Ask any editor at New York Fashion Week how they are feeling and I guarantee you'll receive some version of "tired, but hanging in there." The whirlwind of fashion month has only just begun and already we've been hit with an East Coast blizzard, a dizzying show schedule, and unhinged political headlines that make most of us want to toss our phones in the Hudson River. The vibes are very much weary chic, a sentiment that is also reflected in the makeup looks appearing on the runways this season. More specifically, the parade of models who have shown a distinct lack of concealer (or really any significant full-coverage makeup) which puts their dark circles on full display.
Eschewing a full face beat is nothing new in 2025. Barely-there color correction has been simmering since the dewy, glass skin craze of the 2010s. But the undereye area has long been a holdout, the singular section of the face to still demand a few swipes of carefully placed concealer. Whether you have a genetic predisposition to dark circles, had a few too many glasses of wine at dinner, or haven't been able to sleep more than six hours in a few months (or years), it seemed as if everyone was hell-bent on disguising them, even if the rest of the face was left relatively bare. But suddenly, it feels as if dark circles have become a type of armor, an indicator that we are too booked, busy, and fabulous to spend a few extra minutes tending to our undereyes. Or, that we are simply exhausted by the constant onslaught of socio-political turmoil. If the powers that be can keep behaving so poorly, why should we bother keeping up appearances?
