The Grammy-winning artist showcases gradient glam and cherry cola curls at Dior’s menswear presentation
When SZA appeared at the Dior menswear fall 2026 ready-to-wear show during Paris Men’s Fashion Week on Wednesday, all eyes were on her striking beauty look. Seated front row inside the Musée Rodin alongside Robert Pattinson and Mia Goth, the 36-year-old Grammy winner once again proved why she remains a defining force in fashion, beauty, and modern celebrity style on the global fashion stage today.
The singer, born Solána Imani Rowe, showcased a meticulously crafted gradient lip that defied conventional makeup application. Her beauty moment featured layers of complementary berry tones: a deep rose liner forming the foundation, bubblegum pink lipstick filling the center, and a glossy topcoat adding dimension. The technique involved dragging the dark liner inward, creating a seamless blend with the lighter pink core for an ombré effect that appeared both sophisticated and youthful.
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The Art of Gradient Lips
This multi-tonal approach to lip color has emerged as a signature element in SZA’s beauty repertoire. The gradient technique creates visual depth and makes lips appear fuller without overlining or artificial enhancement. By starting with a darker perimeter and gradually lightening toward the center, the look achieves a three-dimensional quality that photographs exceptionally well under bright fashion week lighting.
The berry-toned combination perfectly complemented her overall aesthetic, standing out beneath cascading cherry cola curls that partially obscured her face from photographers. This strategic hairstyling choice added an element of mystery to her appearance while maintaining the focus on her statement-making mouth.
Behind the Glam
Celebrity makeup artist Deanna Paley has served as the creative force behind many of SZA’s most memorable beauty moments. Paley orchestrated the singer’s fiery glam during her 2025 Super Bowl performance and crafted every on-stage look throughout The Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar. Her artistic signature typically involves pairing stark lip liner with softer lipstick shades on the “Kill Bill” vocalist, though confirmation remains pending regarding her involvement in this particular Paris appearance.
Hair stylist Devante Turnbull confirmed his responsibility for the cherry cola curls that framed SZA‘s face at the Dior presentation. This collaboration continues a productive partnership between artist and stylist, with Turnbull previously creating her voluminous black waves at Tuesday’s Louis Vuitton Menswear fall 2026 show.
SZA’s Paris Fashion Week Journey
The Dior appearance marked SZA’s second major fashion moment in consecutive days. At the Louis Vuitton show just 24 hours earlier, she embraced an equally bold aesthetic combining striped pants, white Vans sneakers, neon orange eye shadow, and another iteration of her preferred gradient lip technique. That look featured similar lip contouring with dark liner defining the edges and a softer rose hue filling the center, establishing a consistent beauty theme across her Paris appearances.
Setting Beauty Trends
The singer’s commitment to experimental makeup approaches resonates beyond red carpets and runway shows. Her willingness to embrace unconventional color combinations and application techniques has positioned her as a beauty innovator within the entertainment industry. The gradient lip method she favors requires precision and understanding of color theory, transforming a simple makeup application into an artistic statement.
Fashion weeks in major cities serve as laboratories for beauty experimentation, where celebrities and models showcase cutting-edge looks that often filter into mainstream trends. SZA’s berry lip combination at Dior exemplifies this phenomenon, offering a masterclass in dimensional color application that beauty enthusiasts worldwide will likely attempt to recreate. Her appearance demonstrated that makeup transcends mere enhancement, functioning as a form of self-expression and artistic communication within fashion’s most exclusive spaces.
Source: WWD
