New York Fashion Week provided a host of beauty inspiration for spring 2024, much of it affected by something of the fantastic. Inspiration came from mythology, dance, and artificial intelligence—essentially, the out-of-this-world artistry born only of being human and dreaming of things other than just that. 

Though many details skewed somewhat supernatural (see: the continuation of mermaidcore and some celestial aesthetics) the escapism was balanced by unaffected looks, cheeky references, and, in some cases, no makeup at all. The Esteé Lauder look for Maria McManus, for example, was born of commuter culture, while, at at  Willy Chavarria, makeup artist Marco Castro eschewed all forms of skin coverage. The resulting collection was a study in reality versus aspiration, that age-old story told through hair, skin, and makeup. Here, five beauty trends that defined New York Fashion Week and will inspire your spring beauty looks.

Hunter Abrams

Ribbon Revival

The ribbonaissance continued this season, runways made more romantic (and spritely) with hair adorned in thin slices of fabric. At Collina Strada, a cadre of “horse girls” grinned down the runway, manes run through with colorful hand-dyed chiffon in asymmetrical styles reminiscent of some erratic Ren Faire. Strips of jersey cut directly from dresses served as ribbon-esque headbands at Helmut Lang, and Christian Siriano’s ballet-inspired collection came with the satin accessories to match, pale pink ribbons pinned to fall within (and well-past) loose lengths like extensions—and laced through hairstylist Lacy Redway’s viral corseted updo.