Purple eyeshadow has moved from the Fall/Winter 2026 runways of Chanel, Balenciaga, Carolina Herrera, and Saint Laurent to red carpets and celebrity makeup looks this fall. Bazaar editors first spotted the shade at those shows, in iterations from plum and lilac to amethyst, finished smoky, shimmery, or monochromatic.

The trend has already surfaced at award shows like the Oscars and Grammys this spring. Zendaya, Cardi B, and Zara Larsson have carried it into fall, in line with the catwalk inspiration.

Why are softer purples winning?

"I'm really loving the softer, more muted variations of purple right now, especially dusty lavender, cool-toned mauve, and rich plum," celebrity makeup artist Ash K Holm told Bazaar. "There's something so sophisticated about these shades because they give the eyes a beautiful wash of color without feeling overpowering."

For fall, Holm mixes tones to build depth. "I love using a softer mauve through the crease and adding a deeper plum along the lash line to create definition," she says. "It's a beautiful way to incorporate color while still keeping the makeup elevated and wearable."

Isn't purple wrong for fall?

The assumption that neutral browns and taupes suit the season better than gemstone tones does not hold, according to New York City-based professional makeup artist Jonathan Logan.

"I just think overall, fun makeup in general is back, which is really exciting," he says. "During the fall, we gravitate toward a vampy, darker vibe, which purple definitely falls into. People want to make statements with their makeup again, and purple is such a beautiful color to do that with."

The shade suits a wide range of skin tones and eye colors. It also scales across the day: softer for daytime, built up to a sultrier, smokier finish for evening.

How do you wear it without rules?

Neither artist sets hard-and-fast rules for recreating the look at home; cohesion depends on the purple shade chosen.

Holm balances the rest of the face around the eyes. "I love the idea of pairing a soft lavender eye with a fresh pink blush or even a beautiful rosy lip," she says. "If I'm creating a more dramatic, smoky plum eye, I might keep the cheeks and lips a little softer to let the eyes remain the focal point. But that doesn't mean you have to wear a nude lip!"

Logan pushes the pairing further: "I love using a red lip with a purple eye look, as they're very complementary on the color wheel."

Both artists frame the trend as a signal that statement makeup is back. "I'm a huge believer that makeup should be about self-expression, and there really aren't any rules when it comes to color," Holm says. "It's all about creating balance and making sure the different elements of your makeup complement one another."

Meet the experts:

• Ash K Holm — celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Lindsay Lohan, Penelope Cruz, and Khloé Kardashian.
• Jonathan Logan — professional makeup artist based in New York City.

With designers, celebrities, and working artists aligned on the shade, purple eyeshadow looks set to define statement eye makeup through the fall season.