Pale is the new tan: On the runways

Whilst keeping up to date with the latest high street fashions doesn't terribly interest me, I love to know what's happening on the catwalks. Both Vogue and Elle magazines did specials on the catwalks in New York, London, Milan and Paris. The trends in this post are the ones that I found to be the most interesting. The biggest one being red lips. Well, coral toned reds to be precise. They’ve been seen on Richard Nicoll, Erdem and many other runway big names. I love bold lips, and I’m not one for saving them for a night out. I’ll wear them to the super market if I want to. They can be dressed down just as easily as they can be dressed up. I’ve played around with a few looks using my favourite coral-red lipstick, MACs Coral Polyp (limited edition, from the Dame Edna collection) over a base of MAC's Beet lipliner. I’ve incorporated them into looks using some of my favourite trends seen on the catwalks.

Aqua and glossy

Summer’s not over yet, despite the weather. And seeing as there’s still a chance of sunshine, the first look I’ve done is a summery one.

Whilst lips are matte this autumn, I've used glossy lips for a more summery look. Aquas and turquoises have been the most popular shades for eyes over the summer, and I've used a gold liner rather than black. I used Barry M clear lip gloss on top of my lipstick. I forgot how much I hated this gloss. The smell is so sickeningly sweet. Sorry Barry M, you guys get my thumbs down this time.

Lines and contours

As far as fashion trends go, sharp, structured lines are in. This is most obviously seenin the return of shoulder pads (a throwback to the eighties, which I will not be partaking in), but also in the skirt suits of Givenchy and dresses from Elie Saab and Christopher Kane. Inspired by this, the next look takes those structured lines, contouring the face, and shaping the eyes.

Soft and smokey

Other designers, such and Donna Karen and Louis Vuitton used soft, draped fabrics. I think that this sharp makeup would make a fantastic contrast against a softer outfit. Similarly, a softer, smokeylook would look fantastic teamed with a sharp-cut suit. Smokey eyes are always in, and this autumn we’re leaving the bright turquoises and aquas behind, and moving towards velvety dark purples and blues. Vivienne Westwood used a dark blue instead of black for a slightly different take on the traditional grey smokey eyes. As this look focuses mainly on the eyes,I chose to have softer lips. I blotted Coral Poylp, turning it into more of a stain. I didn't use the Beet base, which makes the lips seem far more coral than

red, but this same technique could also be done with a red lipstick.

Going nude

Just like last season, nude faces made an appearance. For a softer day time look go nude with the coral lipstick. If you want to brighten up your eyes, white pencils on the water line are out. Use something a little less harsh, such as Clinique’s brightening gold. MAC will be bringing out a new pencil in early 2010 which is going to be shaded in the same way that their foundations are (NW15 etc). I can’t wait for this one, which will be the perfect nude, brightening eye liner.