The 8 Best Beauty Moments from New York Fashion Week to Inspire Your Hair, Makeup, Nails

New York Fashion Week wrapped just days before Valentine's Day, closing out with a myriad of runway moments that felt downright magical. Obviously, clothes may be the focus—along with after party happenings and celebrity appearances (Bad Bunny and his brother were outside this season)—and designers showed out this season, whether it marked their return, as it did for Christopher John Rogers, or simply an all-time favorite like Coach. But on the runway, beauty looks play a key role in making the whole sartorial story shine. This season saw incredible moments of creativity, spanning hair, nails, and makeup. 

Scroll on for the most striking NYFW Fall/Winter 2025 runway beauty moments—from feathered lashes to sculptural braids and trending nail looks—and get inspired for your next makeup or nail look.

Diotima: Fresh-Out-of-the-Roller Hair

At Diotima's NYFW presentation, models' hair was styled to look as if it was fresh out of rollers. According to a press release, Oribe hairstylist Joey George wanted the look to represent "a chic woman who doesn’t have enough time for herself.

Thom Browne: Feather Lashes and Necktie Lipstick

Luar: Feather Nails

Makeup, hair, and nails are always executed to a T on a Thom Browne runway, so it followed the Fall/Winter 2025 show delivered thrilling looks. Makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench (who, yes, has her own beauty line that once sold penis tube-shaped lipsticks) created feathery eye makeup using Lashify to craft bird-like lashes. (The show was also about birds.) "The subtle tie-print detail on the lips is a nod to Thom Browne’s visionary collection," she added in a press release. Hairstylist James Pecis turned models' tresses into something to "emulate a duck tail," he told L'OFFICIEL backstage.

Luar's feather nails stole the show on the catwalk. They seemed to echo the collection's theme and title, "Pato," a slur used in some Caribbean countries against gay men. Raul Lopez's Fall/Winter 2025 was a reclamation, and feather nails by Naomi Yasuda mirrored feathers on the clothes. She crafted these with three-inch long nail extensions with square tips. One of three OPI shades made up the base (Black Onyx, Alpine Snow, and Livin' La Vida Mocha Infinite Shine), and she topped each set off with crystals and feathers.

Tia Adeola: Sculptural Braids and Cowrie Shells

Hair looks on Tia Adeola's runway took the cake. Almost each one was sculptural, using braids as the foundation for a variety of intricate forms. Lead hairstylist Joseph DiMaggio, for Shokunin Clik, also wove cowrie shells into some looks. Nails by Yukie Natori and makeup by A. Love & T. Cooper complemented the artful braids.

LoveShackFancy: Keep It Simple

Makeup looks at LoveShackFancy's presentation were all about a simple base and glow. Stila Cosmetics Global Beauty Director Charlie Riddle led dewy makeup looks, which used a suite of Cetaphil products for skin prep. It was inspired by a "festive girl's night out," he explained in a press release.

Collina Strada: Animal Print on the Face

Models at Collina Strada sported animal print patches on their face, courtesy of makeup by artist Dick Page who used Ilia products. Mustafa Yanaz, who used Bumble and Bumble products, handled unique hair looks.

Sergio Hudson: Classic '90s Smoke

Sergio Hudson beauty looks this season were all about channeling a sexy '90s feeling to match the sportswear on the runway. Models on the runway boasted a smokey glam look, complete with dramatic eyes, a berry-hued Bobbi Brown blush, and a pale nude lip, led by Marc Reagan.

Romeo Hunte: After-Sex Flush Blush

Makeup on the Romeo Hunte Fall/Winter 2025 runway was all about blush. Rather than piling it on in the blush-blind trend of late, legendary makeup artist Sir John went for something smarter and cheekier. He used Tarte's colored clay CC undereye corrector in a red hue on models' eyelids to make it look "almost as if she came in from the cold or just came off the slopes or just had good sex," he said in a press release.