Spring 2017 Beauty Trend Report: How to Embrace the ’80s Without Looking Like a Dweeb

Date March 2, 2017

It’s time to dust off your crimper, fish out your jewel-toned eyeshadow and pair it with a bold lip because the decade of excess was like, full on bitchin’ this season. At Louis Vuitton and Top Shop, the hair had the spiral perm texture favoured by mall-squatting Valley Girls back in the day, moussed up and rarin’ to go. The models at Marc Jacobs wore colouful crimped dreadlocks that were meant to pay homage to rave culture, acid culture, club kids and Boy George. And at Adam Selman, James Pecis used wire from a flower shop to create crimps, then tied hair in asymmetric top knots that look ready to hit a Flock of Seagulls concert.

Over at Louis Vuitton, Pat McGrath dug into highly pigmented eyeshadow shades in blue, purple and green and applied it out towards the temples in a shape borrowed from 1981 Bond girl Carole Bouquet and paired it with nude mouths. Then there was blush draping, the 80s technique that involves extending it towards the temples and the eyes. Lynsey Alexander brought it to life at Kenzo with red cream blush, purposely using sheer foundation so that the look would appear less retro. Tom Pecheux also used draping at Chanel, using pink or peach powder. The choice of matching lip colour kept both shows feeling cooler rather than stuck in time.