Getting Ready for a Night Out This Autumn? Here’s Exactly How to Nail This Season’s Hair, Makeup and Dress Trends
SPONSORED
Main image – Ben Scott
There’s something about getting ready for a night out once the clocks go back. The evenings are darker, the playlist gets louder and there’s hopefully a glass of something fizzy somewhere on the dressing table. Suddenly, getting ready feels like half the fun.
And this season gives us plenty of excuses to make a little more effort. After years of barely-there beauty, the autumn/winter runways have brought glamour back – only this time, it’s softer, moodier and considerably less polished. Think smudged, shimmering eyes, cool-toned ’90s lips, mirror-shine hair and cheeks that look like they’ve just come in from the cold. Here’s how to bring it all together – including what to wear with it.
Start with the skin – seriously
Every great night-out makeup look starts well before the foundation comes out. Colder weather, central heating and late nights can all take their toll, which makes good skin prep particularly important at this time of year.
A little gentle exfoliation earlier in the day can help create a smoother canvas for makeup. Before you start applying it, follow with a hydrating serum and a slightly richer moisturiser than you’d reach for in summer. And if you have the time, a few minutes in a sheet mask while you’re doing your hair is a small extra step that can leave skin looking that bit fresher – particularly once the unforgiving bar and club lighting gets involved.
Soft-focus skin is the new glow
The glazed, glass-like skin of summer is taking a back seat for autumn. Instead, this season’s finish sits somewhere between dewy and matte: soft, blurred and perfected without looking overly done.
Start with a smoothing primer to help refine the appearance of texture, followed by a light-to-medium coverage foundation or skin tint. Keep concealer to the places that actually need it. Finally, a light dusting of powder through the T-zone can keep excess shine in check without flattening the rest of the skin – exactly what you want from a look expected to survive from pre-drinks to last orders.
The eyes are having a moment again
Bold eyes are officially back, and there are two very different ways to wear them this autumn.
For the softer option, meet the “cashmere eye”. Sweep a warm taupe, chocolate brown or deep espresso shadow around the eye, then diffuse the edges until you’re left with a soft, smoky haze. It’s easy, flattering and – importantly for a night out – pretty forgiving after a few hours of dancing.
Want something with a little more drama? The runways have provided plenty of inspiration there too. Metallic lids, flashes of silver at the inner corners and smoked-out plums and greys all feel particularly right for party season. Finish with black kohl smudged along the lash line for that slightly undone, deliberately imperfect effect that works so well with this season’s grungier mood.
The goal? Just-in-from-the-cold cheeks
Bright, heavily sculpted blush is making way for something much softer. The “weathered cheek” trend is designed to mimic that naturally flushed colour you get after coming in from a crisp autumn walk – minus the actual crisp autumn walk.
Apply a sheer cream blush lower on the cheeks and towards the centre of the face before blending it outwards. Then add a touch of champagne highlighter to the high points of the face for luminosity. It’s that contrast between believable cold-weather colour and beautifully glowing skin that keeps the whole thing feeling modern.
’90s lips are back – and they’re cool-toned
Autumn lips are having a distinctly nostalgic moment. Cool-toned neutrals, blurred berry stains, deep rose nudes and oxblood shades are all back on the moodboard.
For a ’90s-inspired sculpted lip, layer taupe lip liners from lightest to deepest, blend the colour with a fingertip and finish with a satin or matte lipstick. Or, for something moodier, press a berry or oxblood stain into the centre of the lips and blur out the edges for that softer, lived-in effect. As an added bonus, it’s considerably easier to top up in a dimly lit bathroom mirror at midnight.
Sleek, sculpted or softly undone? The hair looks to know
Hair is making just as much of a statement this season – and shine is very much the headline. Glass hair is sleek, ultra-shiny and polished to perfection, making it one of the most striking night-out looks of the moment. Start with heat protectant and smoothing cream before working a flat iron through the hair in small sections, then finish with a lightweight shine spray.
For dressier plans, sculptural chignons and low, twisted buns feel particularly elegant, especially paired with a high neckline. Prefer things a little less polished? Soft, romantic texture, face-framing tendrils or a curtain fringe can keep the whole look feeling effortless.
And if you’re considering a colour refresh before party season, rich, food-inspired shades are everywhere. Think truffle brunette, mocha, toasted copper and warm, dimensional blonde – all of which come into their own particularly beautifully under evening lighting.
The finishing touches count too
Even nails are embracing a little more drama this season. Glossy deep burgundy, chrome finishes and subtle glitter all work beautifully alongside autumn’s moodier makeup.
Fragrance, meanwhile, is getting warmer and richer. Gourmand notes such as vanilla, amber and tonka, finished with a hint of spice, can feel cosy without losing their after-dark appeal. Apply to the pulse points and mist lightly through the hair if you want the scent to linger throughout the evening.
And now for the dress…
Beauty sorted, it’s time for arguably the most enjoyable part: choosing what to wear. The trick is to make your makeup and outfit feel as though they’re part of the same look, rather than competing for attention.
Darker, more dramatic dresses in rich colours or textured fabrics work beautifully with deeper lips and softly smoked eyes for a moodier finish. Lighter, more delicate styles, meanwhile, pair naturally with fresh-looking skin, a soft flush and glossy hair.
If your going out dress is embellished, sparkling or covered in a bold print, consider letting the beauty take a slight step back. Neutral eyes and a nude lip can stop the overall look becoming too busy. A simpler, pared-back dress gives you the opposite opportunity – consider it permission to bring out the shimmering eye or statement lip.
Add a tailored blazer or cropped jacket over your shoulders and you’re ready for the considerably less glamorous cold walk between venues.
The takeaway
This autumn/winter, dressing to impress feels less about looking perfectly polished and much more about personality. Smudged eyes, glossy hair or a cool-toned lip can completely change the mood of even the simplest dress. So put the playlist on, pour something fizzy and enjoy the getting-ready ritual. It’s half the night, after all.
