These Stockings From Fashion Week Aren't Stockings—They're Makeup

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If you're looking for the most interesting, fun makeup throughout Fashion Month, you're missing some of the creative cosmetic artistry if you're looking only at the model's faces. While we're loving (and getting lots of inspiration) from the various runway shows and presentations, we've seen so far—New York and London Fashion Weeks are over and Milan is underway—we've never seen anything quite like what the MAC makeup artists did not on the model's faces but on their legs at the Iceberg show.

Body makeup isn't such a strange idea; some of us cover our tattoos for our jobs or use bronzer or shimmer on our legs. But have you ever considered—instead of wearing actual socks or stockings—painting them on with makeup? No? Lead makeup artist Patrick Glatthaar might have you rethinking that.

At the Spring/Summer 2025 Iceberg show, models' shins, calves, and feet got the tromp l'oeil treatment. They complement the collection's pastel and neon hues, makeup artists used MAC Chromacake to create the look of sheer, knee-high hosiery in pink, blue, yellow, orange, and more; MAC global senior artist Vilde Feste tells Allure they mixed it with water to create the illusion of transparency, and backstage footage shows the artists dabbing the makeup on with traditional foam sponges and little detail brushes, even using tape to get a super clean edge.

Some models wore real stockings, but the finished makeup look absolutely fools the eye and looks not only indistinguishable from the real stockings but also incredibly chic.

There's actually historical precedence to painting on stockings. When nylon was needed for World War II, leaving women without their usual hosiery material, they often painted them on, even drawing the seam up the back of the leg.

While Iceberg's makeup stockings may not be as practical as wearing the real thing, they're definitely just as stylish—and they'll never roll down.

More on makeup:

• 13 Cream Bronzers for Seriously Sun-Kissed Skin

• 5 Editors Tested Huda Beauty's New Easy Blur Natural Airbrush Foundation

• 20 Groovy ‘70s Makeup Looks, Updated for 2024

Now watch Kelsey Merritt's 10-Minute Routine:

Originally Appeared on Allure