For those of us who don’t earn fancy wages (and subsequently don’t live in equally fancy homes, drive fancy cars or wear outrageously fancy clothes), it’s unlikely we’ll ever find shiny new designer threads sitting pretty in our wardrobes. Unfortunate, but true.
This reality check should not leave label-lovers in despair, though, because I have sensational news: beauty is the perfect avenue to bring big name designer products into your life. Don’t have the pennies for an original CHANEL handbag? You can don some CHANEL nail lacquer on your nails instead. Can’t afford the signature Burberry trench coat? You can afford a Burberry Beauty lippie. Promise.
But which designer fashion brands have released beauty products? Here are our favourite five high-end labels, all of which will leave you feeling wonderfully fancy and outrageously luxe every time you take their product out of your handbag for a touch-up…
CHANEL
Coco Chanel was an exceptional lady, and to this day, fashion from the CHANEL label remains the epitome of class, style and wealth. When it comes to beauty, the CHANEL No. 5 fragrance is also almost as famous as the Coco herself, and when fashion week rolls around each March and September, all beauty editor eyes remain fixated on the CHANEL catwalk. Why? The CHANEL LE VERNIS nail hue seen on the models’ digits will become cult, and a variation will be replicated by almost all other nail polish brands. Seriously.
Tom Ford
Mr Ford has a rather full resume. Not only is he an American fashion designer, he’s a film director and perfumer, too. Oh, and the creator of some exceptional make-up. His luxe lipsticks especially are adored the world over for their sleek gold and white packaging design and highly pigmented formulas, as well as the utterly wearable hues in the range.Top product picks: Tom Ford Eye Color Quad ($100) and Tom Ford Illuminating Protective Primer ($95, tomford.com)
Calvin Klein
Calvin’s jeans are world famous. And so are his fragrances. (ck one ring any bells, ladies?) But Mr Klein’s foray into the world of beauty doesn’t stop with fragrance – the modern and oh-so-chic ck one color collection has allowed him to leave his stylish stamp on the make-up world, too. The range is (obviously) rather colourful, and focuses on the following dimension of beauty: look real, define yourself, add intensity. Love it.
Top product picks: ck one color Skin Illuminator and ck one color Color + Treat Lip Kit.
Burberry
As a fashion label, Burberry has always offered women the opportunity to be classically elegant. And the Burberry Beauty is simply an extension of this. The packaging features the iconic British Burberry check, and the make-up line features wearable hues that will never date, just like the classic Burberry trench coat.
YSL
Yves Saint Laurent believes the notion that each woman’s beauty is unique. Because of this, women need an individual way to interpret their unique qualities through clothing, and, of course, make-up. As a beauty brand, YSL offers elegant products that allow a lady to feel elegant, beautiful and romantic.
Do you love designer fashion brands? Do you feel luxe and fancy when you own a beauty product from a lavish brand such as these? What designer beauty product is currently on your wish list?
