Now Playing

Expect pretty orange pouts like those on Jason Wu’s runway.

Red Carpet Beauty

by Baze Mpinja | DC magazine | February 17, 2012

We’re not sure which actresses will be thanking the Academy on Sunday night, but truth be told we’re much too focused on the ladies’ gorgeous looks to be bothered with who wins what. No matter which talent takes home the Oscar, we’ve found four top trends from spring runways that are destined to shine from Meryl to Michelle.

Loud Mouth
The Look Bold orange lips
Seen At Jason Wu
Get the Look To prep your pout, slough flakes with a wet toothbrush; then apply a bit of lip balm. Trace on top of your natural lip line with M·A·C Lip Pencil in Redd ($14, at M·A·C), and then fill in lips completely for definition. Next, apply M·A·C Lipstick in Scarlet Ibis ($15, at M·A·C) with a tiny brush.
Expert Opinion “Pinks are the fun kid sister to sophisticated red lipstick, and orange is like the quirky cousin. It’s a color that has a lot of punch, but it’s ageless,” says makeup artist Troy Surratt, who has worked with Kim Kardashian and Charlize Theron. “It’d work for an up-and-coming ingenue or a more mature actress like Meryl Streep.”

Swept Away
The Look A chic French twist
Seen At Diane von Furstenberg
Get the Look Do a blow-out, then tease all of your hair, focusing on the crown. Gather hair back to one side, and pin in a vertical line from the nape of the neck up the back of the head so that your locks are pulled relatively taut on one side and lie loose on the other. Gather free hair and twist upward and over, hiding the bobby pins. Tuck in the ends, and secure with more pins. Finish with hair spray like Frédéric Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold ($25, at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue).
Expert Opinion “A classic twist with a rough texture looks young and modern,” says hair pro Creighton Bowman, who works with Elizabeth Olsen and Renée Zellweger. “I think Keira Knightley has both the beauty and confidence to carry this off.”

Hang Loose
The Look Voluminous waves
Seen At Rebecca Minkoff
Get the Look At the Rebecca Minkoff show, stylist Jeanie Syfu applied TRESemmé 24 Hour Body Root Boosting Spray ($5, at Beauty 360) to the models’ damp roots for extra volume. Once hair is prepped, separate it into four sections and make a tight ponytail with each one. Next, twist a long piece of thin elastic down the length of each section, creating a corkscrew. Fasten ends and diffuse with a blow-dryer. When dry, undo the twists and gently brush the waves for an airy, ethereal effect.
Expert Opinion “This is a new take on a classic, old-Hollywood style,” says Bowman. “The soft, feminine look would be amazing on an actress who has played a tough role, like Rooney Mara.”

Up in Smoke
The Look Brown (not black) smoky eyes
Seen At Lanvin
Get the Look Blend taupe-colored eye shadow, like Tom Ford Beauty Eye Color Quad in Silvered Topaz ($75, at neimanmarcus.com), from your lash line to just above the crease, extending it out toward the temples. Then dab shadow along the lash line of the bottom lid, and swipe two coats of a high-drama mascara like Guerlain Noir G ($49, at Saks Fifth Avenue) onto your top and bottom lashes.
Expert Opinion “Sometimes black around the eyes can be harsh or garish,” says Surratt. “Taupe is perfect for the Oscars because it adds just enough depth and pop to the eyes without looking overly made-up.”