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THE VIOLET FILES
FILED UNDER
TOP FLIGHT
The Violet Files recaps the top hair and makeup looks from 2016’s most opulent collections.
Written By Erica Lopez
We may come to the Paris Couture shows for the fantastical fashions, we stay for—or at least leave wearing—the attendant beauty looks. From Valentino’s fresh-faced glow and Dior’s velvet-red pouts to Chanel’s take on Cleopatra liner, The Violet Files has compiled our favorite makeup moments–both wearable and outré–from this season’s couture runways.

VELVET
RED LIPS

christian dior haute couture
  • BACKSTAGE AT CHRISTIAN DIOR HAUTE COUTURE
  • PHOTOGRAPHY BY VINCENT LAPPARTIENT
ARTIST:
Peter Philips | @peterphilipsmakeup
HAIR STYLIST:
Guido Palau | @guidopalau
WHERE TO WEAR:
To a European business meeting, where the air-and-cheek kisses mustn’t smudge your pout.
GET THE LOOK:
Peter Philips achieved this brilliant red hue by first lining the lips with Dior Crayon Contour Lèvres in Rouge Royal and then applying a bright red, limited edition shade of Diorific Mat in Fabuleuse all over. To create the ombre effect, Philips then added a darker plum liner (Dior Crayon Contour Lèvres in Thrilling Plum) layered with a deep red liptick – limited edition Diorific Mat in Troublante – for depth at the center of the mouth. (Philips recommends Rouge Dior Lipstick in Brun Jungle or Rialto as alternative shades). 

Below, The Violet Files’ favorite beauty essentials  for achieving the Dior effect. 

CALLIGRAPHY
EYE

CHANEL haute couture
  • BACKSTAGE AT CHANEL HAUTE COUTURE
  • PHOTOGRAPHY BY BENOÎT PEVERELLI
ARTIST:
Tom Pecheux | @tompecheux
HAIR STYLIST:
Sam McKnight | @sammcknight1
WHERE TO WEAR:
The opening night of Art Basel.
GET THE LOOK:
Pecheux used elongated strokes of Chanel’s Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner (noir, naturally) under the brow bone and lower lash line to create a graphic eye look that even Cleopatra would approve of.
See the kit essentials used by Tom Pecheux to achieve a graphic effect. 

gilded
goddess

valentino haute couture
  • BACKSTAGE AT VALENTINO HAUTE COUTURE SPRING 2016
  • PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF VALENTINO
ARTIST:
Pat McGrath | @patmcgrathreal
HAIR STYLIST:
Guido Palau | @guidopalau
WHERE TO WEAR:
To a summer cocktail party at your paramour’s villa.
GET THE LOOK:
McGrath used a gold-toned palette on the eyes, paired with chiseled cheekbones and a strong brow, to complement the collection's romantic, Grecian silhouettes.

Below, The Violet Files’ favorite products for achieving the Valentino effect. 

the vampy
Smoky eye

ATELIER VERSACE
  • BACKSTAGE AT ATELIER VERSACE SPRING 2016 COUTURE
  • PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF VERSACE
ARTIST:
Pat McGrath | @patmcgrathreal
HAIR STYLIST:
Guido Palau | @guidopalau
WHERE TO WEAR:
To a night at the club when you’d prefer to let your eyes do the talking.
GET THE LOOK:
McGrath used the Black Caviar gel liner from her Phantom 002 line and multiple layers of mascara to create a seductive smoky eye that’s both dramatic and wearable.

Below, The Violet Files’ favorite products for achieving the Versace effect.

romantic
WAVES

ARMANI PRIVé
  • BACKSTAGE AT ARMANI PRIVÉ SPRING 2016 COUTURE
  • PHOTGRAPHY COURTESY OF ARMANI
ARTIST:
Linda Cantello
HAIR STYLIST:
Orlando Pita | @orlandopita
WHERE TO WEAR:
To your best friend’s Gatsby-inspired garden wedding; to a movie premiere at The Chinese Theatre. 
GET THE LOOK:
Hair stylist Orlando Pita went all in for glossy, wavy locks worthy of a 1930s screen siren, amplified by Linda Cantello’s ultra-femme double-lined eyelid (courtesy of Armani’s Smooth Silk Eye Pencil in black) and a natural pink lip in Armani’s soon-to-debut Rouge d’Armani Floating Mauve. 

Below, The Violet Files’ favorite products for achieving the Armani effect. 

EIGHTIES
Red LIP REDUX

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
  • BACKSTAGE AT JEAN PAUL GAULTIER SPRING 2016 COUTURE
  • PHOTOGRAPHY BY R. TORRADO
ARTIST:
Sam Bryant | @sambryantmakeup
HAIR STYLIST:
Odile Gilbert | @odilegilbert_official
WHERE TO WEAR:
A night at The Fonda when your favorite ’80s band kicks off their reunion tour.
GET THE LOOK:
Makeup artist Sam Bryant and hair stylist Odile Gilbert paid homage to the revelers of iconic Paris nightclub Le Palace, with high-volume hair and a high-gloss red lip.

Below, The Violet Files’ favorite products for achieving the Gaultier effect. 

electric
eyes

givenchy haute couture
  • GIVENCHY SPRING 2016 COUTURE
  • PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICTOR VIRGIL / GETTY IMAGES
ARTIST:
Pat McGrath | @patmcgrathreal
HAIR STYLIST:
Guido Palau | @guidopalau
WHERE TO WEAR:
A week at Burning Man with Susan Sarandon and Cara Delevingne.
GET THE LOOK:
McGrath put a club-kid spin on the smoky eye by using pink and orange hues instead of your standard black.

 Below, The Violet Files’ favorite products for achieving the smoky effect. 

THE GENIUS OF
PAT MCGRATH

Legendary makeup artist McGrath transforms one of the world’s most famous faces for The Violet Files.