Anna Sui Serves Up Dreamy Vacation Beauty Inspiration With a Gen Z Twist

“Another day in paradise!” said Pat McGrath with a smile backstage at today’s Anna Sui show inside New York restaurant and nightlife institution Indochine. The legendary hotspot’s banana-leaf wallpaper helped set just the right tropical mise en scène, one that was further brought to life by Sui’s beach-ready clothes, a White Lotus runway soundtrack, and fantasy getaway-ready makeup look dreamed up by McGrath.

“[Anna’s] transporting us somewhere…not necessarily a specific destination, but a place we all want to be,” explained McGrath, who ultimately translated the designer’s vision into statement-making eyes with lids swept in lush sunset hues accented by touches of metallic. In setting the stage, Mother supplied “warm, sun-kissed” skin, then harnessed all the powers of her recently-launched Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Divine Blush, not just applying it on the apples of the cheeks, but “sweeping it backwards” up to the temples and eyelids in bright pink Cherish. From there, lids were layered in a whirl of vivid coral Electric Boom rouge to “add a kiss of color” along with deep fuchsia and coral eyeshadows. A final dash of silver pigment on the center of the lids and inner corners of the eyes added an unexpected pop. On the mouth, a swipe of Lust Lip gloss in warm pink Pale Fire Nectar finished off the look.

© Photo: Hunter Abrams

Hairstylist Garren took the tropical theme and gave it a youthful, Gen Z-influencer twist inspired by Sui’s niece Chase Sui Wonders and her character in HBO Max’s teen drama Generation. Natural texture was enhanced with R+Co Bleu Surreal styling serum and a series of ‘90s-leaning, looped updos and half-ups with a duo of face-framing strands were crafted for that “cool chick effect.” Worn alone or beneath the collection’s print bandanas and side-slung straw hats, the effect was equal parts hip and polished.

From the neon-bright colors to the unfussy updos, this season’s transportive beauty statements may just be a ticket to that far-flung, beachside getaway you’ve been vying for. As Sui put it in her show notes: “When you’re on vacation your only limit is your wildest dreams!”

© Photo: Hunter Abrams