New York Fashion Week is currently in full swing, captivating audiences with its imaginative take on “mermaidcore” beauty. The inspiration for this creative exploration draws from Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic quote from “The Little Mermaid,” which pondered the essence of mermaids and their journey to the human world.
Designer Sandy Liang envisions mermaids in a playful and delicate light, showcasing a look that is both effortless and resourceful. Models graced the runway, bedecked in pearls and with flowers delicately tucked behind their hair, embracing the idea of utilizing the resources at hand as part of their beauty.
The models radiated on a serendipitously rainy New York day, with fresh, barely-there skin achieved through a combination of Estée Lauder’s Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation and a touch of essence. Their eyes sparkled with the addition of “rhinestone barnacles,” tiny diamante crystals that caught the light just right. Their hair maintained a healthy glow, perhaps reminiscent of being gently combed underwater, thanks to BREAD’s weightless oil.
Anna Sui took a more fluid approach, drawing inspiration from the movement of water and aligning it with the flowing fabrics of her collection. Hairstylist Garren brought the vision to life with undulating waves, achieved using R+Co Bleu’s Rose Water Wave Spray and a small iron to create ’20s-esque finger waves, held in place with pins until showtime. Some models adorned their hair with scarves, seashells, or flower crowns, all maintaining a lustrous shine with the help of hair oil.
Backstage at Jason Wu, 111Skin’s lead esthetician, Sylwia Gorzkowska, pampered models’ skin with the brand’s Celestial Black Diamond Emulsion before moving on to makeup. The emphasis was on a luminous complexion, brow gel, and glossy eyes and cheeks. Hairstylist Jimmy Paul noted that the hair should appear effortlessly chic, as if it were an afterthought, perfectly suiting the image of a shipwreck survivor. Showgoers on Roosevelt Island could certainly relate to the mermaid-inspired beauty.
As the trend of mermaidcore continues to evolve within the beauty industry, it transcends the realm of fins and pure fantasy. New York Fashion Week’s interpretation of mermaids brings them into the real world, and for those following the style of a Sandy Liang girl, it may even lean toward a minimalist aesthetic.
