You can always safely assume that the make-up for the Dior couture show is going to make a statement and this week was no exception. In Galliano’s day the beauty was over-the-top, almost camp with a retro twist (exaggerated cat’s eyes, Kabuki-style arched eyebrows) but since Raf Simons took the helm at the legendary French fashion house, his modern couture has been given extra punch by sporty neon lips and minimalist skin.

For Fall 2013 models were given shimmering lips that appeared to be frosted with gold, metallic pink and bronze dust against a rich burgundy background. The look was a more subtle reworking of the Swarovski crystal-studded mouth that Pat McGrath created for the Spring/Summer couture show. Back in January the lips were balanced by a stark slash of black eyeliner, while for Fall eyes were softer, with a frosting of creamy metallic shadow and nothing more.

While most catwalk make-up is a million miles away from anything we’d dare to recreate in ‘real’ life (see: Swarovski-studded lips), this is a look that translates beautifully, especially for parties on winter nights (what? we’ve almost given up on summer...)

Pick your favourite berry lipstick and add a top with a gold shimmer gloss, or choose a lipstick that already has an iridescent finish. Keep skin velvety, add a subtle metallic shadow to eyelids and a single coat of mascara if you’re not quite brave enough to leave lashes nude, and that’s it – an opulent evening look with an elegant softness.

Click through the gallery to see more backstage beauty images from the Dior Fall 2013 couture show