couture

Buy it now: Les Intemporels de Chanel



Les Intemporels de Chanel limited edition palette and nail colour

Is there anyone better at translating its brand ‘codes’ into make-up? I think not. Chanel has done it again with its new limited edition Les Intemporels de Chanel palette and nail polish, which pay homage to the classic 2.55 bag.

The five eyeshadows in the L’Intemporel De Chanel palette (£47) are embossed with the unmistakable chain motif, while the dramatic colours are an interesting choice – unapologetically intense shades of green and purple, the blackest of blacks, plus silver white and soft gold to highlight. They almost look like little jewels in a jewellery box… (more…)



Over the counter couture beauty



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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…)



At Dior couture, the millennium starts now



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As we all know, a decade doesn’t really hit its stride until it reaches its mid point, which is kind of where we’re at now – summer 2014. In fact, it feels to me like we’re only now properly embracing the 21st century, ready to leave the security of the past century behind and boldly go forth. If you want a crystal clear sign, then look at the death of the hipster. Ruling the fashion landscape since the early 2000s, the combo of vintage pastiche, emerging technology and ironic, ugly-on-purpose styling defined the first decade of the millennium with one foot in the past and one foot in the future. Now, having exhausted every ironic retro reference, we’re ready to go full speed into the 2000s. (more…)



Lacroix! Zanini! Schiaparelli!



Oh the suspense! As rumours continue to bounce around about exactly who will be wielding the golden shears at Schiaparelli, I’m happy about the latest nugget of info: Christian Lacroix will design a one-off couture collection of 15 pieces to be unveiled at Place Vendôme in July.

Genius move!

Other than designing delicious posh stationery and working with Camilla Morton on a fairy story, I’m not really sure what Mr Lacroix has been busying himself with since his house went into administration in 2009. But I’m totally ready to see what ravishing beauty will emerge from his imagination in homage to Elsa Schiaparelli. Coincidentally (or not?), the latest name in the frame for the main Schiaparelli creative director gig is one Marco Zanini of Rochas. Zanini is another favourite of mine with an eye for the historical who also embraces modernity. I love the story Zanini told Lula magazine, that at the age of 16, he started sending letters and sketches to Lacroix who wrote back with encouraging words. How sweet is that? And how spooky!