Written By Eleanor Wynne

Photographed By Lauren Falk

Modeled By Ashton Diercks, Alanna Hollins, Molly Whitchurch, & Chloé Holt

Back in March, top designers debuted conceptual trends in fashion, hair, and makeup that forecasted fall/winter 2023/2024’s most captivating styles. Emerging from a fall defined by warm, buttery yellows and rich cherry reds, winter ‘24 trends encourage ringing in the new year with eclectic, yet genuine personal flair.

After 2023’s nonstop barrage of “clean girl” imaging, it’s no surprise that the trend is rolling over into 2024. Clear, bright skin with minimal coverage foundation, natural brows, and a subtle, all-over glow dominated runways. The natural trend carried into nails and hair as well, with designers favoring nude or bare nails and models seen sporting their natural curls.

On the other end of the spectrum, graphic “soft-goth” makeup looks featuring eyeliner in dramatic, artful shapes drawn up-and-over the lid were often matched with deep red or black lips, leaning into a seasonally-appropriate vampy chic. Even these heightened looks were pared back with a soft, light-coverage base on the skin, merging the expressive performance of soft-goth with the effortless glamor of natural makeup.

Bold, brightly colored eyeliner and pops of pastel or metallic eyeshadow, swatched on or around the lid, created an approachable gateway to both the past and future. Some runways favored sleek, futuristic looks characterized by sheens of metals like silver and gold, while others gravitated toward ‘80s-inspired newwave smears of color and shine. Regardless, the theme of personal expression reigned supreme.

Despite poignant undertones of self-possession and identity, top runways followed a long-standing tradition of limitation: diversity in size, hair-type, and skin tone is often more of a token than a fully integrated celebration of the uniqueness each person brings to the table. As per usual, it’s up to us as connoisseurs of fashion and makeup to embrace these trends and make them our own, or else create ones that suit us better.

In light of current events, self-expression through makeup or clothing can feel horrifically selfish. It can also be a useful tool. By tapping into creative outlets we enjoy, staying vigilant of (but not reliant on) trends, and experimenting with new colors, shapes, and textures, we equip ourselves with the tools necessary to imagine and invent a more optimistic future.