Givenchy,'s Spring/Summer collection (called Naivement Couture) can post several marks in the Win Column.
- Amazing visuals (see right)
- Orange, the "It" color
- Gorgeous textures
- Over-the-top PR rhetoric
Aside from the last item in the list (you can find said hyperbole after the cut), the collection is breathtaking. That is, unless you dislike orange.
I got to play with the shadow palette and eyeliner. For my review, swatches, and more pics, keep reading.
"If the world’s first woman were to be born today in the primeval garden, she would no doubt have a different vision of paradise. Nature would be tamed, its energy restrained, creating an ambiance in which she would more likely cut down the Tree of Knowledge than water it.
But springtime always manages to awaken desires and dispel gloomy ideas. The impulse to seek gratification is driven by a sixth sense, making us eager for any and all sorts of sensations. A breath of pure air to be discovered or devised.
The Must-Have, Blush Gelée, is a rich elixir of youth, illuminating a self-assured candour with fresh energy. NAÏVEMENT COUTURE (“naively couture”) is an autosuggestion of happiness. Skin bared to the sunlight, we purge our sensations and embrace our innocence in order to accept our feelings. The exhilarating purity of light, a gentle warmth, tenuous and sensual, that transports us to an apogee of emotion, to be reborn with a uniquely personal authenticity. A rebirth that makes sense of the sensorial and focuses on the essential.
To let ourselves succumb to a playful nature that knows where to tickle to raise a smile, like giving ourselves over to the hands of the designer for that first couture gown, this collection suggests a beauty that is lived and experienced.
Allowing the hand to wield its innate intelligence, to play with lovely colours and fresh textures, is an invitation to enjoy the precious, cunning gift of self-indulgence.
A natural, soothing sensuality for a springtime filled with joy."
Blah, blah, blah... What does that even mean?!
Here's what I can tell you: if you take a look at the colors that define Spring 2011, you'll find two shades or orange ("Coral Rose" and "Beeswax") and two pinks ("Honeysuckle" -The color of the year- and "Silver Peony"). Add in a purple, some blues, and the obligatory neutrals, and you've got a Color Forecast.
In my opinion, orange is a great way to go, 'cause pink and purples for Spring make me yawn!
Naivement Couture features a 4-shade eyeshadow palette that could have come directly from Pantone! Dark coralish orange? Check. Softer peachy orange? Check. Chocolatey "russet"? Check! The twist is the fourth pan, a pale yellow with a tiny tint of green.
The accompanying eyeliner is a smooth, silky, flat chocolate brown. It's lovely, if not totally unique.
Thoughts:
- The pencil is sharp but not scratchy; blendable; fairly stay-put; smooth.
- The shadows are blendable; smooth; rich; unusual. On the downside (isn't there always one of those?) they are not as pigmented as I'd like. There's no way the model shown in the ad is wearing these shades! At least, not without some help from some extra pigment. Still, most of us don't want color-saturated orange eyes... or do we?
For more images from the collection, visit Makeup and Beauty Blog to see Karen's coverage.
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