Best of Beauty – London Fashion Week SS23

London Fashion Week has yet again amassed a respectable number of British designers that showcased their Spring/Summer 2023 collections, some iconic brands, and some newbies tagged along. Likewise, we were able to spot some of our best-loved MUAs outside of the habitual Instagram bubble, accommodating the brands‘ showcases. Now that the dust has settled, we wanted to take a look at some of the best beauty looks from LFW. From sparkling faces to wet hair-dos delivered in true British brilliance.

Chopova Lowena was an absolute stunner at Porchester Hall in West London. The brand presented its punk, and folkore-inspired collection whereby, the pretty ballet core aesthetic remained elusive at least when it came to the makeup. Ana Takahashi, an Instagram favourite, ensured that this season’s looks follow a common theme. Rosy cheeks, and black liners sprawling around the eye, from the inner corner up to the top alongside carefully placed gems resembling that of facial piercings. The show’s makeup also included a set of ‚pillow lips‘ as she denotes them, with a darker shade of lipliner drawing an other-worldly symmetrical shape.

One of the standout looks this season was from London-based and much sought-after brand POSTER GIRL. Led by the duo Francesca Capper and Natasha Somerville, the ultra-feminine collection was showcased at 242 Marylebone Road. Backstage things got just as heated, with Isamaya Ffrench who’s been an absolute beacon in all things beauty. Using her namesake brand @isamayabeauty, she created a variation of TikTok’s viral ‚laminated brows‘ and went full-metal head by making them spikey instead. Berry tinted lips and bridge piercing lookalikes finalized the overall look.

KNWLS SS23 collection channeled cunning punk through and through. Isamaya chimed in again for metallic lids, softened up with a variety of fusible shades adorning the models‘ faces. Acid wash, lots of plaid, and denim trench coats synthesized with super dewy skin, unlike the porcelain touch we’ve seen with the likes of so many others this season.  Eugene Souleiman created the artisanal show hair, an array of braided styles absorbed in a sea of glitter tied in the punk rock aesthetic once again.

Mark Fasts RTW collection concentrated on his best asset – knitwear technology; short dresses and one-pieces conforming to one’s body. As far as makeup was concerned, Pablo Rodriguez made sure there was no shortage of glitter, to say the least. Few of the models‘ faces were emblazoned with color-coordinated glitter. Mesmerizing indeed, but perhaps more commercial than practical for it to assert itself as an abiding favourite.

Dilara Fındıkoğlu’s show at a derelict space in the Averard Hotel was quite the talk this fashion week. Not least to its „awkwardly“ mute showcase that drew the focus to more substantial aspects; namely the brow-raising hair looks. Anthony Turner turned the models‘ hair into a rather unconventional hairdo, whereby strands of almost greasy-looking hair were emphasized and further adorned with jewelry or form fitted to the models‘ bodies as an extension of the clothes. A salute to new beginnings – joint with this season’s hair looks, Dilara’s collection leaned into a salacious Victorian fantasy, for-which she probed her transgenerational trauma.

Anne Sophie Costa’s makeup looks seemed to be an ode to springtime, and adolescent innocence, bringing back dewy, almost bare-looking skin, with a tad of gloss to the lips. Susan Fang’s girls walked the runway with such ease that the metallic leaf flakes around temples and cheekbones could have easily been mistaken for glitter.

One to remember – alongside womenswear, Simone Rocha further debuted her first menswear collection at LFW SS23 encapsulating a prominent momentum with daringly thought-provoking beauty looks. Cyndia Harvey, known for her versatile hairstyles followed last season’s agenda of devising glossy hair. The models‘ were wearing a black and solid, cartoon-resembling headpiece that rounded up into little kiss curls on each side. As for the makeup, Thomas de Kluyver put more emphasis on the lashes, than what we’ve seen with last season’s exuberant liners; Pink, white, and even glitter embellished the models‘ faces.