Every year, the Met Gala comes and serves not just dresses but makeup inspo too. This time, too, they went all out and re-invented the long-dead — Smokey eye. And before you start getting icked out thinking that’s so 2016, think again. This isn’t your older sister’s black-and-grey smudge fest. This was Smoky Eye 2.0. A look much more bold and personal.
Warning: The following content is too good not to add to the mood boards!
The Smoky Eye 2.0: A Modern Take on the Smoky Eye
Gone are the days of the traditional charcoal smoky eye. At this year’s Gala, we witnessed a spectrum of interpretations: from warm, sultry hues to unexpected pops of colour. Tyla captivated audiences with her 1920s Hollywood-inspired look, featuring smoky eyes in warm nudes and browns, complemented by varied red lip tones. Pat McGrath’s artistry turned Tyla’s face into a love letter to Josephine Baker with a postmodern wink.
Then there was Zendaya. Of course, Zendaya. A bronzed smoky eye with a ’90s nude lip? She made restraint look revolutionary. She didn’t come to play; she came to finesse. It’s easy to go dramatic. It’s harder to make a soft makeup look slap. Her look was a testament to the evolving nature of the smoky eye, proving that subtlety can be just as impactful as drama.
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The Face as Canvas, Not Template
What stood out most this year wasn’t the eyeshadow itself, but the intention behind it. Emma Chamberlain ditched Instagram-pretty for an editorial edge, wearing a black eye so smouldering it practically rebuked subtlety. Her look said: “Yes, I’m Gen Z and I still want my eyeliner to look like it survived a bar fight.” And it worked.
Lupita Nyong’o went celestial. Smoky eyes paired with bedazzled eyebrows? Please. That’s not a makeup trend—that’s a manifesto. If her bejewelled brows didn’t scream “Watch me break the rules while you’re still learning them,” then nothing did.
And let’s take a second for Gigi Hadid. A throwback smoky eye in silvery ash with a mega-winged liner? She risked veering into dated territory, but instead, it felt like a reclamation. This was nostalgia without the cringe. Proof that even 2010s beauty can be elevated if you wield it with intent (and a very good MUA).
The Evolution of a Classic
This year’s Met Gala highlighted the smoky eye’s transformation from a singular style to a multifaceted expression of personal identity. Proving that the smoky eye remains a powerful tool in the ever-evolving landscape of beauty.
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