When we think about fashion, our minds often dart towards clothing and accessories. Yet, fashion is more than just what we wear, its influence seeping into every aspect of our aesthetics, including beauty and makeup. It’s interesting to observe how the realms of fashion and cosmetics have intersected over time and continue to influence each other.
Take, for example, the iconic black winged eyeliner and red lip combo. It’s impossible to separate this look from the fashion influences of the 1950s, where the style became a symbol of femininity and glamour. The trend was largely inspired by Hollywood sirens like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, their on-screen fashion and beauty setting standards for women to follow. Their blinkered eyes adorned by thick lashes and bold lips complemented the era’s fitted clothing and hourglass silhouettes.
The interaction between fashion and makeup goes further. Look at the heavy, dark eyeliner and pale lips of the punk rock movement in the 70s and 80s. The dramatized makeup echoed the distressed clothing, piercing, tattoos, and rebellious attitude of punk fashion. This look is still replicated today in the alternative fashion scene, showcasing how makeup and clothing styles can dance together to create a whole aesthetic.
More recently, we can see the melding of fashion and cosmetics with Instagram’s influence. The popular platform has allowed makeup artists and fashion influencers to showcase their creativity to a large audience. On Instagram, the soft-girl aesthetic arose. This trend features pastel clothing, delicate jewelry, blush-dusted cheeks, and glossy lips. It’s a perfect example of how fashion and makeup can create a cohesive theme, the dewy makeup matching the soft, feminine clothing.
Even high fashion reflects the close relationship between fashion and makeup. For example, runway shows often feature models with extravagant makeup that complements the designer’s clothing. Pat McGrath, a renowned makeup artist, has created avant-garde looks for countless fashion shows. Whether it’s golden foil lips matching with glimmering gowns or colorful abstract eye makeup to accompany eclectic designs, the makeup enhances the fashion and vice versa.
Moreover, fashion brands have increasingly ventured into cosmetics, realizing that their customers want a complete look, which includes makeup. Brands like Chanel, Dior, and Tom Ford have well-established beauty lines, their fashion influence spilling into their makeup products. Their lipsticks, eyeshadows, and blushes often come in shades that mirror their seasonal fashion collections, creating a harmonious link between their clothing and makeup.
Fashion and cosmetics are two sides of the same beauty coin. They intersect and interact, each influencing and enhancing the other. Over time, we can see how this relationship has manifested in different ways, from iconic beauty looks of the past to current trends molded by social media. Whether it’s through similar color palettes, shared styles, or even brand extensions, it’s clear that fashion truly meets cosmetics in a creative, beautiful union.