When one thinks of the House of CHANEL, there are a handful of iconic items and styles that are so intrinsically linked to the House that they have become part of its DNA. Camellias, the tweed suit and classic flap bag, gilt chain, and the colors black and white are enduring signatures that date to the days when the House’s legendary founder, Gabrielle Chanel reigned supreme over the fashion world. These tones, symbols, and styles are not only rooted in CHANEL’s history but also have come to fuel each subsequent collection in the realms of beauty and fashion for the House.
For the Fall-Winter 2019 beauty collection, CHANEL’s Global Creative Makeup and Color Designer, Lucia Pica, has created a collection rooted in one of the House’s most emblematic symbols and tones, black and white. NOIR ET BLANC DE CHANEL is an elegant interpretation of these two bold and classic tones and imagined for the modern woman. Infused with the history of the House of CHANEL as well as the modernist architectural and cultural environment of Paris, Pica has crafted a collection that is graphic, bold, and sensuous. With its streamlined color palette and black and white lacquer packing, it is elegant minimalism at its best, but with a subtle yet not less striking hint of shimmering glamour.
LE GEL PAILLETÉ is one of the standouts of the collection, bringing to mind the silent screen stars of the twenties and thirties. This silky gel is infused with a delicate sparkle that has the ability to be both striking and subtle depending upon the wearer’s mood. Worn on either the face or body, this shimmering gel melts into the skin leaving behind a beautiful sparkle.
For eyes, there is LES 4 OMBRES in Noir Suprême (pictured here) which features rich tones of satiny khaki copper brown, subtle purply intense grey, dark brown, and a deep matte garnet burgundy. Modern Glamour (not pictured) is a mixture of grey, chilly white, silver, and matte black and is a striking study in contrast. Beautifully pigmented, these shadows blend with total ease and wear excellently. Fall-Winter 2019 also bring the OMBRE PREMIÈRE TOP COAT in Pénombre and Carte Blanc. A luminous black with gold reflections and a white with silver sparkle respectively, these add a rich layer to any eye look.
To line the eye, STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF is shown in refreshing white Blanc Graphique and the classic Noir Intense. Perfect for achieving a bold and graphic eye, used in concert or separately these will make a beautiful statement. A note on the STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF, it is the ultimateeyeliner. Perfectly formulated, it glides on with total ease and stays perfectly. This is hands down my holy grail eyeliner. For the lashes, there is LE VOLUME ULTRA NOIR de CHANEL. This ultra-black mascara has been my go-to since receiving it. It applies with total ease, and packs a serious punch.
For lips, there is ROUGE COCO GLOSS in Laque Noire, a deep black cherry with a rich shine, and Crystal Clear, a stunning transparent top coat imbued with a subtle sparkle. Rose Nocturne, a medium mauve rosebud (not pictured), and Rouge Obscur (pictured here) are two striking additions to the ROUGE ALLURE VELVET EXTRÊME line of lipsticks. These lipsticks simply glide on thanks to their expert formulation, and both are beautifully pigmented. Additionally, there are also two new additions to the ROUGE ALLURE LIQUID POWDER line. Timeless (not pictured), a light caramel beige, and Bois de Nuit (pictured here), a stunning light warm rosewood that results in a beautiful soft matte finish that can be layered for added intensity.
Finally, for nails there is LE VERNIS in Pure Black and Pure White for the ultimate juxtaposition of light and dark. As always, CHANEL’s exacting standards of production and formulation have resulted in polish perfection.
While Lucia Pica is undeniably the queen of color, she has created a striking collection playing with the absence of color with NOIR ET BLANC DE CHANEL.
