Pat McGrath’s Top 7 Runway Looks as Maison Margiela Glass Skin Sends Beauty World Into Meltdown
We don’t need to remind you that Pat McGrath is an absolute legend. Makeup artists to the stars, this British icon continues to pioneer the world of cosmetics on runways and red carpets, as well as high-end magazines like Vogue.
Her latest triumph: the breathtaking looks of the Maison Margiela SS24 show. Giving Hailey Bieber’s glazed doughnut skincare routine a run for its money, the MUA’s breathtaking looks have unsurprisingly gone viral on social media.
The couture fashion show was to die for - but what everyone was really talking about was the MAKEUP. We’re talking porcelain dolls and glass-look skin that had many wondering… how TF do you pull that off with makeup?
Luckily, McGrath loves to share her secrets with the beauty community as well. Proving she is undoubtedly a makeup magician, Pat gave her loyal fans a teaser of how she created the looks on social media. In one of the latest posts, you see the models peeling away a glossy layer to reveal their natural skin underneath. “All will be REVEALED very soon,” she added.
Maison Margiela SS24 will go down in the history books as one of the most incredible displays of makeup creativity in the beauty world.
On top of that, the looks that Pat has pioneered on the runways throughout the years have inspired beauty trends throughout the ages. Yes, that dewy highlighted skin you’ve finally perfected was probably the brainchild of Pat herself. Have you ever tried your hand at coloured mascara? Yep, that’s Pat’s idea, too.
Maison Margiela is not her first rodeo - nor will it be her last. So, what other iconic runways can you find the mother of makeup’s looks in? There’s ALOT we’ll have you know. But here are some of our favourites…
More is more for Christian Dior Couture SS2004
Pat McGrath has contributed to Christian Dior runways for what feels like forever. Some of her earlier additions to the Dior family included a collection of looks inspired by the ancient gilded glamour of Egypt’s royalty. We’re talking Queen Cleopatra-inspired gold and blue eyelids draped in endless layers of sparkles and golden lashes. Finishing off the iconic looks with a bold black brow, the makeup goddess gave a nod to the ancient practice of stunning makeup that transpires through the ages.
Bold brows for Balenciaga FW2010
Pat was experimenting with brows long before bleached brows were even a thing. Taking things one step further for Balenciaga in 2010, McGrath didn’t just bleach her models’ eyebrows, but she also carefully selected a bold colour to dye them instead.
Proving to the runway audience that her minimalist looks can be equally as iconic as her bolder works of art, her colourful brows certainly deserve a spot in McGrath’s Hall of Fame of looks.
Bejewelled goddesses for Givenchy FW2015
Probably a personal favourite for the TIB team, McGrath’s spectacular work for Givenchy in 2015 is one for the history books. The looks were simple: paired back makeup and an abundance of 19th-century glam through elaborate jewels and embellishments.
Demonstrating that McGrath isn’t just a creative influence but also a committed one, these looks took up to six hours to perfect as McGrath and her team carefully figured out how to attach some of the weighty gems.
Speaking about the creative director of Givenchy, Riccardo Tisci, Pat said: “He gave us the jewellery, but we had to work out how it would stay on because it was quite weighty, so we dealt with that for quite some time!”
Golden glamour for Christian Dior SS2014
We honestly do love a good brow, and it appears that McGrath does too. Yes, another iconic look we’re celebrating today is the golden brows that captured our attention in 2014.
This simple yet captivating look required several layers of copper and gold paint decorated in simple strips across the models’ faces. McGrath then added a lick of electric aqua to the models’ lid to add a simple contrast that makes all the difference.
Futuristic ‘femme bots’ for Alexander McQueen SS2015
Pat dubbed this look the “femme bot fantasia realised in luxurious lacquer, a tribute to the future Fatale," showcasing just a snippet of the things that inspire her final designs.
Going for a more nu-age, anti-classical beauty vibe for Alexander McQueen in 2015, McGrath stuck lacquered masks that, according to Allure, were “sprayed about a hundred times to get them black, black, black” to the faces of her models to create this simple, yet iconic robot meet warrior-princess look.
Feathery dreams for Valentino Couture SS2019
I mean, who can forget the gorgeous feathery eyelashes of the Valentino runway models in 2019? In a true example of bold creativity, Pat really cemented her spot as the makeup queen with this Valentino Couture look. The Valentino collection had a floral theme, and Pat knew precisely how to add the finishing touches through makeup.
For the show, Pat gave the models an iconic feather eyelash in various colours that resembled ‘butterfly eyes’ while really drawing attention to the models’ eyes. Highlighting the power of a good lash, the simple yet compelling look is arguably one of her most iconic.
Ode to David Bowie for Maison Margiela SS2016
Last but not least, McGrath’s nod to David Bowie on the Maison Margiela runway in 2016 is EVERYTHING. Shortly after the musician passed away, Pat paid tribute in the best way she knew - through makeup.
The show featured some memorable Bowie hair as well as accompanying makeup that channelled the star’s space-oddity era.
Reflecting on her looks, she said at the time: “It was celestial couture meets intergalactic glamour, with a touch of Bowie's 'Space Oddity' brought to life with 3D metallic stars and a structured, gothic mouth with a touch of scarlet on the lower lip.”
WHATS UP NEXT …
