At Schiaparelli’s latest couture show, the iconic noir lip took center stage—signaling not just a beauty revival, but a cultural reckoning.
In every Fashion Month cycle, there’s a show that rises above the noise—a show that reminds the industry why style matters, why creativity still reigns, and why the long nights and countless deadlines are worth it. For many editors, that show is Schiaparelli. This season, Daniel Roseberry’s bold surrealist vision was as awe-inspiring as ever—but it was the beauty look that sparked a louder conversation.
For the first time, nearly every model in the show walked the runway wearing glossy black lipstick.
While Schiaparelli has occasionally dabbled in darker makeup moments—think a bold red lip here, a sculptural face piece there—this season marked a striking departure from its typical “no-makeup” approach. Black lips took over, delivering a look that felt both regal and rebellious. Only a few models wore red; the rest embraced the unapologetic edge of pure black.
The mastermind behind this transformation? Legendary makeup artist Dame Pat McGrath, who used her PermaGel Eye Pencil in Xtreme Black to create the lacquered lip look. The result was a high-gloss, ultra-pigmented statement that paired seamlessly with Roseberry’s architectural gowns, crystal hearts, and sculptural accessories.
Black lipstick has long had a complicated relationship with the beauty world. It first gained mainstream attention in the 1980s, worn proudly by goths, punks, and glam rock icons. Over the decades, it’s reappeared in small doses—on Dior runways, in Marc Jacobs campaigns, and in brief moments of high-fashion experimentation. But it has never quite broken into the realm of widely accepted beauty trends. Even in fashion, black lips have remained on the fringes—associated with rebellion, otherness, and the outsiders who dare to embrace them.
That’s what makes this moment at Schiaparelli so significant.
To many, the return of the black lip isn’t just a style choice—it’s a symbol. A statement of identity, resistance, and transformation. For those who once wore black lipstick to defy conformity or express a part of themselves that felt too loud for polite society, seeing the look celebrated on one of the world’s most prestigious runways feels deeply validating.
Fashion editor Kelsey Stiegman, who has long worn black lipstick herself, saw more than just beauty in this runway moment—she saw a personal connection. Years ago, as a high school student in a conservative town, she wore dark eyeliner and band tees as armor. Her look made her stand out, often drawing ridicule, but it was also a form of self-expression—one tied closely to her evolving sense of identity and queerness.
Later, after moving to New York and beginning her career in fashion, she discovered products like Kylie Jenner’s “Dead of Knight” lip kit and, eventually, KVD Beauty’s Everlasting Hyperlight Liquid Lipstick. For her, applying black lipstick became more than a routine—it became a ritual. A way to feel grounded in her identity, confident in her skin, and unapologetically visible.
And now, the same symbol of defiance and self-expression is being embraced by the very industry that once shied away from it.
There’s a quiet power in this shift. In an environment like fashion—glamorous, often image-obsessed, and still hesitant to stray too far from conventional standards—bold choices can feel risky. But Schiaparelli’s celebration of the goth lip sends a different message: one of inclusion, boldness, and liberation.
This wasn’t just a makeup trend. It was a reclamation.
For those who’ve ever been told to tone it down, to fit in, or to hide what makes them different, the return of the black lip isn’t just timely—it’s long overdue. What was once a marker of being on the margins has become a crown.
And in 2025, the message couldn’t be clearer: black lipstick is no longer a phase. It’s a fashion mainstay, a beauty revolution, and—most of all—a reminder that the things that once made someone feel out of place are often the very things that deserve to be celebrated.
