When holiday RSVPs pile up, let Elsa Hosk's sultry smoked-out eyeliner and shimmered lid inspire your ultimate party look. Here, makeup artist Harold James shares his step-by-step guide to nailing this vintage-meets-modern vibe with ease – and it's easier than you think
Come Christmas, we've got a slew of invitations waiting for our RSVPs with holiday parties aplenty on the horizon. And while we love a good glögg party or News Year's mingle, the inescapable stress of "what do I wear" quickly creeps in, driving us to scroll online shops and in-store shelves for the best festive frocks to don now. And that's before we've even begun considering what to do about our hair and makeup.
Luckily for us, Elsa Hosk is guiding the way, sporting the only party look you'll need to add to your makeup roster this holiday season. Namely, a sultry smoked-out eyeliner paired with a subtle shimmer lid. The man behind the look is celebrity makeup artist Harold James who, beyond beautifying Elsa Hosk's already enviable features, frequently fashions the makeup looks of Kelly Rutherford, Angelina Jolie and Cindy Crawford to name a few.
According to James, the idea behind the look originated with the iconic tuxedo and the black scarf elegantly wrapped around Hosk's head. "Just that morning, I stumbled upon a mesmerizing 1991 Vogue cover featuring Heather Stewart-Whyte, who sported a Sophia Loren-inspired look, complete with a black scarf," he says. "Elsa, our ever-inspiring muse, always brings the most exquisite references to the table. and so we sought to infuse vintage charm with a contemporary edge."
Photo: Elsa Hosk (@hoskelsa)