This time of year, there always seem to be two types of people: those who are desperately clinging onto the final weeks of summer, bronzer and fake tan still in hand, and those who couldn’t be more excited for the cosy season ahead, chocolate tones and kohl liners at the ready. And Olivia Colman, it seems, firmly belongs to the latter group, already taking her hair and makeup a shade darker.
Last night, Olivia lit up the carpet at the premiere for her latest blockbuster film, The Roses — a comedy-drama boasting a star-studded line-up. Alongside Olivia, the cast features the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Kate McKinnon, Allison Janney and Ncuti Gatwa.
Amidst the glittering guest list, it was Olivia’s hair that immediately caught our attention — noticeably darker, leaning into deep, chocolate tones. Her pixie cut was styled to perfection by celebrity hairstylist Marcus Francis, who is also the talent behind Pamela Anderson’s most recent red-carpet looks. Her cropped pixie looked effortlessly chic and subtly sexy — straying away from her usual polished finish in favour of choppy, lightly ruffled layers that created a perfectly undone, tousled effect.
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It’s a hairstyle that is equal parts sophisticated and low-maintenance. As hairstylist Tom Smith explains, the pixie is an ideal choice for anyone seeking an effortless, easy look: ‘Straight to wavy, and fine to medium hair textures will find this look easy to achieve. Finer hair is made to appear far thicker, and thick hair can be cleverly carved into to manage the bulk’ — what’s not to love?
The autumnal shift didn’t stop there either, with a smokey look applied masterfully by MUA Sarah Uslan, who has a glitzy clientele including Mandy Moore and White Lotus’ Michelle Monaghan. Olivia’s makeup started with a radiant, glowing base, gently bronzed to bring a subtle warmth to her face. It was paired with a dusting of a terracotta blush across the apples of her cheeks, creating the effect of a natural flush, matched with a soft terracotta gloss on the lips.
But the true showstopper was her eyes. A generous sweeping of eyeliner, smoked out, deepened the upper lash line and framed her long, fluttering lashes. Then, along the lower lash line, a deep, shimmering brown was smudged out ever-so-slightly for a truly smoky and sultry effect, whilst a subtle touch of highlighter was dusted in the inner corners of her eyes, creating a perfect pop of luminosity.
Of course, no look would be complete without a complementary mani, and Olivia didn’t disappoint — she opted for a playful yet moody black manicure with a striking red accent on her centre nail.
Finally, the ensemble sealed the deal. Olivia looked stunning in a crystal-embellished wool blazer and a matching tailored skirt by London-based designer Huishan Zhang, alongside a pair of Manolo Blahnik mesh polka-dot mary-jane heels — the perfect finishing touch for her dark glam look.
It’s enough to have us convinced, we’re almost ready to dust off our own autumn beauty favourites.
