Perhaps it’s denim’s innate versatility, maybe it is its vibrant indigo shade. Whatever the pull, it goes without saying that our passion for the fabric runs deep. Thousands of years since the indigo dyed fabric’s historied beginings, it remains a staple in wardrobes across the globe.
Chanel now gives us another reason to swoon over denim. Created under the direction of the house’s Cometes Collection’s Valentina Li, the limited edition makeup collection, Chanel Denim, gives the beloved fabric a fresh expression. The message: shades of denim can now dress up our eyes, lashes, cheeks and even lips.
A collection of vibrant blues – from azzure rich to baby blue – and complementary powdery pinks and glinting golds and silvers, this collection of eyeliners and mascara (both great gateway products to start our journey with blue) demonstrates the versalility of denim – not only in our clothing but also our makeup bags.
The collection also includes two eye palettes and a shimmering blue highlighter, which the Marie Claire Beauty team want to try immediately. While the nail polish in a metallic and vivid blue called Legende is going straight to cart. We also deeply want to elevate our favourite Le Crème Main hand cream with the collection’s sweetly denim case, while adding a faded look to our lips with the collection’s Rouge Coco Flash in Baby Blue feels inspired.
Fronted by ambassador for the house Lily-Rose Depp, this is a bold new collection that proves blue is definitely back.
Marie Claire talks to Valentina Li about the collection and how to work denim into our makeup rotation.
Marie Claire: Denim was obvioulsy central to this collection …
Valentina Li: “Personally, I really love to wear denim. Whenever I’m in denim, I can style it in with anything. It goes well with any outfit; it’s effortless, it’s comfortable. And it brings an attitude: the girl who chooses denim is the girl who moves with confidence. She is not afraid to stand out there with attitude.”
MC: What excites you about the collection?
VL: “Denim has unlimited possibility, so with this collection I want people to have fun and experiment. There is so much these days about the types of makeup colour you should and shouldn’t use and what type of makeup looks good on you.
I am not a big fan of that. I think you should be the one who decides what colour to wear. Makeup is something you use to express yourself and your personality, to show everybody who you really are. On social media, everybody is starting to look the same – as if there is only one type of colour, which is not fun.”
MC: Do you have a favourite denim piece in your own wardrobe? “My Chanel denim bag. It wasa reference [for the collection].I found it in Japan. It’s a vintagepiece from 2009, and themoment I saw it I’m like, ‘I needit.’ I didn’t even check the price.”
MC: How does this collection transform your look?
VL: “Gabrielle Chanel was such a master in transformation. She turned everyday wear into something very refinedand very fashionable and very personal. Denim usedto be workwear and very masculine, but Chanel[today] twists it by adding colour, adding diamonds,adding pearl, to make it so Chanel and so elegant.
“With denim you can just add on, add on, addon – adding different types of personality so that itbecomes something unique. And I think that’s thesame spirit of this collection – you can do it yourown way. I wanted to use this collection to send outa message: just like in Chanel fashion, in ChanelBeauty we don’t set the makeuprules. You are the person whosets the rules for yourself, justlike how you wear your denim.”
MC: Can you talk about the colours in the range?
“There are so many shades and tones – from a faded denim to a kind of greyish blue and a bright azure blue. There is a blue highlighter; people see it and think, ‘Oh, my God, a blue highlighter.’ But when you use it on your face, it gives you this translucent pinkish highlight on your cheek.
“The two palettes in the collection have three different types of blue. It looks quite vibrant [in the palette], but when you apply it it’s really a wonderful azure blue. And you can use the silver shade as a metallic topcoat for a washed-out effect. Like when you wash your favourite jeans for so long and you get that fade.”
MC: If we’re new to the hue, how do we begin?
VL: “Start with something small. If you wear blackmascara, change it to blue. It gives you this washof blue that flashes in the light and really opensyour eyes. Or try adding blue eyeshadow at theinner corner of your eyes – the palettes havethree complementing shades so you can use a shade you’re familiar with then go in with someblue. [Or] swap blue eyeliner for your usual black.”
MC: And when we get confident with blue?
VL: “When you are more comfortable with blue, you canreally express yourself. Use your fingertips to tapthe blue onto your eyelids for a smoky eye. You canheavily apply the blue mascara to enhance the look.”
MC: What is your best tip for wearing colour?
VL: “First, do not be afraid of it. Next, look at the mirrorand find the area you love: put the colour in thatarea. Colour can put you in a new mood, so don’tbe afraid to try it. After all, it’s just makeup.If you don’t like it, start over again. Just have fun.”
Chanel Denim is available at Chanel.com
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