Smokey Eye Style Report: “What to Wear with Smokey Eyes?”

Smokey eyes look great with almost anything. But there are some looks this season which complement this makeup better than others. This little guide presents to you this knowledge, following  a very thorough (and enjoyable!) research of how celebrities and the world’s most stylish women wear smokey eyes.

If there is one word that best describes the current smokey eye look, then it is: nonchalant. When wearing smokey eye this season don’t look like you are trying too hard. Still, be aware that this season, every little accessory counts. For insights on what those crucial accessories and looks are, just look below.

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Nails. Supposedly a small thing but how influential! Nails these days can send a strong signal of where you are going with your look.

1. Natural looking nails.

A very trendy and safe way to style your hands when wearing smokey eyes: bare looking nails. There are several looks: French manicure, nude nails, silvery-white. Whatever looks natural at first glance. It makes for a light, relaxed and modern look - like you don’t care too much.

Most Hollywood celebrities now complement smokey eyes with natural looking nails. It exudes pureness which refreshes and balances the intense eye.

2. Black or “almost black” nails.

On the other spectrum is the black or “almost black” nail varnish. It’s supposed to be last year’s trend but obviously is still holding on strong. It says: “I might be wearing a $5 000 gown but I still like to rock!”. Usually nails are not so long in this version.

In this realm we also find several “almost black” shades which might be slightly less radical but are still tough enough: red black, purple black, green black nail varnish.

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Jewelry. The three main players this season are : earrings, bracelets, rings. And how they rock the smokey eyes if chosen correctly! Tip: Think big.

3. Drop earrings.

Long, narrow, dangling earrings are best worn with a bun that is simple, classy but not too perfect.

At the Topshop opening in New York, Kate Moss wore big, chandelier diamond earrings with diamond bracelets and rings - smaller size. To keep the look from too serious and “adult contemporary”, she opted for a cool black leather jacket and a winged, dark smokey eye.

At Gotham Film Awards in New York, Natalie Portman wore long, black and white drop earrings with round elements and dark, shimmery, smokey eyes. The geometry-inspired earrings balanced out a midnight blue/dark green sequined minidress. The hair was a bun with a side parting and some loose strands to relax the look.

4.  Hoop earrings.

Nobody does big round earrings like Jennifer Lopez. She often completes her smokey eyes with these earrings. She looked great at American Music Awards. Her black, black smokey eyes were offset by the rest in white - white dress, white shoes, big white earrings. The rest of jewelry: some bracelets and rings but no necklace.

I saw a different solution on the delicate Cat Deeley, She wore huge, old gold hoop earrings which matched her soft gold-brown smokey eye and golden hair pulled up in a rich bun. The dress was ocean blue and one shoulder.

Tip: When wearing statement earrings, skip necklace and rather accent your wrists and hands with bracelet/cuff/rings.

5.  A single chunky ring.

A big cocktail ring is very “in” this season. It adds toughness and control.

There was a look by Victoria Beckham when she wore a huge sapphire ring that just slightly matched the light blue in her smokey eyes. So the coordination was not matchy-matchy (the shades of blue were different), but just enough to weave the common thread. The rest was in black, including nails.

At the “Inglourious Basterds” premiere in LA, Angelina Jolie chose jewelry with restraint. She wore just two things: medium size hoop earrings and a very massive, clean cocktail ring. All in solid gold and very chunky. The way it accessorised the beautiful dark smokey eye and a strapless, knee length, leather dress was sensational.

Lily Allen at GQ Awards in London wore a huge, round, morose black cocktail ring, which added credibility to her seriously sheer dress and dark smokey eyes. 

Tip: Let the big cocktail ring play the lead role and don’t crowd it out with other accessories.

6. Strong cuff/ large bracelet.

Dress up your wrist in a picturesque, elaborate and large piece. It could be a bracelet, a cuff or even a very large watch.

A real expert in wearing fantastic bracelets this season is Diane Kruger. She also does brilliant smokey eyes and knows how to combine the two. She either chooses one larger bracelet or an interesting arrangement of bangles.

Recently, Marion Cotillard wore a silver mini dress, dark red pumps with sequin texture and no jewelry; just a chunky silver/metal watch. She substituted the very trendy cuff with a watch - with a similar but fresh effect.

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Belts are these days so intricate they might be taken for jewelry. Especially hot this season is the belt embellished with sequins or rhinestones and a studded, rock and roll belt.

7. Studded, rock and roll belt.

It can make almost any outfit trendy with little effort and rocks a smokey eye just right.

Kate Moss wore it at British Fashion Awards with a seriously luxurious chiffon dress, smoking-style jacket, black opaque tights and extra strong smokey eyes for a look that creatively combined textures and styles.

Mary Kate Olsen put together a wide, heavy metal-inspired belt, studded high heel sandals and a black smokey eye for a totally trendy look.

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Shoes. For a stylish foot, there must be something happening with the shoe. Complicated pattern or construction. Either elaborate straps or patterns. Strange shape. Something. Simple just does not cut it.

8. Gladiator  sandals

A more alluring name of that shoe is: cage sandals. It plays quite a big role on the red carpet these days.

Black cage sandals look very sophisticated with a black dress and smokey eyes - it is The Way to wear a black dress today.

Angelina Jolie accessorised her leather strapless dress with them. And Marion Cotillard - her one shoulder, belted mini dress.  

Tip: For a slightly similar look  but  better suited for colder climate, opt for ankle boots.

9. High heels with texture.

If you crave a classic heel, make a statement with texture. Sequined, snakeskin, velvet, metallic, satin, studded with rhinestones. And remember that the shape is slightly platform-y still, with an accented curve of the sole.

Diane Kruger wore sparkling, midnight blue pumps for the Sydney premiere of “Inglourious Basterds” with a red, one shoulder minidress.

And Marion Cotillard mixed dark, wine-red, sparkly heels with a silver mini dress.

Both stylish actresses completed their modern looks with very dark, espresso brown smokey eyes.

10. Black leather platform high heels.

If you don’t want all that glitter and straps, there are the black platform high heels. Quite simple but very effective.

Kate Moss often wears them with her smokey eyes, usually with black matte opaque tights. For example, at one of the Topshop parties in  New York, she wore a summery short dress in muted colours with opaque tights and black and bronze smokey eyes. Pulled together with a masculine evening jacket and black platform pumps.

Tip: To create more “Vavoom!” with platform pumps choose them in a more exaggerated platform shape or in patent leather - or both!

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Dress. This season it spans from mini to floor length, from white to very bright. The choice and freedom are quite dizzying. But three trends that are definitely on trend are: sequins, bright, jewel colours and one shoulder.

11. Sequined dress.

If you have one evening dress this winter, make sure it’s a sequined dress. It works beautifully with smokey eyes and creates many matching possibilities, thanks to its glittery texture. Usually the trendy sequined dress is quite short.

I already mentioned Natalie Portman’s beautiful midnight navy/dark green sequined dress when describing her drop earrings. It was short and sleeveless.

Then there were golden sequined dresses, inspired by the sixties, from Nicole Richie and from Kate Walsh, who wore it at People’s Awards.

Eva Longoria Parker makes her dark smokey eyes even more tantalizing by wearing a cobalt blue or golden sequined dress.

12. Neon dress.

If sequin is too much, just go for a very bright dress.

Sarah Jessica Parker wore a very tight, short, strapless fuchsia dress at the London premiere of “Have You Heard About The Morgans?”. The smokey eye was grey, her necklace was a snake and she looked hot.

Natalie Portman was a rainbow of colours and shimmers at the New York premiere of her film “Brothers”: dark sapphire mini dress, green metallic belt, very violet satin pumps, bright yellow clutch. And an amazing, calm brown smokey eye, very simple bun and no jewelry.

I saw a picture of Ashley Olsen at a Golden Globes after-party. She wore a very textured and full cobalt blue minidress in a shiny fabric plus decorated, sparkling high heels. She added slightly messy hair and dark smokey eyes.    

Tip: When going for a neon dress  avoid bright colour in makeup.

13. One shoulder dress.

This must be the trendiest thing this season for evening. Everybody wears it, wore it or will be wearing it soon.

Marion Cotillard looked especially stylish at Palms Springs film festival wearing all black: a one shoulder, belted mini dress, black clutch, cage sandals and a black, shiny cuff.

Tip: Skip necklace when wearing a one shoulder dress and opt for a massive cuff or bracelet, usually worn on the sleeveless arm.

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Knitwear. Smokey eye looks great with big, luxurious knitwear. The relaxed, fluid texture and feel of knitwear complements fantastically a tougher eye.

14. Hight turtleneck.

A high neck lends fantastic focus to the eye. Think Michael Kors Autumn/ Winter 2010 catwalk. Accessorise the sweater with a tough cuff or a chunky watch. Slick your hair back. Do your eye. Be gorgeous.

15. Oversize cardigan.

If you have a big, big cardigan be happy.

Layer it with other knitwear. Or, if it’s thick, long and chunky, wear it as a coat or a jacket.  

Streamline your legs for it with leggings or dark skinny jeans. And suede boots.

Tip: Wearing a studded leather belt over your big cardigan is hot.

16. Big scarf.

On a similar note: wrap up in a gorgeous scarf. The texture around your neck will create a great backdrop for smokey eyes and will make it more accessible. Or pull on a cowl neck tube. It is basically like a loose turtleneck but without a sweater at the end of it.

Tip: A thick scarf around your neck is good place to add colour to the face.

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Coat and jacket. Apart from a big cardigan which this season doubles up as a coat, wear fur or fur elements to take the smokey eye outside, creating a very “now” look.

17. Fur jacket.

A short fur jacket worn over leggings or skinny jeans, is very now and very smokey eye. To make it more casual wear a beanie hat or a knitted beret and motorcycle-inspired boots.  

18. Fur vest.

If weather allows, a fur vest is even better. It is more difficult to pin down, more unpredictable. A bit sporty but with just enough of Anna Karenina allure.

Tip: Even just a touch of fur at the collar adds to the look.

19. Leather jacket.

A classic that is always great - and even greater with smokey eyes.

Wear it Paris-style (Paris, as in France) - a motorcycle perfecto jacket with zips. Over big sweater, tight black leggings and some clever ankle boots.

Or opt for a smaller, more fitted cut.

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Legware. Keep it lean and streamlined to accent the stylish boots and shoes.

20. Leggings.

An absolute must. They look great with everything. The styles are many: standard, stretchy fabric ones, leather or liquid (plastic looking). Will modernize any outfit you have.

21. Grey, tight jeans.

It’s a perfect alternative, if you find leggings a bit too revealing. All the way skinny cut is a must and will make them look good, tucked in your motorcycle boots.

22. Black opaque tights.

Now is the time to add black opaque tights to the “must have” list. They present lots of possibilities for this season.

At a New Year party in Las Vegas, Nicole Richie created a great smokey eye look, reminiscent of the sixties, when she wore them with black platform high heels and a golden, sequined minidress/tunic.

Tip:  When wearing black, black opaque tights and black, black pumps, watch out for the white lining of the shoes. The white can be very visible and sabotage your look, especially as you walk or if you like your shoes a bit loose. Needless to say, black lining is the best.