What happens backstage before a model walks out, and who decides it.
By Shreya S · Last reviewed 15 November 2026
Who decides the beauty look?
The designer, a lead makeup artist and a lead hairstylist, often with the show’s stylist. A few days before the show they hold a “test” on one or two models, trying ideas against the clothes until the look supports the collection rather than competing with it. The result is drawn up as a face chart so every artist can copy it exactly.
What is backstage like?
Crowded and fast. Teams of assistants work on dozens of models in a few hours, and models often arrive late from another show. Hair, makeup and nails happen at once, with photographers and press squeezing in between. It is part of how a fashion show is made.
Who are the star hairstylists?
Guido Palau, behind decades of Prada, Versace and Calvin Klein; Sam McKnight, known for his long work with Chanel and for cutting Princess Diana’s hair; Eugene Souleiman, known for sculptural, experimental hair; and Orlando Pita in New York. Their names appear in show notes alongside the designer’s.
Do runway looks become trends?
Often. Bleached brows, wet-look hair, graphic liner and “glass skin” have all moved from catwalks into beauty counters. Pat McGrath’s porcelain faces at Maison Margiela in 2024 sent people searching for how to copy them within hours. See the great makeup artists.
Read on Ayerhs: We Need More Fantasy in Fashion · Iconic Makeup Looks by Pat McGrath for Dior