In the world of glamour, fashion and beauty make for congenial bedfellows. To untangle where a trend is born would be a classic egg-or-chicken situation—in the quest to discern which came first, the only real truth is that the duo is inextricably related. In the famous words of François Nars, the force behind NARS Cosmetics, “Makeup is an accessory to fashion. You buy a bag, you buy shoes, you put on eyeliner, you buy a lipstick, makeup compliments the clothes."
An industry-led initiative
Recent industry trends offer conclusive proof that the lines between fashion and beauty continue to blur. Studies have confirmed a spike in sales for beauty brands driven by fashion icons, with Fenty by Rihanna, Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez and Kylie by Kylie Jenner leading the pack. Elsewhere, major fashion houses echo the sentiment behind the runway collections with a cohesive collection of beauty products—in keeping with the mood of its autumn/winter ‘23 runway, Dior released a line of limited-edition palettes, Diorshow 5 Couleurs Couture, for a luminous finish.
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Fashion X Beauty: Origins
The synergy between the duo can be traced back to the fact that beauty trends were initially born backstage in the wands and strokes of makeup maestros. Once they debuted on the runway, celebrities would flock to these makeup trends, and the red carpet coverage would trickle down to everyday beauty enthusiasts who would covet the same overlined lips spotted on Victoria Beckham or the pastel lids they spied on Jennifer Lopez.
Fast-forward through a few decades, and the worlds of beauty and fashion continue to mesh together inseparably. As the Barbiecore mood drenches fall fashion in the saturated hues of fuchsia, a corresponding rise in interest has been observed in makeup products that promise bold pink pouts, doll-like fluttery lashes and voluminous curls. The Y2K invasion, meanwhile, ensured that our obsession with denims was resurrected in the form of washed denim eyeshadow, a trend that has been namechecked by the likes of Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa.
What does it mean for the future of beauty trends?
Looking ahead, the alliance struck between fashion and beauty is poised to get more powerful as we look for our beauty products to indoctrinate the same trends that captivate our sartorial imagination. However, as Gen Z seeks greater individuality in their choices, it remains certain that fashion’s influence on beauty—and vice versa—will be defined in endless ways that never look the same on everyone.
