In the early Noughties, wearing a fully rimmed black liner around your eyes was ‘it’. Smudged, cool, lived-in peepers that came with a shrug of the shoulders in a ‘whatever’ vibe. Fast-forward to the Kate Middleton era (before she became The Duchess of Cambridge) and eyeliner took on a chicer, more reserved guise. It was applied with precision and skill and jet black was replaced with taupe shades for a softer finish.
In 2025, the pendulum is swinging back again and eyeliner is having another revival. Celebrities from Keira Knightley, Elizabeth Debicki and Nicola Coughlan are all trying it out, but it’s how Lesley Manville works the look that we’re most excited about.
She’s doubled up on eyeliner but in a very clever way, to ensure that the liner on her bottom lash line isn’t too heavy or ageing. You’ll notice that the liner used in the lower waterline is a bronzy-brown shade, in contrast to the denser black liner used on her top lash line. This creates an ‘open-eyed’ effect, to really elongate her eyes. Paired with a red lip, the complete look appears modern and cool.
The key to getting this look right is the pencil you use. Look for a smudgy, soft pencil that has a high amount of pigment and will glide on easily. Trinny London’s Line2Define, £24, comes in flattering, slightly shimmery shades and lasts. Then there’s the already iconic Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner, £32, which comes in a host of earthy, neutral tones.
Make sure you sharpen pencils regularly, for a fine-tipped nib. Starting with the top eyelid, using a ‘connect-the-dots’ method, line the eye in tiny, short strokes. Then blend out with a cotton bud. For the lower waterline, gently pull down the bottom lid and apply eyeliner in a similar way to the top lid – in gentle, short lines. For a smokier finish, like Lesley’s, apply below the lash line, too, and smudge outwards.
