THE BROWN SMOKEY EYE

If you’ve glued your eyes to the hallowed Fashion Week runways of New York, London, and Milan over the past month, I’m sure a few iconic makeup looks have caught your eye. Out of the many gorgeous ones we’ve seen, the brown smokey eye is probably one of the more wearable ones. We’ll always love a good graphic eyeliner or metallic lid for a night out, but the brown smokey eye will be your best friend for a more toned-down and timeless look. Think of it as the warmer version of the gray-toned smokey eye you’re most accustomed to seeing, focusing less on the smudged eyeliner effect and more on creating the perfect bronzed lid.

“Think of it as the warmer version of the gray-toned smokey eye you’re most accustomed to seeing”

Whether you’re a makeup connoisseur or an avid beginner and learner, the brown smokey eye is as easy to achieve as it is wearable. Let’s start with the basics: the two main tools you’ll need are: 1) black or brown eyeliner, I prefer a pencil when attempting this look and 2) two of your favorite warm-toned eyeshadows that will be blended across the lid and drawn just beneath the waterline. When deciding on the eyeshadows I’d like to use, I always find myself drawn to brown shades with a copper undertone rather than something cooler-toned. The Brown Smokey Eye pairs incredibly well with a feathered brow to frame your gorgeous eyes and give the whole look more dimension.

Need more inspiration? Look no further than the brown smokey-eyed queen: EmRata (Emily Ratajowski). The makeup artist behind many of her signature smokey looks has been celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta. When she attended the Balenciaga show at Paris Hot Couture Week in July, she once again made headlines while sporting the look. While Ta didn’t post a tutorial on achieving the perfect smoky eye look on Instagram, he shared that he created the look with black eyeliner that appears to have been blended upwards and outwards. It seems the British model and actress rocks this look regularly, often leaning into her reputation as a bronzed beauty by pairing the eyeshadow look with an ultra-nude lip, bold brows, and just a hint of highlighter on her cheekbones and the tip of the nose.

We plan on wearing the brown smokey eye this season. If you are also trying it this fall, share your looks with us by tagging @vanity.stories on Instagram. We can’t wait to see how well you pull it off!