Red eyes denote many things: tiredness, eye infections and zombie-like creatures to name a few.

While none of these provide an easy segue to one of the most surprising looks this season, they do show how curious and divisive this trend truly is. Take Gareth Pugh s/s 2013 (second picture above) as an example. In their crimson guise, the models seem infinitely more powerful than a mere smoky eye or red lip could convey alone. Make-up artist Alex Box bathed the eyes in scarlet red, using a similar shade on lips for the most ostensibly goth look we’ve seen in seasons. This isn’t something you casually partake in, you either apply your Crayola-esque red with intent or leave it alone – until All Hallows’ Eve, that is.

Anita Bhagwandas Stylist’s Beauty and Features writer says:

Samantha Flowers Stylist’s Beauty Editor says:

Verdict

It’s an acquired taste, granted. But there are several things that everyone can take away from this polarising trend. Firstly, the old rules of wearing a bold lip and eye together have been obliterated; just keep the tones similar. Secondly, using an unusual colour on your eyes pays dividends (try burnt orange instead of red for a softer finish). And finally, using red as the base shade for a smoky eye is another tool to add to your eye repertoire. Now go forth to the dark side.

With thanks to boothnation.com