Eyeliner Supremacy: The Eyeliner Look Dominating Milan Fashion Week
Milan Fashion Week 2025 has once again proven that eyeliner remains a powerful tool for defining the season’s beauty narrative. This year, the spotlight was on a sophisticated evolution of the classic cat-eye, with designers and makeup artists embracing nuanced shades and innovative styles that blend sharpness with subtlety.
One of the standout trends was the brown eyeliner, which has been described as "criminally slept on" but is now making a strong comeback. Brown offers a softer, more wearable alternative that still delivers that iconic winged effect without appearing harsh. Fashion houses like Fendi and Giorgio Armani showcased this trend beautifully, Fendi with a single swipe of perfectly balanced brown liner to soften everyday looks, and Armani pushing boundaries with a hazy yet geometric take on the classic cat-eye. This approach creates a seamless shadow effect, reminiscent of contouring, that adds depth and dimension without overwhelming the eyes.
The resurgence of brown eyeliner aligns with the ongoing ‘90s revival seen across the Milan runways, where understated elegance meets modern edge. Armani Beauty’s Global Makeup Artist, Hiromi Ueda, highlighted a "modern retro" eye look featuring burgundy double eyeliner with a white waterline, blending vintage inspiration with contemporary flair. This layering of colors and textures—often paired with natural, sun-kissed cheeks and soft lips demonstrates how eyeliner is no longer just about definition but also about artistic expression and mood-setting.
In addition to brown, Milan Fashion Week also celebrated bold, avant-garde cat eyes. These graphic liners often incorporate double lines or geometric shapes, offering a fresh twist on the timeless feline flick. The softer brown tones used in these looks made the edgy designs feel approachable and wearable, balancing drama with subtlety.
The emphasis on eyeliner was not limited to color alone. The texture and finish played crucial roles in the runway looks. Waterproof and long-lasting formulas were favored to ensure the sharp lines and intricate designs stayed intact under the runway lights and throughout the day. This focus on durability reflects a broader trend toward makeup that is both glamorous and practical, capable of withstanding the demands of modern life while maintaining artistic integrity.
