Adelaide Fashion Week 2026: The Next Generation Behind the Glam

From soft and ethereal to bold and grungy, this year’s runway makeup trends moved away from neutral “quiet luxury” toward lived-in grunge-luxe with a sprinkle of whimsy.

This October, for the second year in a row, The French Beauty Academy made it to the runways of Adelaide Fashion Week, creating looks backstage at two fashion shows in Adelaide. Our French makeup artists included talented graduates and students from our Beauty Therapy Diploma and our makeup artist course in Adelaide. 

First was Cristina Tridente’s couture+love+madness presentation at the Adelaide Festival Theatre, where the glam was a soft, ethereal glow made to let the corsetry, lace and veils speak. 

Then came Mariam Seddiq inside the State Library’s Mortlock Chamber, presented with DDS Diamonds. Here the look turned to modern minimalism: neat hair, luminous skin, a smoky lid and a deep berry lip, echoing the bold, grunge-luxe smoky looks trending since the Gucci Fall 2026 Ready-to-Wear by Demna.  

Lead Make-up Director Krista White demonstrated the look at our Adelaide campus two days before the show, and on Saturday 10 October the models were prepared here before walking just metres from guests.

Let this be a reminder that opportunities at The French aren’t confined to the studio, and that an Adelaide makeup course can take you all the way to the runway