7 Standout Beauty Trends From The SS22 Runways

With fashion week finally back in the flesh for the spring/summer 2022 shows, designers were in the mood to celebrate. In fact, they were in the mood to party, with nostalgic nods to Y2K club culture and the hedonistic days of Studio 54. Cue statement hairdos featuring intricate details and larger-than-life accessories, and high glam make-up replete with all the right kinds of shimmer and shine. Then, there were those beauty moments that were so out there they bordered on the surreal. Below, Vogue rounds up the seven standout beauty trends from the spring/summer 2022 runways.

Shimmer and sparkle

Like the sparkling fizz of a champagne bottle, nothing feels more celebratory than a touch of shimmer. And at this season’s shows, there were plenty of them. There was full-on body glitter at Blumarine; light-reflecting lips and lids at Dolce & Gabbana; and streaks of shimmer running through gelled mohawks at Marni. And what about the full face of festival-inspired glitter at Dries Van Noten? Whichever way you wear it, it’s your time to shine.

Y2K beauty

At this season’s shows, Y2K fever was palpable. Not just in the clothes, but the hair and make-up, too. Note the poker-straight hair at Versace, Fendace, Chanel, and Stella McCartney, and the spiky top knots at Nensi Dojaka. There was also the high-shine lip gloss at Victoria Beckham, Dolce & Gabbana and Blumarine, and, of course, the frosted eyeshadow at Giorgio Armani. At this season’s shows, no one was immune to the millennium bug.

Intricate hair textures

Instead of the blunt bobs and dramatic fringes of seasons past, this season there was a focus on texture and detail. Just look at the intricate twists at Rejina Pyo, or the supersized plaits at Erdem. Or the exquisite neon wefts that Sam McKnight wove through models’ hair at Dries Van Noten. After a long period of leaving our hair to more or less look after itself, what with salon closures and working from home culture, this heavily detailed trend heralded a much-needed return to craft.

The wet look

There’s something about a glistening wet hair look that feels instantly fresh and alternative. It’s also the perfect way to revitalise your look without having to commit to a new cut or colour. There are many ways to wear it, too. At Richard Quinn, hairstylist Sam McKnight transformed models Lila Moss and Stella Jones, into his “alien angels”, by parting their hair into three sections and slicking it back in various directions.

Meanwhile, at Miu Miu, Guido accessed a kind of subcultural cool by slicking models’ hair into deep side-partings. It was the same at Balenciaga, where Holli Smith stuck models’ fringes to their foreheads. At Chloé, James Pecis leaned into the idea even further, creating an almost soaking wet effect on models that looked as though they’d just emerged from the sea.

Statement hair accessories

Another standout hair trend at the spring/summer 2022 shows was the statement hair accessory. See the larger-than-life spherical confections at Harris Reed or the Surrealist-inspired hats at Schiaparelli. There were also dainty white bows at Giambattista Valli, nostalgic headscarves at Versace, and a beaded, child-like mobile at Moschino. Not to mention Simone Rocha’s signature hair clips and bejewelled tiaras. 

Street-style hues

Amongst the nostalgic references and directional hair trends, it was refreshing to see moments of colourful whimsy. Take the unexpected pastel-hued crops at Loewe, or the street-style-inspired accents of mauve, copper and Bottega green at Valentino, both courtesy of Guido Palau, both celebrations of individuality.

The new black eyeliner

In a similar vein to those street-style hues, this season’s black eyeliner takes its cues from youthful self-expression. At Givenchy, Lucia Pieroni created feathery black lines around models’ eyes in an apparent reference to Harajuku street culture. Meanwhile, at Dior, Peter Philips used a mixture of white and black eyeliner to create a double lower and upper feline flick that felt modern and countercultural. It was the same at Marine Serre, where thick feline flicks and rims under eyes felt cool and rebellious.