Trends: You're joking, right?

Top Shop wedges by Unique, £130

Whilst shuffling, somewhat bewildered, through the astonishing number of 6-inch wedges on display in Selfridges Shoe Gallery the other day it occurred to me that sometimes makeup trends can be just as (seemingly) impossible to wear. Not that I think this season's trend for wedge platforms isn’t fabulous; vertiginous wooden blocks, with neon-bright leather straps, designed to elongate the legs and make feet and ankles look impossibly slender. Stunning works of art they may be but the fact is they are nigh impossible to stand up in let alone walk in.

Whilst strapping a pair on 'for a laugh' in the Top Shop bit, I asked the assistant who was lolling nearby, "How long do you think this trend for über-platforms is going to last? I mean, I’m not old or anything. Ha, I’m only 32!" <nervous laugher> "but seriously, how does anyone walk in these?!"

To which my much younger blonde beauty replied "A glass of wine helps". 

Ah ha.

Take the current S/S stretching into A/W 2011 trend for red eye shadow, as seen at Narciso Rodriguez, Carolina Herrera, Alexander Wang, YSL, Chanel, D&G....(I could go on). Basically, RED is BIG NEWS. 

Carolina Herrera Beauty, Spring 2011

But is red eye shadow wearable off the catwalk?

Much is being debated online about the way to wear red. I'll sum up: it looks better on the young (e.g. 25 and under). If you're going to wear it, don't be frugal. Make a statement.

Another way to wear red this year is blended into the lower lash line with a deeper brown swept across the lid. Coppery reds work best and be careful not to shade too far down under the eye.

Rhianna is someone who can pull off just about any look but the combination of red eye shadow and tapered lashes here is clearly on trend and alluring (if slightly scary).

Rhianna rocks red

A huge trend from last year which continues to influence 2011 is the orange lip.

Prada Spring/Summer 2010

I most vividly remember seeing this for the first time in the The Prada Sunglasses campaign; the dynamism between the polished acrylic transparent frames and high-lacquered tangerine lips. Orange lips felt instantly brave, now, and boy did I want to try it. 

So how do you decide if a trend is wearable?

There are two frustrations for the classicists amongst us when it comes to makeup trends. One is that it is sometimes difficult to tell which of the trends will last beyond a season (you finally get round to buying a bright orange lipstick only to discover neon pink is the colour of the moment). Secondly, some makeup trends are not necessarily designed to work on their own. They are carefully considered, extensions of a fashion collection, engineered to accentuate an entire look.

For me, the pleasure to be gained is in giving a nod to, rather than diving head-first into a makeup trend. Flirt a little with a neon pink lip but keep the rest of the face pared back. Swap your trusty mink eye shadow for a sweep of gold. Red eye shadow may be a stretch too far but how will you know unless you try it?