I have long been a fan of purple eyeshadow. I truly believe it’s flattering on all skin tones and for all eye colors. So I’m happy to report that purple lids were seen all over the runways for Spring 2008! From the bold lined eyes at Behnaz Sarafpour to the beautiful wash of color at Thakoon, looks of ethereal beauty were all the rage. Whether you’re in the mood for dramatic glamour or are going for a more muted, angelic look, here’s the gorgeous trend broken down step by step.

At Thakoon, eyes were subtly brushed with a lavender hue that swept out toward the cheeks and browbones, creating the stunning look of a water sprite. While the color was subtle, the overall effect was anything but!
To get the look, brush eyes and the upper cheekbones with Sugar Cosmetics Color Stick Cream Eyeshadow in Grape Soda ($14). The formula doesn’t crease even after hours of wear, and it provides just the subtlest hint of color. Since eyes aren’t overly dramatic, lips stand out here. Slick on a coral-hued gloss like Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Almond ($18), but leave it off the corners for that just-bitten look.

Eyes at Behnaz Sarafpour were anything but subtle. An intense mulberry-esque violet was heavily pressed into the upper and lower lashlines to form a gorgeous almond shape. While it might be too much for every day, this would be an absolutely beautiful look for a night out!
To get the look, try DuWop Smoke in Plum Wine ($28). The palette of creamy cake eyeliner and shimmering powder eyeshadow can be used together to create the ultimate smoky eye.

The eyes at Bottega Veneta were definitely this beauty chick’s favorite. Offering up a unique take on the classic cat eye, creamy lavender shadow was brushed to the crease and then winged out at the sides. But what really made this look pop was the long, lush, blacker-than-black lashes — taking it from your average pretty feel to one of complete and utter vivaciousness and glamour.
To get the look, start with a great cream eyeshadow that has intense staying power. NARS Single Cream Eyeshadow in Pearl Beach ($21) is a beautiful, blendable hue that can be built upon until you reach the desired shade of lavender. Finish with a set of false eyelashes, like the False Eyelashes Luxe by Shu Uemura ($20). The criss-crossed design provides added volume, and they’re available in either black or brown for a truly versatile look.

A different tack was taken at Bill Blass, with eyes brushed in a rose-tinged plum and heavily lined in black. Far from being precise, however, the colors bled subtly into each other and out toward the cheeks and brow bones for that fantastic “I-was-out-all-night-and-didn’t-have-time-to-redo-my-makeup-before-work” look. The overall effect is just that gorgeous, subtle whisper of sexiness that every woman tries for!

To get the look, start with the Heatherette Trio 2 Palette by M.A.C ($32.50). Limited-edition shades of Baby Petals, V.I.P and Cassette can be layered to create a gorgeous, rosy-hued rouge hue. Finish with a cream eyeliner like Stila Smudge Pots in Black ($18), which can be used for that slight imprecise hand that really takes this look to the next level!

What would John Galliano be without the fantastical? So much was going on in this look — not only was there vibrant violet shadow up past the eyebrows, but it was accented with vibrant orange, turquoise, a subtle pop of yellow and dramatically long lashes for absolute wonderment. Yes, this is over-the-top. Yes, it’s probably best left to the runway. But if you do want to create the look on your own, here’s how.
The Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box ($36) contains many of the shades you’ll need to make this work. The velvety, pigment-rich shadows are even accompanied by a miniature Eyeshadow Primer Potion to really make them stick! Working from the top down, sweep Fishnet from the inner corners up above the crease and past the eyebrows. Brush Make Up For Ever Flash Color Pot in Orange ($17) over the entire lid for a pop of vibrancy. Next, swipe Turquoise from the Urban Decay palette below the lashline from your inner corners to your outer corners, creating a subtle winged look that connects to the purple hue at both ends. Dab Honey in the inner corners to brighten and open up the eyes. Finish with spider-like false eyelashes like these ones from Sephora ($8), whose spiky graduated strips are accented with glittering rhinestones.

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