Ready-to-wear shows tend to play things pretty safe in terms of beauty—red lipstick, black eyeliner, a little glitter if you're lucky—making them perfect providers of year-round inspiration. Haute couture, on the other hand, is where we turn to indulge our flair for the dramatic and escape into fantasy. Here, the standout hair and makeup from the Fall '15 shows in Paris.
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1
Valentino
Media Platforms Design Team
The Look: Roman Royal
How-To: Just when you think you've seen all the romantic braid variations there could possibly be, Guido Palau turns out a magical creation fit for a princess—or a really cool bride. Backstage at Valentino, he twisted loose waves into a half-up halo, weaved the bottom and fastened on a gilded headpiece, while Pat McGrath made skin glow under the lights with pinky illuminator.
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2
Fendi
Media Platforms Design Team
The Look: Sci-Fi Glamour
How-To: For Lagerfeld's dark and fur-filled couture show, Sam McKnight, inspired by the dystopic thriller Blade Runner (remember Rachael?), crafted heavy, swooped side bangs to complement the galactic feel of Peter Philips' scattered glitter eyes and faded purple lips.
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3
Elie Saab
Media Platforms Design Team
The Look: Grecian Goddess
How-To: "Sexy glam rock" was makeup artist Tom Pecheux's inspiration (Nirvana's 'Come As You Are' played as models walked), but the look certainly erred on the glam side of things. Pecheux drew M.AC. Technakohl Liner in Twinked (a glittery yellow-gold) all over the lids, then buffed Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Forever Green on top using a fluffy brush to create a vintage, burnt-gold base. Next, he transferred Superslick Liquid Liner in Pure Show (more gold!) onto a flat brush, pressed it down on the middle of the lids and finished by winging out black liner.
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4
Giorgio Armani Privé
Media Platforms Design Team
The Look: '80s Lady
How-To: Tinsel strands on rocker pixies, faintly glittery eyes and electric pink lips gave us serious disco-era flashbacks at Armani Privé. "Pink is the new red," said Linda Cantello, who used Ecstasy Lacquer in Maharajah (out in September) on the lips and blended Eye Tint in 7 (a purplish gray) and 12 (light gold) across the lids.
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5
Tony Ward
Media Platforms Design Team
The Look: Evening Bride
How-To: Muss up a traditional French twist for an updo that isn't too stuffy, then top off smoky eyes with metallic navy shadow for a dark, ombré denim effect—it's the perfect inspiration for nighttime winter weddings.
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6
Chanel
Media Platforms Design Team
The Look: Art Deco Dealer
How-To: For Chanel's A-list-studded Casino-themed show, models were transformed into extreme versions of '20s flappers with sharply-cut black wigs styled by Sam McKnight and heavy blush and poppy-red lips courtesy of Tom Pecheux.
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7
Giambattista Valli
Media Platforms Design Team
The Look: Downtown Socialite
How-To: Couture is many things—show-stopping, extravagant, whimsical—but one doesn't usually associate 'cool' and 'downtown' with it. Giambattista Valli got a little closer with a beauty look that was easy and not at all precious. Hairstylist Eugene Souleiman gave the models roughed-up, copper-tinted ponytails with fluorescent orange color spray (to match the masterpiece finale dress), while Val Garland focused on perfect, dewy skin and "cellophane lips" using M.A.C. Plushglass in Ample Pink.
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8
Dior
Media Platforms Design Team
The Look: Botticelli Beauty
How-To: Dior's show was a nod to Hieronymus Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights—a triptych portraying good and evil, pure and erotic, heaven and hell—from the greenhouse setting to the blooming prints to the beauty. Makeup lead Peter Philips, who described the bare, flushed look he created as having the "glow of sin," brushed apricot shadow across the lids, skipped mascara and liner and dabbed on Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in Pink. The glow came from a professional glycerin product, which Philips used on the brow bones and cheeks just before the models hit the runway.
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9
Schiaparelli
Media Platforms Design Team
The Look: Marie Antoinette, Updated
How-To: If the Queen of France were around today, we think she'd be pretty impressed with the opulent gold-painted updos and marionette makeup at Schiaparelli. Blue eye shadow—applied boldly on the lids and just in the center along the bottom lashes—gave a baby doll-like innocence that played well with the heavy peach blush and bee-stung lips.
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10
Atelier Versace
Media Platforms Design Team
The Look: Ethereal Nymph
How-To: Traditional smoky eyes got a bright and unexpected revamp backstage at Versace, where Pat McGrath blended together mossy green and pale pear shadows. "It's much more romantic, but still a little tough," McGrath told Style.com. Guido Palau sprayed Redken Windblown 05 through the hair for rough, undone waves and topped them off with bands of jeweled leaves.
Alexandra Tunell is the Senior Digital Beauty Editor at Harper's BAZAAR, where she writes beauty features and covers industry news, health, fitness and wellness trends. She began her career in the Lucky beauty closet, then went on to work at Allure. When she's not testing the latest skin care treatments, the Los Angeles native is searching the city for the best Mexican food, binge-watching Bravo and escaping to the beach as often as possible.