It’s no surprise that after Y2K and 90s trends had their moment, the 80s are. Bigger than ever. With 2024’s hottest artists, like Chappell Roan and Conan Gray, dipping their toes into the 80s, fashionistas are embracing the cult of more that immortalized the decade.
In the 80s, blush was a statement, as seen in some of Madonna and David Bowie’s most iconic looks. Celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter are returning to the blush explosion with bright pink noses, cheeks, and contoured cheekbones. To achieve the look without going overboard, makeup artists recommend using a buildable and pigmented balm instead of a powder, which can often overpower. For a softer look, cream blush works best – blend to avoid a face-paint look.
The 80s were all about color – from bright pink to baby blue eyeshadow. The colorful eyeshadow look is returning this autumn, with celebrities like Dua Lipa rocking blue lids on the red carpet. Today’s fashionistas embrace bright colors by matching them with bold eyeliner. Bringing the eye shadow above and below the eye accentuates the liner without taking too much attention away.
With eyes pointed toward the future, metallic details are in makeup trends. Whether it’s a glittery lip balm or a metallic finish highlighting face contour and eyeshadow, hints of grey sparkles are here to stay. Style icons in 2024 use metallic finishes to elevate their natural features, such as high cheekbones and bright melanin, as opposed to the 80’s trend, which embraced metallic looks in a more alternative style.
Despite content creators pushing big and bright looks, there is also an embrace of natural-looking beauty. Gone are the days of over-plucked brows. Now, everyone is up-brushing their brows to recreate the iconic fluffy brows 80s celebrities like Brooke Shields were known for. Lash serums help brows stimulate growth and thickness, and an eyebrow gel will keep those hairs up. The final touch is brow mascara to fill in any patches and create a fuller look.
The 80s were a time of fun when big hair and bright makeup ruled the stratosphere. Gen Z’s most prominent fashion icons are taking tips from their moms’ old yearbooks and embracing the colors, glitter, and bushy brows that defined the decade.
