Smokey eyes are given bold new twist this Paris Fashion Week

The Paris Fashion Week is underway and some of the oldest and most famous French fashion houses are presenting their Fall/Winter Collection of 2020. Giambattista Valli, Christian Dior, Givenchy and Chanel have already displayed their collections at the ongoing show in Paris.  

Christian Dior presented a slew of all-black bustier gowns with each having its own modern twists. Dior’s Haute Couture collection was a rich nod to the 1950, with its A-line silhouettes and capes. Feathers, velvet and lace were intricately incorporated into the designs to give it a breath of fresh air. Bouffant sleeves and leather belts were some of the other elements in the collection.

Dior’s Haute Couture collection was a rich nod to the 1950, with its A-line silhouettes and capes. Feathers, velvet and lace were intricately incorporated into the designs to give it a breath of fresh air. (Photo: AP)

The setting for the fashion show was also mimicking the 1950’s salons. The room was adorned with smoke patterns and was held in a revamped townhouse. Artificial trees and branches out roots decorated the central staircase.

The collection’s designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri said that collection was focussed on black to draw the attention towards the designs.  “If you want to speak about the line, black helps,” she said to Reuters.

The Fall/Winter Collection had a few Grecian-style column dresses. The designs mimicked the pillars of ancient monuments of Greece. It also injected a little colour in the form of golds and silvers in an otherwise all-black collection.

he designs mimicked the pillars of ancient monuments of Greece. (Photo: AP)

Peter Philips of Dior Beauty spoke about the most iconic aspect of Dior’s Fall/Winter Collection 2020- the modernised smokey eye. The traditional smokey eye is an intimidating eye make-up that covers the eye lid and rarely, the lower lash line, in a dark (black) colour. Mascara is usually added for a sultry finish to the eyes.

Philips’ interpretation of the smokey eye left room for the personality of the model and the dress to shine through. The eye make-up peeped though Stephen Jones’ veiled hats that adorned the heads of the models, giving the old-world look another dimension. He didn’t include mascara in the look to remove the sexy element.

The make-up also didn’t include strobes of highlighter, blush or bronzer, so that the eyes stood out in the look. A light-pink to nude lip shade and bold eyebrows completed the look. The eye make-up perfectly complemented the black bustier gowns to give the whole collection a Gothic vibe.

When Philips was asked what he planned to do for the next runway, he replied, “The catwalk is so different to the street.” “Women probably want to feel sexier in real life, but just a little adjustment with this simple look on the eyes can change everything. It’s the ultimate in self-expression,” he said to Vogue.

Also See : Paris Fashion Week F/W 2020: Back to Black