During the London Fashion Week SS27 presentations, designer Harris Reed debuted the "Loud Whispers" collection featuring sculptural, all-white attire. The event introduced a striking beauty trend known as "whimsical blush," a holographic makeup look developed in collaboration with Charlotte Tilbury Beauty.
Harris Reed's SS27 'Loud Whispers' show and the rise of holographic blush
The aesthetic of the "Loud Whispers" show focused on exaggerated silhouettes and all-white ensembles,drawing inspiration from historical figures like Queen Elizabeth I. As reported by Grazia, the clothing featured embellished corsets and patchwork trousers, creating a high-drama architectural foundation.. To complement these sculptural shapes, the beauty team opted for a makeup look that felt equally immersive and otherworldly.
The "whimsical blush" trend moves away from traditional contouring, instaed using holographic pigments that shift color based on the light. According to Grazia , the goal was to create an architectural approach to color that extended the body's silhouette through the face, resulting in a look that felt more like a "celestial veil" than standard makeup.
How the £49 Digital Lilac palette created a 'celestial veil' of color
To achieve the specific iridescent effect seen on the catwalk, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty utilized a combination of cream blushes and reflective pigments. A key product in this process was Charlotte’s Palette of Beautifying Eye Trends in Digital Lilac, priced at £49, which provided the shimmering, internal radiance characteristic of the look. The beauty team blended these tones to create two primary directions: a dimensional violet and an iridescent pink.
The application method was unconventional, sweeping the color far beyond the apples of the cheeks. As Grazia reported, the makeup artists layered the Airbrush Flawless Blush Blur across the cheekbones, temples, brow bones, and eyelids, even extending the pigment onto the ears. This technique ensured there were no hard edges, creating a seamless wash of color that appeared to radiate from within the skin.
From Queen Elizabeth I to the modern runway: the return of architectural makeup
The shift toward "whimsical blush" reflects a broader movement in internet and fashion culture away from the "clean girl" aesthetic and toward a more expressive, avant-garde femininity. By referencing the opulence of Queen Elizabeth I, Harris Reed and Charlotte Tilbury Beauty are tapping into a desire for theatricality and escapism. This mirrors previous beauty cycles where makeup was used not to enhance natural features, but to transform the face into a piece of art.
For the Pembece reader, this trend signals a return to the experimental makeup styles often seen in digittal subcultures—such as the "Euphoria" effect—where color is used as a tool for mood and atmosphere rather than traditional beauty standards.. The use of duochrome tones and glowing highlights suggests that the next wave of beauty will prioritize luminescence and light-play over matte perfection.
Whether the 'ears-and-temples' blush placement works outside of a London Fashion Week catwalk
While the results were enchanting under the runway lights, several questions remain regarding the trend's viability for the average woman. The source describes a highly curated environment where the makeup is balanced by sculptural white gowns; it remains unclear if applying violet pigment to the ears and temples would translate to a wearable daily look or if it would feel too costume-like in a professional or social setting.
Additionally, the report focuses entirely on the vision provided by Charlotte Tilbury Beauty and Harris Reed, leaving out perspectives on how different skin tones might interact with the specific "Digital Lilac" and iridescent pink shades. Whether this "whimsical" approach is accessible to all complexions or designed specifically for the high-contrast environment of a fashion show is a detail yet to be explored.
Comments 0