Widely recognized as one of the most influential makeup artists of our time—beloved for avant-garde looks and for lessons on self-expression—Pat McGrath has once again proven that fashion and beauty are forever intertwined. Between overseeing the makeup for houses like Coach, Anna Sui, and Khaite this New York Fashion Week and glamming celebrities like Madonna and Naomi Campbell, McGrath carved out time to dip her toes back in the world of design. Unlike her collaboration with Nicolas Ghesquière and Louis Vuitton, the focus was jewelry this time, where she put her love for jewel tones on full display.

Yesterday, Pandora revealed McGrath's 17-piece collection of charms and rings in vivid colors, and pieces poised to remain on at all times and become an extension of self. In celebration of the collection launching on October 8th, we caught up with the mother of makeup about her personal style, the similarities between beauty and design, and how she fell in love with her chosen art form.

What's your star sign, and do you relate?

"I'm a Gemini. I do believe I share many of the characteristics, but I feel like I'm adaptable and thrive in all different challenges and situations. I'm a communicator in my work and enjoy engaging with people and with my community. I'm endlessly curious, and I'm always looking to explore new ideas and new creative adventures."

What three words best describe how you're feeling right now?

"It's way more than three words. We've got about five hundred people that we're doing makeup for tomorrow, so I've been thinking about them."

What color is your aura?

"Jewel tones at the moment. I'm feeling like a red at the moment, but I also often feel a bit of purple. Maybe that's the Gemini in me, two sides and two colors. Red and purple are also two of the most amazing colors within the new Pandora collection."

Photo: Pandora
Photo: Pandora

How would you describe your Pandora collection in three words?

"Playful, powerful, and personal. The collection is playful in its color and symbolism, powerful in the way it encourages you to express yourself, and personal because each piece will hold its own meaning for the person wearing it."

How is your love of beauty reflected through your Pandora collection?

"It is reflected in this collection through the color, texture, symbolism, and, to me, most importantly, the self-expression. Beauty is about transformation and having fun with who you want to be. I wanted the jewelry to capture that same sense of creativity and freedom, giving people the opportunity to experiment and make each piece their own. But also, I would say just the shine, the texture, the sparkle, the richness, the play with the paints, the chromes, and everything."

Photo: Courtesy of Pandora

How does this collection reflect your own personal style?

"I love richness, drama, and unexpected combinations. Jewelry, in a way, has always been part of that. I have my lovely bracelets that I've worn for 25 years. They're part of me, and I love to stack and collect them, and they remind me of great moments in my life, but I don't really believe in having one style. One day you might want one extraordinary piece, and the next day you might want to pile all the jewelry on. I love the freedom to change. That's what I love about jewelry. It kind of reminds me of makeup: one day you can wear minimal makeup, and one day you can wear maximal makeup."

Are there similarities between makeup and design?

"It was fascinating because I discovered how similar the languages really are, but instead of painting with pigments, we were working with enamels, stones, and metals. I was obsessing over how the same things were important: saturation, texture, dimension, and especially light. We asked questions like 'How does it move in the light?' and 'How does it feel against the skin?' It really reminded me a lot of makeup, and it was incredible to see the icons of my beauty universe become tangible and eternal."

What's your favorite memory from New York Fashion Week?

"The entirety of fashion month is always so extraordinary; it's impossible to pick one. I enjoy all the fashion weeks around the world that I've taken part in for the last thirty years. What I love about fashion month, aside from creating new ideas and being around the most creative people from all over the world, is that it always feels like a great reunion."

When did you know you loved makeup?

"I think when I was about six years old. It probably came from watching my mother wear makeup for the first time. Makeup always does remind me of the ultimate toy, in a way. I watched members of my family put on makeup and learned that there is something so beautiful about all aspects of makeup and beauty. I remember sneaking to my mother's table, being very naughty, and trying to grab that makeup for myself."

What are you manifesting for the rest of 2026?

"Happiness, lots of creativity, and spending time with lots of incredible positive people."