At Schiaparelli’s latest couture show, black lipstick wasn’t just a bold beauty look—it was the main event.
At Schiaparelli’s most recent couture show in Paris, all eyes were on the lips. Nearly every model on the runway wore a glossy, jet-black lipstick—turning what was once a subversive beauty choice into a defining element of high fashion’s most prestigious stage. It was dramatic, elegant, and unlike anything the house has done before.
Schiaparelli is known for its avant-garde silhouettes and surrealist flair, but until now, its beauty looks have stayed relatively restrained—clean skin, the occasional red lip, or statement face jewelry. This season marked a sharp departure. The dark lip dominated the runway, adding a sense of mystery and strength to the sculptural designs.
The look was crafted by makeup legend Dame Pat McGrath, who used her brand’s PermaGel Eye Pencil in Xtreme Black to create the intense, lacquered finish. The result was mesmerizing—a slick, high-impact lip that grounded each look with unexpected depth.
Black lipstick has always been a bold choice. Since the 1980s, it’s been linked to counterculture movements—goth, punk, glam rock—and embraced by those who wanted to make a statement. Designers have featured it before (Marc Jacobs, Dior, Mugler), but it’s rarely taken center stage. Even in fashion, black lips have long carried the aura of being “too much.” Too dark. Too theatrical. Too outside the norm.
And yet, that’s exactly why its resurgence matters.
For many, black lipstick is more than a trend—it’s a form of self-expression. A signifier of individuality, confidence, and for some, queerness. It’s a beauty decision loaded with personal meaning.
Fashion editor Kelsey Stiegman understands this on a deeply personal level. Before entering the industry, she was the lone emo kid in a small town—queer in both identity and style. Black eyeliner and band tees were her everyday uniform, often attracting stares and side comments. At the time, she didn’t know that her aesthetic choices were part of a larger journey toward self-understanding. But even then, they gave her a sense of power.
Years later, in New York City, that expression returned—this time through beauty products like Kylie Jenner’s “Dead of Knight” lip kit and KVD Beauty’s Everlasting Hyperlight Liquid Lipstick. These weren’t just cosmetics. They were affirmations. Putting on a black lip wasn’t about following a trend—it was about stepping into her full self.
That’s why the presence of black lipstick on Schiaparelli’s runway felt so significant. It wasn’t just a makeup moment—it was a statement. In an industry that often praises uniqueness while quietly pushing conformity, this was something different. It was visible. Defiant. Beautiful.
And it was more than just symbolic. It was validating.
Schiaparelli didn’t just bring black lipstick back into the spotlight—it elevated it. For those who’ve used beauty as a form of resistance or identity, this was a moment of recognition. What once marked someone as an outsider was now being celebrated in one of fashion’s most exclusive arenas.
