Fashion and beauty trends are changing at a remarkable pace, with celebrity moments, viral videos and creator-led content influencing what people should wear next. Something that catches the eye on a runway, at a global sporting event or on a celebrity soon finds its way into everyday wardrobes, makeup routines and salon appointments. While some trends revisit styles, others introduce fresh ideas. Bengaluru’s fashion and beauty experts say today’s trends are about more than keeping up with what’s popular. People are choosing looks that suit their personalities, lifestyles and comfort levels, while also experimenting with new aesthetics. From makeup to fashion and nails, professionals and creators share why these trends have captured attention, and the simple styling and beauty tips that can help you give them your own twist.
From Katseye’s Lara to Tyla and Sza, the edgy ‘baddie’ aesthetic has become a defining social media look, with sculpted makeup, statement outfits and confident styling, with inclusion of Indian elements like bindi, golden-silver accessories like maang tikka, making their way into everyday fashion and beauty. Fashion content creator Gowri Parvathy believes there is no single formula to getting the look right. “Everyone has their own version of a baddie look,” she says. Her tip is to use the trend as an inspiration. “Don’t copy someone else’s look head to toe. Just take the parts you actually like and make them your own.” Parvathy suggests mixing trend-led pieces with clothes you would genuinely wear, and doing the same with makeup. She also saves looks on Pinterest and Instagram, taking bits and pieces from different creators. When it comes to Lara, Gowri says she ‘made it feel effortless instead of looking like she was trying too hard’.
Frosted lips are having a moment, but the Y2K revival comes with a softer, more wearable update. Glossy sheens and subtle shimmer are replacing the intensely metallic finishes of the 1990s and early 2000s, with creators pairing them with minimal makeup and deeper lip liners for definition. Content creator Krisha Advani also sees the trend as an easy way to experiment without going full Y2K. “Instead of the super metallic, icy finish we saw in the early 2000s, today’s versions are softer. They have a glossy sheen, subtle shimmer and pair really well with natural makeup,” she says.
Her everyday lip tip is to prioritise hydration before adding shine. Her tip is to keep the rest of the makeup fresh and minimal, while using a deeper lip liner to give a frosty gloss more definition. She also recommends prioritising hydration and layering a glossier balm when dressing up. “Lining my lips with a slightly deeper lip liner and blending it with a gloss, it gives my lips more dimension and works with almost any look,” she shares.
Rosy cheeks, a flushed nose and skin that looks like you just stepped in from the cold. The ‘I’m Cold’ makeup trend is bringing a frost-kissed finish to beauty feeds. Inspired by winter frostbite, the look keeps the base fresh while adding colour and glow in all the right places. Bridal makeup artist Himabindu Pradeep says it can be recreated without a long list of products. “For Indian skin tones, a berry-toned blush and a warm-toned highlighter will give better results as compared to cool tones used in the western world. To make this last longer, it can be set with dewy setting spray, which is hydrating at the same time. It can be topped up throughout the day, if required,” she shares.
For a quick recreation, Pradeep suggests using concealer and setting powder for the base, then adding blush across the cheeks and nose for that frosty flush. Highlighter brings in the glow, while the same blush can double up as lipstick. Finish with well-coated lashes for a polished look.
Move over elaborate extensions, nails are getting a more polished, nicer makeover. The ‘luxury aesthetic’ favours sheer nudes, milky whites, soft pinks and glossy finishes, often on natural-length nails. Venessa Dsouza, salon consultant at Toni&Guy, Bellandur, says clients are increasingly choosing understated manicures that work with different outfits and lifestyles. “I describe the luxury aesthetic as ‘your nails, but vastly elevated.’ It is an illusion of effortless perfection, though it actually requires incredible technical precision from a nail artist,” she opines. For first-timers, Dsouza recommends choosing a sheer shade that complements their undertone and opting for shapes such as rounded, squoval or short almond. At home, her simplest tip is to apply cuticle oil every night and wear gloves while doing household chores. “The luxury look loses its magic the moment the skin around it looks dry,” she cautions.
Anyone who has watched Me Before You probably remembers the bumblebee socks. They had a character of their own. Today, those knee-length and long socks are everywhere, returning as statement socks, proving that even the smallest accessory can make the biggest impact. With pop stars like Sabrina Carpenter and Zendaya embracing playful, feminine styling, socks have become an integral part of the Y2K revival.
According to Lee Ann Sarah George, associate designer, the trend is being driven by a new generation of pop culture icons. “Remember when Ariana Grande was a big thing, and people started wearing knee-high socks? We’re seeing something similar now with Sabrina Carpenter and this whole new wave of pop stars. Her tiny bodysuits and styling have made socks feel like an intentional fashion statement, and that’s been a driving force behind the trend,” she says. Rather than leaning into a preppy or sporty aesthetic, George believes the look is rooted in Y2K nostalgia, as she adds, “I’ve seen people style longer socks with boots, letting just the edges peek out, and matching the sock colour to their bra or another accessory. It’s more Y2K and tennis-inspired than preppy or sporty.”