The Chanel and Dior AW14 couture collections were so different from each other although they both referenced the past to inform the future. The other thing they had in common was youthful hair and makeup. Chanel’s wayward ‘eighties boy band’ hairpieces (above and below) stole my attention from the clothes, giving the outfits an energetic attitude alongside equally youth-centric Sharpie-pen eyeliner flicks. (Full disclosure: I had a major backcombing habit in my teens.) (more…)
Chanel is sooo good at dreaming up seductive little beauty treats to reel you in. Example: its recent release of limited edition formats and products for its youthful fragrance, Chance. First there’s a Shimmering Body Cream in Chance (£57 for 200g) that moisturises the skin leaving a veil of iridescent shimmer scented with signature jasmine, patchouli and pink pepper. Then there’s Chance Eau Fraiche Shimmering Touch (£42 for 25g), a fragranced highlighter gel that you dab wherever you want it. Again, it has a bit of shimmer so it’s designed to be applied on shoulders or décolleté or anywhere else you expect to be sniffed kissed or caressed. (FYI, Chance Eau Fraiche is Chance updated with a citron and woody twist.)
And then there’s Chance Eau Tendre Shimmering Powdered Perfume (£48 for 25g), a fabulous product if you love girly rituals. It’s a pearlescent fragranced powder applied with a big powder puff, depositing a grapefruit-infused fruity-floral mist on the skin. At £48, it’s pretty extravagant for a fun product, so probably best for the die hard fans, but there’s no denying it elevates the Chanel pampering experience.
Oh and don’t miss this brilliantly bonkers interactive video. Perfume bottles as acrobats that dance to a cheesy jazz-funk tune? Why yes! And you can control their actions too. Click click…
Last month saw the 33rd year of the Afro Hair and Beauty Live show at Islington’s Business Design Centre, the biggest show of its kind in Europe. Knowing how big the UK black beauty market is (black women are said to spend six times more on hair and beauty), I intended to go to this but in the end had conflicting commitments. Instead, TOLU OGUNSOLA attended on my behalf and here she reports on her top three finds…
Just as I expected, I was greeted with a great buzzing atmosphere as I entered Afro Hair And Beauty Live. People were talking excitedly here, there and everywhere about what products they wanted to buy and blaring music further amped up the excitement for all involved. Natural hair has definitely taken off in the past year or so, with women of colour taking a vested interest in returning back to their roots as it were. (more…)
Chanel always manages to nail the summer make-up palette. Take a look at this collection (on counter today), which screams spectacular sunsets, fruit popsicles, beachy frolics and unsuitable holiday romances. (more…)
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