Get in Line

From Amy Winehouse’s exaggerated wings to Nicole Richie’s more subdued cat’s-eye and myriad runway looks in between, it seems liquid eyeliner paired with full lashes is destined to be fall’s biggest beauty moment. “It’s such a classic and iconic—yet exotic—look,” says makeup guru Paul Starr. “A woman who wears it exudes power and confidence.” One of the most daring incarnations—thick black liner and lush lashes accented by pops of bright color—came courtesy of makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, who designed a Cleopatra-inspired eye for Alexander McQueen’s fall show. Her favorite way to wear liquid liner is the classic cat’s-eye. Tilbury recommends starting with an eyeliner pencil to get the shape you want, then tracing over the line using a liquid or gel-creme liner. “A good way is to draw in small back-and-forth strokes. That way the line is less likely to go wonky,” she says. “At the outer corner of the eye, lift the line slightly up and out. The idea is to change the shape of the eye so that it appears more elongated and cat-like.” Finish by curling the eyelashes and applying several coats of mascara. Tilbury says the feline-inspired eye works on anyone; Starr, too, is a devotee. Although the look originated in the Fifties, he keeps it modern on clients like Nicole Richie by smoothing on a luminous tinted moisturizer, gold or ivory highlighter on the brow bone and a dab of sheer pinky-peach color on the lips. “The idea is sophisticated and chic, not girly and sweet,” he says. “Women—it’s your birthright to experiment and be confident wearing makeup!”