Pat McGrath's Negative Space Lip Liner for Louis Vuitton Cruise 2025 Is So Good

models with negative space lip liner at the louis vuitton 2025 cruise collection

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 24 May 2024

Whenever Dame Pat McGrath is the lead makeup artist for a runway show, I pay attention. The makeup-artist-turned-brand-founder rarely, if ever, sends models down the catwalk with a minimal look. She turns out artwork.

McGrath's most recent creation is no exception. For the Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2025 show in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday, McGrath ideated an intensely graphic negative space lip liner look emphasizing a man-made cupid’s bow.

A stark contrast to the over-lining or bare-lipped looks from the Spring/Summer circuit, the Louis Vuitton show played into negative space on the lips by using angular lines and deep hues. Lips of all shapes and sizes were redrawn to create a V-shape in the center of the upper lip.

The sharp design was a fusion of Spanish tradition and an edgy aesthetic. This concept was effortlessly brought to life with the help of McGrath’s latest creation for her namesake brand: the Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil, which is available in 12 shades and set to launch on May 31.

“Dramatique is all about inspiring people to get creative with their makeup,” the makeup artist said in a press release shared with Marie Claire. “Today, at Louis Vuitton, we were able to showcase the artistry you can achieve with this product, which combines the opulent pigmentation of lipstick and the versatility and convenience of a pencil.”

Putting Dramatique into action has been a long time coming. The lip liner has been in development for years—and has been secretly tested on celebrities for the past month. McGrath secretly debuted the product at the Met Gala, using it on both Naomi Campbell and Tyla.

model at maison margiela with glass skin — The makeup at the Maison Margiela show went viral, with creators attempting to recreate the glossy look at home.

Emphasizing artistry is a skill set Dame Pat McGrath demonstrates time and again. Case in point: the Maison Margiela Spring/Summer 2024 collection, which received critical acclaim for impeccable beauty artistry. McGrath created porcelain, glass-like skin on the models for the fashion show using a series of peel-off face masks and illuminators.

It was my favorite runway look to date—but today’s Louis Vuitton lip liner is a close second.

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Samantha Holender is the Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. She's constantly tracking the biggest nail and hair trends to pop up in the beauty space, going backstage during fashion weeks, tracking celebrity looks, and constantly talking to celebrity hair stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.

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