MNL Fashion Week’s opening salvo docked at a seaside escape with Nicolò’s collection Flow State, a personal commentary on designer Nicolo Perez’s own relationship with work and ambition.
The collection unfolded across three chapters, inspired by the Greek mythological figures Sisyphus, Narcissus, and Icarus. “The show progresses from something more structured and utilitarian into something increasingly fluid, playful, and expressive,” Perez says.
The beauty looks followed suit, reflecting exactly what Perez wanted his collection to express: “Bright, optimistic, sensual, and a little escapist. I want it to feel like arriving somewhere by the sea, with sunlight, water, movement, and a sense of freedom.”
The opening beauty looks were filled with side-parted combovers, slicked-back hair, and skin-like base makeup finishes where the complexion is fresh, natural, and glowing.
As the collection moved into Narcissus, more hair looks appeared gelled into waves and wet-look finishes, paired with glossy skin. It felt as though the models had emerged from the sea, their faces still carrying the sheen of water.
And by the final chapter, the beauty looks took flight, giving way to something freer. The makeup warmed up in various shades of peach, gold, and sunset rose. What caught our attention was golden hair appearing on the runway, as if the strands were brushed directly by the sun.
As a whole, Nicolò’s runway show captured how beauty was not entirely about polished perfection; it lay in the ebbs and flows, the movement—ultimately living in the moment. “We live in a culture that celebrates constant productivity and bigger achievements, but flow state asks whether fulfillment can also come from simply being present in the work itself,” Perez explains.
And at the end of the show, the collection, along with its beautiful looks, told a story that felt sunlit and shimmering—like the Mediterranean sea at sunset, capturing the freedom of sailing away.
Post-swim skin
Gabriel Villareal
Gabriel Villareal
Gabriel Villareal
A sheer base, as seen on Nicolò’s show, lets the skin’s natural texture peek through. Coverage stays minimal, keeping the complexion fresh. Strategic high points catch the light for a dewy, glass-like finish. There is no heavy sculpting or matte layering to compete with the skin. Try this as the base of your next makeup look for a more effortless glow. The runway also shows more creative takes, like gold glitter, to add to the lustrous skin effect.
Blush beyond the cheeks
Gabriel Villareal
Gabriel Villareal
Gabriel Villareal
Using warm tones for makeup is an easy no-fail choice, but you don’t have to limit yourself to shades of brown. Play around with warm peach tones and rosy hues that you can use for your eyes, cheeks, and even the brows and jawline. Make sure to blend the colors for a diffused finish. The blurred application keeps the color sheer and wearable. If you’re looking to inject more color into your routine, just build up the sunset-toned palette as you wish.
Hair painted in gold
Gabriel Villareal
Hair strands turn into golden metallic accents. The gilded finish catches the light at every turn. The result? Tantalizing hair strands you will not look away from. If you’re looking for your next hair color and you want your hair to do all the talking, consider honey, golden, and caramel tones with highlights for a similar effect.
Lacquered waves and kiss curls
Gabriel Villareal
Gabriel Villareal
Gabriel Villareal
Hair is brushed into S-waves and combed over for a high-shine impact, made more sculptural with intentional kiss curls that frame the forehead. The ultra-glossy hair texture creates that fresh-out-of-water look. You can easily recreate this hairstyle with gel and a wide-tooth comb to achieve that tousled texture.
Art direction by Mikiyo Ricamora. Photography by Gabriel Villareal.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Post-swim skin” is a sheer, minimal-coverage base that lets natural texture show through, with strategic highlighting for a glass-like, dewy finish—seen on Nicolò’s MNL Fashion Week runway instead of heavy sculpting or matte layering.
Sunset-toned blush can extend from the eyes to the cheeks, brows, and jawline for a diffused wash of color. Blending keeps the peach and rosy hues sheer, as seen in Nicolò’s Flow State beauty looks.
To recreate the gilded hair trend from Nicolò’s runway, opt for honey, golden, or caramel hair color with strategically placed highlights that catch the light for a metallic finish that works best on hair with visible dimension.
Lacquered waves and kiss curls, as styled at Nicolò’s MNL Fashion Week show, are created using gel and a wide-tooth comb, combining S-waves with sculptural curls framing the forehead for a wet-look, high-shine finish.
Nicolò’s Flow State beauty looks moved from structured, slicked-back styles to fluid, wet-look waves, and finally sun-warmed peach and gold tones—mirroring the collection’s three mythological chapters and Perez’s reflection on ambition.
