Each season, New York Fashion Week sets the tone not just for wardrobes, but for how we wear our hair and makeup in the year to come. Fall/Winter 2026 was no exception: a season that bridged cinematic glamour, expressive individuality and practical creativity. In these shows, hair and makeup didn’t merely “compliment” clothing, they amplified the designer’s narrative, offering a backstage look at how beauty can reinforce mood, era and attitude.
This year’s aesthetic was bold, artistic and playful, with makeup going big (dramatic eyes, romantic blush, metallic pops and expressive line work), while hair alternated between undone, lived-in texture and architectural statements. Many looks nodded to nostalgia (the ‘60s, ‘90s and early 2000s revival), while others pushed editorial boundaries that, over time, will make their way into salons, digital filters and street-style repertoires.
PRABAL GURUNG
The beauty at Prabal Gurung this season was designed to echo the collection’s themes of resilience, dual cultural identity and introspection. Rather than pulling focus from the garments, makeup and hair acted as extensions of the story on the runway by subtly enhancing movement, facial contours and emotional resonance of each look.
This aligns with broader Fall 2026 runway beauty themes seen across NYFW: makeup that enhances natural skin glow, selective shimmer accents and hairstyles that range from undone confidence to refined polish rather than perfectly styled uniformity.
MARC JACOBS
At the Marc Jacobs show, known for its mix of avant-garde theater and wearable fantasy, beauty struck a memorable balance between bold experimentation and classic rules. Makeup artist Thomas de Kluyver led the beauty team backstage with the concept of bold lips or bold eyes, but not both.
Some models debuted super-dark, vampy lips with virtually no eye makeup. Others sported graphic eyeliner or bright, unexpected shadow hues, creating dramatic eyes against an otherwise bare complexion.
Hair echoed the subtle drama: sleek middle parts or soft, low ponytails set with Oribe products.
This duality (restraint paired with statement) distilled a look that’s both runway-worthy and surprisingly translatable to real life.
SANDY LIANG
One of this season’s most talked about beauty narratives came from Sandy Liang, where the makeup celebrated luxe ease. This concept might seem counterintuitive in the manic world of fashion week but felt refreshingly effortless. Makeup artist Romy Soleimani created what was dubbed “sleepy girl” makeup – a polished, lived-in look reminiscent of having just woke up feeling refreshed and rosy.
Soft blush was applied with a gleaming texture. Softly drawn rings of brown-red eyeliner helped give the eyes definition without harsh precision.
Before makeup, models underwent a mini K-beauty skincare prep using Beauty of Joseon products.
This aesthetic (radiant skin, diffused color and an overall fresh yet intentional vibe) is already being adopted by beauty creators on TikTok and Instagram as the next evolution of the “clean girl” and “coquette” trends.
COLLINA STRADA
The Collina Strada presentation was titled “The World Is a Vampire” and leaned into a mood that was dramatic, textured and expressive. Beauty wasn’t just an accessory; it was part of the show’s emotional tone. Rather than polished, minimal makeup, the approach embraced texture, depth and a lived-in aesthetic across both hair and makeup, giving the models a striking presence that worked in harmony with the design narrative.
Lead hairstylist, Mustafa Yanaz injected teased and textural styles with sculptural extensions and wigs for a messy “lived-in” movement rather than sleek polished styling that gave a raw, emotional edge that aligned with the collection’s deeper theme. Products from bumble and bumble were used to support the body and structure of these looks.
CHRISTIAN COWAN
Christian Cowan’s show featured beauty that centered on glossy, retro side-parted hair that was smooth and expertly set, reminiscent of classic elegance. The model’s skin looked polished but still natural, with an emphasis on a healthy, glowing complexion rather than heavy contouring.
Makeup artist Lori Taylor Davis paired minimal foundation with subtle definition and soft blending using Smashbox products that created a vibe that felt both artistic and relaxed. The marriage between the healthy skin, softly diffused makeup and polished hairstyles felt both timeless and wearable.
SERIGO HUDSON
The Sergio Hudson show celebrated its 10th anniversary at the New York Public Library. The beauty looks were a master class in “opera-level glamour”. Lead makeup artist Sir John took inspiration from the late 1940s and early 1950s – specifically icons like Sophia Loren and the legendary Black opera singer Leontyne Price. The makeup was designed to look “big, beautiful and lifted” from skin that was hydrated, plump and dewy to elongated liquid liner in deep black.
Hairstylist Diego Miranda echoed the collection’s focus on structure and discipline with the models wearing sleek, high-shine buns and chignons that complimented the sharply tailored silhouettes. The hair team used KeraCare products to maintain silkiness and tame flyaways, ensuring every strand stayed in place.
Many shows embraced natural texture and expressions of individuality, rejecting rigid expectations of polished perfection. Across NYFW, patterns emerged that pointed to a more personal form of beauty storytelling.
HAIR TRENDS
- Messy, Undone Styles
A repeated motif was hair worn with intentional flyaways, loose parts or light texture. This reflected a style direction that’s as wearable as it is editorial. It’s the kind of look that doesn’t have to be fussed over before heading out the door.
- Swoops and Soft Parts
Both low, natural parts and deep, decisive side parts added character without over-styling. This trend
MAKEUP
- Glass Blush, Glowing Skin and Sheer Lips
Many designers favored fresh, radiant skin with strategic emphasis on cheek and inner eye highlights. Cupid’s bow glow and glass blush effects took center stage as alternatives to heavy contouring.
- Smoky and Graphic Lines
Bold eyeliner and shaded lids made a comeback, where smoky, dramatic or graphic line work defined the eyes while the rest of the face remained soft and minimal.
- Blurred, Natural Lips
Rather than sharply lined lips, many models wore unlined, blurred color. This trend was inspired by effortless beauty and embraced by brands designing new balm-to-color formulas.
The above trends are already showing up on beauty blogs and influencer reels as “looks to try now”. This demonstrates how quickly runway cues can accelerate mainstream interest.
While the runway will always be a place for high theatricality and expressive fantasy, every generation of beauty trends eventually trickles down into public consciousness. Extreme experimentation on today’s runways often becomes everyday vogue tomorrow. Ultimately, NYFW invents the language of these fashion and beauty looks, but it’s the everyday wearer who gives that language life.
For questions, concerns, or article ideas, feel free to reach out to our eCosmetics Beauty Editor directly at beauty@ecosmetics.com
