Chanel Les Aquarelles de Chanel Collection

In the 1920s, Marie Laurencin painted a watercolor portrait of Gabrielle Chanel. Today, Karl Lagerfeld employs that image as a point of departure for the 2011 Spring-Summer Haute Couture Collection, suffused with light and restraint. The atmosphere is pastel-toned, with clean silhouettes of catwalk models styled as ballerinas, evanescent and nonchalant. Soft pinks merge into tones of ivory and dove grey. Every aspect of the cherished rue Cambon style is washed over with the candor of youth. The enigmatic grace of a black satin ribbon tied high around the neck accentuates the mysterious spirit hidden behind the models’angelic faces.

Innocence always conceals its more daring side. Peter Philips, Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup, sees the spirit of rebellion behind delicate poses. His pastels are infused with character, coloring candidly pure faces with a flourishing form of urban poetry.

Created in the image of the 2011 Spring-Summer Haute Couture Collection, the shade range focuses on a palette of pinks and delicate grey on the eyes, framed by black and bathed in light. An exclusive creation, OMBRES TISSÉES Beiges takes on a fine-knit texture of silvery, golden and pinkish tones of beige. Arranged in three bands within their square case, these satiny eyeshadows smooth transparently over eyelids, while illuminating facial contours with touches of light. A little cloud of OMBRE ESSENTIELLE in Gris Exquis is shaded just beneath the brow line. A bold, geometric line of STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF 10 Ébène is drawn the precise width of the eyelid, stopping abruptly at its border for a more muted revisiting of the doe eye, modernising the youthful inspiration behind the look.

Blush extends from cheekbones to just below the eye. JOUES CONTRASTE 99 Rose Pétale adorns an opalescent complexion with soft light, lifted by the fresh hue of 66 Pink Cloud. Lips and nails are dressed in a hint of transparent pink, conveying an impression of romance par excellence. Irresistible, and as gentle as a hydrating balm, ROUGE COCO SHINE softens your natural smile with 58 Royallieu, while LE VERNIS 507 Tendresse perfects the color harmony in the most delicate way imaginable.

Ombres Tissees ($75.00)

This unique illuminating powder from LES AQUARELLES DE CHANEL Makeup Collection adds captivating shimmer and iridescence to eyes and cheeks with pale pink and ivory tones. The harmony is embellished with a luminous layer of shimmer and embossed with an iconic woven tweed effect. Limited Edition.

• Beiges (Limited Edition)

Joues Contraste ($43.00)

• Pink Cloud (Limited Edition)
• Rose Petale

Ombre Essentielle ($28.50)

• Gris Exquis (Limited Edition)

Le Vernis ($25.00)

• Tendresse (Limited Edition)

Stylo Yeux Waterproof ($29.00)

• Ebene

availability: chanel.com

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