Double Tap to Zoom

Pack it up, minimalists.

We've gone nearly two years covering our faces in most public settings (thanks, COVID), a turn of events that caused us to temporarily eschew makeup for skincare. Now, bold beauty is poised for a comeback.

At Fashion Month, maximalist makeup rose from the ashes. For Versace, Pat McGrath — known in the biz as Mother Makeup — painted models with bright green cat-eyes that stretched from the inner corner to the outer tip of the brow, a not-so-subtle pop of color.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

Dries Van Noten took a similarly vibrant approach to beauty. Some models were decked out in face gems and jewel-encrusted nails. Others flaunted color-blocked hair, the work of Sam McKnight, awash in shades of neon green, yellow, and fuchsia.

Loewe also broke out the Manic Panic. Hair stylist Guido Palau outfitted models in mushroom cap-like wigs dyed purple, red, and pastel pink.

Kenneth Ize drew attention to an overlooked feature, the nose, by coating it in gold pigment. And at Blumarine, nearly the entire body was highlighted in shimmer that transported onlookers to the early 2000s.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

Drama was also served at Givenchy, which recruited Lucia Pieroni to frame the eyes with feathery, drawn-on lashes, resulting in an exaggerated, anime-like look.

Just as high heels are slowly overtaking WFH-friendly footwear, maximalist makeup is about to replace our low-maintenance, COVID-era beauty routines.

In a sense, a shift to celebratory fashion and makeup is a natural extension of our triumphant return to some semblance of normalcy.

In fact, a similar situation played out after World War I, which birthed the Roaring Twenties — a dynamic era that saw flappers embrace shorter hemlines (quite the statement back then) and full-on makeup.

I'm no fortune teller, but history tends to repeat itself. So break out the eyeshadow, hair dye and body glitter — the Roaring 2020s are here.

We Recommend
  • To Bring the Best Out of Matthew Williams & 424, Invite Them to Your Birthday
  • Wait, A$AP Rocky’s Fashion Brand Is Real?
  • There's Never Been a Better Time to Be a Fabric Nerd
  • Only Satisfy Could Make Tasteful Climbing Gear Out of Vintage Levi's
  • Japan’s Expert on Literal Workwear Is Finally Getting Loud
What To Read Next
  • New Balance’s Elegant Dad Shoe Is a Rare Breed
  • To Bring the Best Out of Matthew Williams & 424, Invite Them to Your Birthday
  • adidas’ Pokémon Sambas Have No Business Being This Clean
  • Wait, A$AP Rocky’s Fashion Brand Is Real?
  • Nike’s Bubbly Slip-On Sneaker Doesn’t Want to Fit In
  • Nike's Ultra-Plush Sneaker Is a Beautiful Brainiac