The Fashion Awards were expectedly glamorous. As usual, its famous red carpet attracted A listers, scene pioneers, legendary designers and neo-baby socialites alike, who made it a masterclass in extravagant frocks and exquisite beauty looks.
One of the most dramatic trends on the red carpet was lavish, next-level feather eyelashes. Worn by the likes of music artist Raye, who added black and red feathers to the corner of her eyes, and supermodel Kristen McMenamy, who complemented her bright pink Valentino dress with matching feathers that were carefully applied to her top and bottom lashes for a wide-eyed statement look.
Fashion fans would have noticed the similarities between McMenamy’s look and Valentino’s spring/ summer 2019 couture show, where the illustrious Pat McGrath created 3D eyelashes out of feathers for their floral-theme collection. Thus making it a perfect tribute to Valentino’s creative director Pierpaolo Picciloi, who ended up winning Designer of the Year at last night’s awards.
The adventurous looks didn’t stop there. FKA twigs looked otherworldly in a Rick Owens frayed grey dress which she paired with an uncanny psychedelic maze pattern across her face and a coat of glossy, red lip gloss across the centre of her lips. Rita Ora also went the extra mile with prosthetic gills, which was the work of acclaimed beauty mogul Isamaya Ffrench. Giving a whole new meaning to “siren eyes”, the pop star exaggerated her bleached brows — which was the definitive beauty trend of 2022 — with bizarre facial prosthetics that mimicked aquatic wildlife placed around her eyes and cheekbones.
The red carpet was also awash with another beauty trend that dominated the runway this year - the OTT smokey cat eyes. First made famous by Julia Fox who sported accentuated eyeliner during Paris Fashion Week with then-boyfriend Kanye West back in Feburary, the likes of Versace and Armani have since replicated the look. Last night supermodel Irina Shayk and YouTube Amelia Dimoldenberg also jumped on the fad, with each rocking jumbo dagger liner with their evening gowns.
Florence Pugh — or “Miss Flo” — has become a tour de force on the red carpet this year, whether it’s shutting down Cannes in a purple Valentino two-piece and a glass of Aperol in hand, or stunning at the British Independent Awards with an extravagant pink dress. Of course, last night was certainly no different. The Don’t Worry Darling star paired her outrageously beautiful red frock that trailed behind her with a matching red lip and slicked back hair for a demure Old Hollywood tribute.
ES magazine cover star Paloma Elsesser and Irish broadcaster Angela Scanlon tried their hand at the dot eyeliner trend that’s gone viral on TikTok this year. First popularised by 60s superstar Twiggy, who would dot her lower lash line to emphasise her lashes, the look has since had a modern update with celebs experimenting with different ways to rock the style — whether it’s via new avant garde placements of the dots (like Elsesser last night), or by using outlandish colours to fill them in.
Scroll the gallery below for more of the best looks from last night’s British Fashion Awards.
