) pushed the look to its limits, calling to mind a mid-facial steam when she topped off her models’ glistening faces with a thick white headband worthy of the spa.
Photo: Marcus Tondo / Indigital.tv5/7Pile on the Pretty Hair Accessories
No one does quirk quite like London: Crystal barrettes at Ashley Williams winked at the sex of their wearer while calling to mind Blur’s iconic “Girls and Boys” lyrics. Mary Katrantzou gave the traditional Greek laurel a fresh British twist in Pop Art colors and geometric shapes. But you may find that you already own the accessory of the season—a simple grosgrain black ribbon, which took Erdem’s braided buns (shown) from an undone mess to an ethereal dream.
Photo: Marcus Tondo / Indigital.tv6/7The Louder the Mouth, the Better
Bare skin and bold mouths were the makeup equation of the season, taking shape everywhere from Charlotte Olympia to Roksanda. Whether you stock up on Day-Glo red, neon orange, or fluorescent pink, it’s the quickest way to turn your makeup up in an instant.
Photo: Getty Images7/7Be Brave With Your Eye Makeup
If Fashion East’s parade of blunt-banged models in deep red lipstick and extreme eye-makeup was a strangely familiar sight, it’s because the look was an homage to former Londoner Nina Hagen, the brazen “Godmother of Punk.” At Preen, dried flower petals were applied in striking new ways to cheeks, foreheads, and collarbones; on the Versus Versace runway (shown), models wore emerald slashes of pigment like war paint. And for Phoebe English, the present moment invoked a Brexit-inspired simple directive scrawled across the face: to be BRAVE.
