So you've been issued a bridesmaid dress in a bright or pastel shade. Even if you're excited to wear this particular color, deciding what makeup will complement it can be a confusing task—and if you're not excited to wear the color, it can be slightly terrifying. Thankfully, this week's Golden Globes offered fresh inspiration, with a handful of actresses wearing gowns in favorite wedding colors. Here are the makeup shades that were paired with each.
Dress color: Pink
Makeup to try: Non-matching pink lipstick like Gwyneth Paltrow's
Rather than match Paltrow's bubble-gum-pink gown, makeup artist Leslie Lopez opted for lipstick in a slightly different pink, to avoid a dated matchy-matchy effect. (The exact shade shown here goes on sale in March: Dior Rouge Dior Brillant Lipshine in Swan #263.)
On the eyes, stay soft and sheer. "I didn't want to overdo it on the eyes, so I used a sheer layer of the silver shade in the beautiful Dior Versailles palette, which was perfect," says Lopez. Don't forget a little bronzer if you feel like a very pink dress is washing out your complexion.
Dress color: Purple
Makeup to try: Jewel-box eyes and lips like Lupita Nyong'o's
With a purple dress, you could try the same pink-and-sheer-silver palette seen above on Gwyneth Paltrow—always a safe and flattering option when you're wearing pastel. Or, if your personality (and the wedding's vibe) beg for something bolder, add glints of feminine jewel tones. On Nyong'o, makeup artist Nick Barose added a contrasting fuchsia lip (Lancome Color Design Lipcolor in Hit List) and dusted her eyelids with twinkling, vivid blue and violet from the Lancome Bright Eyes Color Design 5-Pan Eyeshadow Palette in Jacaranda Bloom. If your skin is pale, try applying the colors in a lighter, more sheer way to avoid going overboard.
Dress color: Yellow
Makeup to try: An orange-red lip like Leslie Mann's
Whether you're wearing soft yellow or a canary hue, red lips are always a beautiful option, adding gorgeous, classic juxtaposition. Going more orange, like Mann did, adds a modern twist and even more pop/personality. Makeup artist Jillian Dempsey used Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick in Marigold paired with warm coral blush.
For neutral definition on the eyes, she began with a taupe base (Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Eye Shadow in Truffle) and used a darker tone (Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Eyeshadow in Spice) in the crease, blending it out and up to contour the shape of the eye. "Also apply this color underneath the lower lash line to darken the look," she suggests.
Dress color: Blue
Makeup to try: Warm bronze and apricot tones like Amy Adams'
When you're wearing cool blue, try going in the opposite direction with your makeup tones, suggests makeup artist Stephen Sollitto, who opted against using steely blues to match Adams' Golden Globes gown. Instead, he added bronze smoky eyes and warm apricot cheeks and lips.
After applying buttercream-color shadow all over as a neutral canvas, he used the bronze color from the Chanel Quadra Eyeshadow in Mystic Eyes on the almond shape of the eye and in the crease. After lining eyes in dark brown, he smudged in a bit of copper eyeshadow for a touch of drama, and on the bottom lash line, smudged on some of the bronze shadow.
Will you be wearing a bright bridesmaid dress soon, or have you ever? What makeup will you/did you choose?