Because it’s the thought, not the price, that counts.
Everything you need to know about ballet flats
How to style ballet flats
The best part about ballet flats is that they work well with dresses and skirts, but they also pair perfectly with any type of denim. Wear them with cigarette jeans, à la Audrey Hepburn or Jennifer Lawrence, or go with trendy wide-leg jeans for an edgier vibe. During the cooler months, knee-high socks and chic tights can help keep you warm and are slim enough to slip into your shoes.
How to pick the right ballet flats
If you’re shopping with a specific season in mind, consider the materials: A suede or leather style is great for fall and winter, whereas in spring and summer, you’ll likely want to reach for something more breathable (like mesh or raffia) that won’t give your heels blisters. If you’re flat-footed or need additional arch support, look for a pair with cushioned insoles and elastic or adjustable Mary Jane straps. And if you have narrow or wide feet, your best bet is a pair of shoes in extended widths or half sizes.
Are ballet flats in style in 2025?
Ballet flats are absolutely in style this year, and while every color and material has its place, we’ve noticed a huge rise in red ballet flats—often in leather or mesh—to add a pop of color to otherwise neutral palettes. (Dakota Johnson did it best.) Silver and other metallic finishes are also fashionable, thanks to the popularity of Simone Rocha’s shiny flats. Classic black is also a great choice for fall and winter 2025, considering it goes with everything and fits nicely into fashion’s ongoing love affair with quirky minimalism.
Mary Jane options are also super popular right now, as are picks at both ends of the “look at me” spectrum. On the one hand, Ganni’s decked-out buckle flats (plus their many dupes) are everywhere, meaning that multiple straps and grommet details are extra hot. On the other, minimalist glove flats are fashion-insider faves. The takeaway? Pick any pair that speaks to you, and style them intuitively.
We beauty editors pride ourselves on being trend savants. (Forecasters, if we’re feeling fancy.) New York Fashion Week is one of our favorite places to track existing trends and spot those emerging, which happens to kick off in just 9 days on September 11. By the power vested in us by our backstage passes, we’re often the first to see what’s going down the runway—hair, makeup, collections, and all—giving us an early look at the finished ensembles before even the star-studded crowds can catch a glimpse.
Though the mazes of runway shows and traffic-stopping street style fashion are undoubtedly the main event, the backstage flurry of powder, hair spray, and glitter eye shadow is an opulent feast for the eyes that we can’t digest fast enough. But before we enter a week of subhuman show-hopping, we peered into our collective crystal ball (ahem, the beauty Slack channel) to guesstimate which makeup, hair, and nail trends we predict will take over the fashion scene this September—and consequently influence how beauty will evolve for S/S 26.
Below, 9 beauty trends we’ll be pleased, but not surprised, to see sweeping the fashionable faces of NYFW in a little over a week.
Modern Grunge Makeup
“Autumn is synonymous with darker, more matte-ified makeup looks in the same way it’s synonymous with falling leaves and pumpkin spice lattes. It’s the natural way. After a summer spent focusing on sheer, bright, and glowing looks, the pendulum is sure to swing the opposite way—espresso brown eye shadow, burgundy nails, crimson lips…you name it. However, unlike the “quiet luxury” looks that have ruled the runways in recent years (and focused on a polished and perfected aesthetic), I think we’ll see a return to grunge makeup at NYFW.
“I’m not talking about the bold grunge makeup of the ’90s, though. I’m talking about a softer, smokier, and more modern take on it. Think a color palette that emphasizes soft gray, cool plum, and neutral brown shades rather than straight-up nobsidian and onyx. This ‘grown-up grunge’ aesthetic, as I’m calling it, is no doubt right in line with Jenna Ortega’s incredible Wednesday press tour looks.” – Kaitlyn McLintock, beauty editor
Get the Look
Laura Mercier
Caviar Stick Cream Eyeshadow
MAKEUP BY MARIO
Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette: the Neutrals
My Hair’s The Outfit
(Image credit: Launchmetrics)
“There’s no debate that hair jewelry has been around for quite some time, but I’m expecting a creative reinvention of runway hairstyles involving fashion elements. With the rise of maximalist, hyperpersonal RTW style, we’ve seen more fashionable liberties taken with hair in general—like cuffs decorating ponytails and gold-buttoned bubble braids à la Blazé Milano’s F/W 25 show. Take the comb necklace trend popularized by The Row, for example: Hair is taking center stage, and I’m not mad about it. I hope to see embroidery thread woven into braids, belted ponytails, and so many more ‘clothing’ details that truly do make the hair the outfit.” – Alyssa Brascia, associate beauty editor
Get the Look
J.Crew
Dimensional Oval Metallic Hair Clip
Ettika
Noble Nugget Hair Pin
Free People
Careless Whisper Hair Pin
The Return to “Real” Lipstick
(Image credit: Launchmetrics; @emnitta)
“So far, 2025 has been all about sheer, glossy, and glow-boosting lip colors. I’ve been thinking a lot about where we go from here. What’s next? No lip color at all? I’m betting my bottom dollar that we’ll see a return to ‘real’ lipstick. In other words, we’ll see more full-coverage formulas in either matte or satin finishes (AKA the formulas many of us left behind pre-2020). Perhaps it will encourage the fashion crowd to dust off their old, tried-and-true bullets of MAC, Revlon, and Charlotte Tilbury. I can’t help but think this is the way forward, especially after Louis Vuitton just launched luxe, pigmented lipsticks, and Kylie Jenner recently resurrected her iconic Lip Kits. I’m not mad about it. I have a whole bag of full-coverage formulas on standby.” – McLintock
Get the Look
Spider Lashes
(Image credit: Launchmetrics)
“I think the pendulum is going to swing from barely there ‘ghost” lashes’ to spiky, sky-high, intentionally clumpy mascara. I can’t stop thinking about the clustered lash looks from Cucculelli Shaheen and Thom Browne last season, and I expect to see some fun iterations for S/S 26. Bring on the doe-eyed drama.” – Jamie Schneider, senior beauty editor
Get the Look
MAC Cosmetics
Macstack Mascara
Tower 28 Beauty
Makewaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Vast Lash Mascara
Anti-Neutral Nails
Get the Look
Essie
Expressie Nail Polish
OPI
Fall Nail Lacquer Collection
Subversive Blush
(Image credit: Launchmetrics)
Get the Look
PATRICK TA
Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo
Ilia
Soft Focus Blurring Blush
Rhode
Pocket Blush Sun Soak
Woven Details
(Image credit: Launchmetrics)
Get the Look
Moroccanoil
Curl Defining Cream
PATTERN
Deep Scalp Detox 2-In-1 Hair Serum Cleanser
Rahua
Control Curl Cream Styler
Playing Favorites
(Image credit: Launchmetrics)
“I’m not saying ‘pretty’ makeup is out… I’m just saying that designers (and their beauty partners) have no interest in it. Lip overlining tutorials and liner-gloss lip combos still snake onto my TikTok FYP, but I predict the fashion scene will dial up one of the face’s most prominent features and wash away the rest when creating looks that sate their latest collections. With the extremes of eye and lip trends taking off this year—ghost lashes and subversive grunge, concealer lips and peptide treatments—there seems to be a civil unrest within beauty. To glam or not glam is the question.
“I believe that many key makeup artists will play favorites, accentuating the eyes with bold pigment, distinctive eyeliner, and absolutely no lip products at all (perhaps even a quick powder to give them a skin-like effect), or go the no-mascara route before painting the pout in an ultra-pigmented lacquer or an intrepid lipstick—extra points for bleached brows.” – Brascia
Get the Look
Gucci
Velvet Matte Lipstick
Danessa Myricks Beauty
Colorfix Liquid Pigment
NYX Professional Makeup
Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Wild Card
(Image credit: Launchmetrics)
“This might be a cop out, but there’s always at least one unexpected beauty trend at NYFW that truly demands attention. Last season, it was Thom Browne’s delightfully extra ‘feather lashes’ and Collina Strada’s ‘cheetah makeup’. I can’t wait to see what conversation-starting looks this season brings. – Emma Hughes, beauty social editor
Get the Look
KISS Falscara
Falscara False Eyelash Wisps Multipack
ILIA
Eye Stylus Shadow Stick
Yves Saint Laurent
Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara
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As August slips away into a moment in time, team Fashionista is spending summer’s final days curating our fall transitional wardrobes. We’re always in the market for good denim, and this month revealed chic straight-leg jeans, breathable vintage-inspired shorts, slouchy pinstriped pants and a …
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Each month, Fashionista editors try a *lot* of beauty products. And while not every formula we test is a winner, we’re constantly unearthing new favorites. Here, we’ve rounded up our latest hair, skin, fragrance, wellness and makeup discoveries — whether fresh-to-market drops or merely recent …
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Lululemon’s straight-leg sweatpants are made of a uniquely soft, silky, polyester-modal-spandex blend that might make you forget its leggings entirely. “They’re almost satin-like in feel inside,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs. “When I put them on for the first time, the words that came to mind were silky and substantial. These pants aren’t messing around. They’re durable, very fitted with a shock cord (a plus, since tying a drawstring gets tiring), and have multiple pockets, including a hidden sleeve for your credit cards. They’re extremely warm without feeling heavy, and almost too high-rise, accentuating my stomach a tad more than I like. I think they’re ideal for wearing casually during cold weather, paired with an oversized sweater.” Plus, these high-waist sweatpants deliver a trendy silhouette without being too exaggerated or tough to style. (And yes, there’s a matching sweatshirt for full matching-set vibes.)
Pros: Warm, smooth material; high-quality construction; three lengths
Cons: Could be lower-rise
Sizes: 0–20 in short, regular, and tall / Colors: 9 options / Material: 53% recycled polyester, 38% modal, 9% elastane
After a few years on the outs, flared jeans are working their way back into the zeitgeist. (I promise it’ll be better this time around.) Taking cues from the exaggerated flares of the ’70s, this modernized silhouette is a little more understated: It’s still tight through the knees and loose at the ankles, but not too dramatic for everyday wear. Avoid sneakers in favor of fall boots and heels, which tuck nicely under the extra room at the hem and provide a bit of height that (literally and sartorially) elevates the bootcuts.
4. Thrift-store denim
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
The street-style crowd is in the midst of a quiet denim revolution. A few seasons ago, denim was to look crisp and brand-new; now, it’s cooler to wear pairs that feel pre-worn. Dirt stains, visible mending, paint splatters, off-kilter fits, and faded washes feed right into 2025’s take on bohemian style—and, perhaps, hint at a more sustainable future. There’s beauty in the worn-in, right? Take your pick below and pair it with a flowy blouse, a shrunken blazer, or a tank top to offset the oversized cuts.
5. Cigarette jeans
Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
Tired of wider cuts? Make the jump to cigarette jeans, also known (less charmingly) as stovepipe or boyfriend jeans, which showed up on recent runways at Bally, Diesel, and Coach. Often mistaken for skinny jeans, this pick has one key difference: It flares out ever-so-slightly at the knee, landing at the ankle with some room to spare. That quirk allows them to tuck into tall boots or fall gracefully over ankle booties, making them some of the most versatile fall bottoms—and their boho vibes pair well with this season’s trendy fur coats.
Now that it’s finally cool enough to wear something other than sandals, it’s time to acquaint yourself with the biggest boot trends of the year. The overarching theme is nostalgia, whether it’s for millennial staples (riding boots, ankle booties), ’80s excess (bold animal prints), or even an imagined past (cowboy- and pirate-worthy silhouettes). It may sound silly, but the playful sources of the season’s inspiration have still resulted in plenty of seriously good-looking styles. Just take a look at the fall 2025 runways of Chloé, Khaite, or Isabel Marant to see exactly what we mean.
In the months ahead, it’s the little details that will make the biggest impact with your fall boots: just the right slouch, height, or eye-catching hardware. Styled with your favorite seasonal staples (don’t ditch your barn jacket just yet), you’ll make maximum impact without much effort at all. Ready to revamp your footwear rotation? These are all the biggest boot trends to try this fall, according to our style editors.
1. Animal prints
Leopard! Snakeskin! Zebra! Animal print is one of 2025’s key fashion trends, so of course it’s also coming for our footwear. Fall’s runways basically looked like a veritable safari, and our editors have already started noticing countless snakeskin and faux-hide pairs on the streets of New York. That’s thanks to the rise of “boom boom”—an ’80s-inflected aesthetic that takes cues from power dressing and yuppie culture—which encompasses this eye-catching footwear. Style your picks with oversized suits for power lunches at the office, denim midiskirts for Sunday brunch, or LBDs during dinner dates.
2. Riding boots
Tall leather boots popped up this season at Burberry, Hermès, GmbH, and Saint Laurent men’s, among many other shows. (It’s only fitting, considering a similar silhouette, Frye’s Campus boots, was all the rage last year.) You don’t need to update your styling much from the last time you wore riding boots; they look great layered over slim jeans with a nipped-waist blazer, playing into their equestrian roots. Go ahead and invest now: Copenhagen-based brand The Garment just showed riding boots for spring 2026, and we’re willing to bet they’ll be relevant for at least another year.
3. Western accents
Luxury labels like Gabriela Hearst and Isabel Marant along with cultural juggernauts like Beyoncé agree: One of fall’s key muses is the cowboy. Western details like curved heels, buckled straps, rounded shafts, and decorative stitching—all toned down enough to mix into your regular wardrobe without becoming cosplay—abound in this season’s footwear. Try these pairs with simple straight-leg jeans, throwing in pops of suede to further nod to Westernwear.
4. Pirate boots
A decidedly adventurous energy flowed through some of our favorite fall collections, from ruffled blouses and relaxed boots at Ralph Lauren to romantic lace and hardware-heavy footwear at Zimmermann. The result? We’re now obsessed with pirate boots: pretty much any pair with the right alchemy of slouch, weathering, metal accents, and/or devil-may-care attitude. Go with a voluminous skirt or a sleek trench coat to lean into fall’s boho vibe—less swashbuckler, more fashion editor.
5. Pointed ankle boots
After spending a few years in the back of our closets, ankle boots are back in the spotlight—or at least in the fashion crowd’s good graces. It’s part of a larger early-2010s revival that’s seeing everything from skinny jeans to chevron print come back around for another spin. The key to updating the look for this decade is a pointy toe, which has also been gone for long enough to stoke our collective nostalgia. For effortless styling, try a cropped wool coat and cigarette jeans or a long-sleeve maxidress.
Most gynecologists recommend cotton, since it’s breathable, hypoallergenic, and less likely to trap heat or moisture than synthetics. “Cotton underwear helps keep moisture away from the body and eliminates targeted heat,” says Monica Grover, MD, ob-gyn and chief medical officer at medi-spa Vspot. Too much warmth or dampness can throw off vaginal pH and lead to irritation or infection.
Synthetic fabrics aren’t completely off-limits, but experts suggest wearing cotton especially for workouts, when sweat can build up. For people with chronic irritation or vulvar conditions, sticking with underwear that’s 100% cotton—or at least 90% cotton—is often the most comfortable choice.
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