As seen on the Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012 runway, the kitten flick is a shorter version of the traditional cat eye. It has the retro appeal of winged black liner without looking too overdone. All this means: it’s your best bet for looking bright-eyed and on trend, be it at the office or out with friends.

From the front, the liner should be barely visible—this is what differentiates it from a full cat eye. The kitten flick should extend just past the natural crease of your eyelid. When viewing it from the side, it almost looks like you’re wearing an amazing set of fluffy false lashes. Dolce & Gabanna have kept the line rather thin, but the kitten flick also works with a bit of volume, like Chanel Couture showed in Spring 2011.

Start by covering your entire eyelid with a neutral shadow. Yes, the kitten flick can accentuate any colour combination, but Dolce & Gabbana’s version with barely-there shadow looks best. Add some depth by applying a second, deeper shade along your lower lash line.

Nars Trio Eyeshadow in “Calanque” ($55, narscosmetics.ca)

Time to flick! You can use a liquid or pencil liner—or both. (Start with the pencil and then polish up your handiwork by retracing it with a liquid liner.) The first step is to draw a guiding line for the winged portion of the kitten flick. Begin at the outer corner of your lashes and draw a line, extending up.

If it feels like you’re going too far up then you’re doing it right: the sharper the angle, the shorter the line will actually look when your eye is open. Before you fill in the rest of the kitten flick, draw the guiding line on your other eye and step back from the mirror to check for symmetry. It’s much easier to remove and start again at this stage if you make a mistake!

Maybelline Master Precise Liner ($10 at drugstores)
L’Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eye Liner ($13 at drugstores)

Now, thicken the line you’ve drawn, extending or “pulling” it across your eyelid as you go. Don’t line your entire eye—when looking straight on, the kitten flick should begin at the centre of your iris. If you used a pencil liner and want a sharper look, now’s the time to retrace with a liquid liner. Add a few coats of mascara and you’re done. Meow!

Have fun! And don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes, just for that perfect flick.

fashionmagazine.com