In keeping with this week's posts on Stila's Barbie collection, today's installment of Friday Fun will focus on MAC's collection devoted to this doll. Released in the spring of 2007, the Barbie collection generated a huge amount of buzz rivaling this year's Hello Kitty collection.
(photos from makeupbag.net)
In addition to the color collection, there was also a limited-edition MAC Barbie doll:
And a t-shirt, which I think is my favorite part of the collection (shown below with Malibu Barbie and Fashion Pack lip glosses):
PR for both companies saw the combination of MAC and Barbie as a natural pairing. According to Richard Dickson, Senior Vice President at Mattel, "Many women's first experiences with fashion and beauty were playing
with Barbie. Today this fantasy continues with Barbie Loves MAC, a
color collection that allows women to rediscover their inner girl." Added James Gager, Senior VP at MAC, "MAC and Barbie have always been at the forefront of style and beauty,
and by combining our creative expertise, we have created a collection
that is uniquely fresh with inspired colors that are bold, modern and
glamorous."
Overall I liked this collection but didn't think it was as inventive as Stila's. While colors and names were well-suited to Barbie, the packaging could have used something a bit more interesting than the ponytail Barbie silhouette.
Why does Japan get THE coolest Stila stuff? Fortunately my contact there was able to procure some exclusive Stila Barbie items for me. (Exclusive for now, anyway – you never know if the Japan-only Stila items will show up on beautycrunch.com, which in the past has gotten the CanCam palette and other Asia-exclusives, plus with Stila's dismal business outlook these might pop up elsewhere.)
Here is my haul – 2 eye shadow palettes, one of the shadow pots and one of the blush/highlighters:
The interior of one of the palettes and blush:
Finally, because I bought so much I got the GWP – an adorable pink ruffly tote:
There were also a few more items – a cheek mousse pot and some cosmetic bags:
(photos from stila.co.jp)
The pink dress print is cute, but from a design standpoint I think the black and white bathing suit print is better. I love that the interiors of the eye shadow palette and highlighters have a little surprise – one with a drawing of the 1959 Barbie and the other with hearts. The whole collection is happy and playful, which is right on target for Barbie!
I'm still reeling from the news that Stila is bankrupt and going out of business (some are speculating that it is just a nasty rumor, yet I'm genuinely worried that this is the end), but the show, er, blog, must go on. Barbie celebrates her 50th birthday this year! There's been much buzz about this iconic doll turning the big 5-0, but what I'm most interested in is Stila's collection devoted to Barbie. (Why MAC did a Barbie collection in 2007 rather than wait till now is a mystery, but that's another post.) Stila released a set of four paint cans, each showing a Barbie from different eras and containing a palette decorated with Barbie. First is the original 1959 Ponytail doll:
Next is the Malibu doll from 1971:
Then the Foxy doll from 1980:
Finally, the Jewel doll from 2000:
There are also 2 Barbie palettes and a lip glaze (which I couldn't purchase as Museum funds were depleted on the paint cans!):
(photos from stilacosmetics.com and sephora.com)
I was so happy to see my favorite line team up with Barbie and produce their signature paint cans. I also thought it was clever that they included products to help the consumer obtain the look for each Barbie style. Finally, I liked that you don't have to be a fan of Barbie to enjoy these. I never owned a Barbie (not because my cool feminist mom wouldn't let me have one – I think she shares this view that Barbie isn't harmful to little girls – but because I found the doll to be boring) and I thought these were really well-done.
If only Stila could stick around we could see what else they would come up with. Fingers crossed their supposed bankruptcy really is just a rumor.
p.s. If you happen to live in or visit NYC, you must check out the amazing display in the 5th avenue Sephora before it's gone – the entire second floor is devoted to Stila's Barbie collection, complete with life-size cardboard cutouts of the 1959 Barbie in her black and white bathing suit. I was visiting during the last weekend in March and of course managed to forget my camera in the hotel room, so I have no pictures (well, I took a few on my phone but I haven't the foggiest idea as to how to get them off the phone and onto the computer), but it's really neat!
Launched in 2004 by Gabriela Hernandez, the packaging of Bésame cosmetics channels the glamour and femininity not often found in most contemporary makeup lines. I was always drawn to the intricate designs as well as the gold metal casing, but when I actually visited the site I was thrilled to see a wealth of information on the packaging – the inspiration, the concept, and the execution. The company appears to care greatly about how their line is presented and what message they want to communicate via the packaging.
photo from besamecosmetics.com
The packaging is meant to be a replica of original Art Deco cosmetic packaging – the company actually makes its own lipstick molds to create close copies of products from an earlier time. According to the Bésame website, "[there] was a time when the aesthetic beauty of a compact was just as important as designer jewelry worn for a night on the town. The cosmetic products of the day mirrored this aesthetic and were designed to be functional yet glamorous, romantic and feminine…Thoughtfully created with detail and care, every piece is meticulously finished to provide the wearer with the experience of true glamour." I'm not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand I think it's great that the company went to great lengths to recreate early cosmetic packaging. It makes applying makeup much more special when the product comes from a luxe, custom-made tube that isn't usually found in today's market. On the other it almost seems as though the company doesn't recognize that contemporary makeup packaging can be just as luxurious and special as that from an earlier era. Says Hernandez, “The formality of yesteryear no longer exists. I miss the attention to details seen in the past. In creating Bésame, I sought to recapture the sophistication of being a woman that seems to be lost today.” I can't say I agree with her – are contemporary women somehow not as sophisticated because there is a lack of retro packaging? As for attention to detail, I think the Makeup Museum, which celebrates the beauty in cosmetics packaging, shows that cosmetic companies pay close attention to the details in their products' design. And I think there is still a great deal of formality and luxury in makeup packaging, especially in some of the high-end lines. Examples of modern but still incredibly glamourous packaging abound, like Chanel's Rouge Allure lipsticks (there is simply nothing more satisfying than hearing the small click the bullet makes when it's removed from the sleek black case) or Yves Saint Laurent's Rouge Volupte gold-and-logo embossed lipsticks.
Overall though, I'm impressed with the research and effort that went into Bésame products. While I might not agree completely with the CEO's perspective, it's definitely a strong one that fueled the creation of a unique line that allows consumers to experience authentic vintage packaging (without having to actually use decades-old cosmetics!)
As much as I loved dressing up for Halloween as a kid, my favorite part was stuffing myself full of delicious candy, especially chocolate. So in honor of Halloween and my nostalgia for chocolate Halloween treats, I'm looking at a treat for your lips – on10's Hershey's Milk Chocolate lip balm.
The retro packaging is adorable, and of course I love the dead-on chocolate scent. While the product has its good points (it's made from organic ingredients and has SPF 15), it's not what I would consider a heavy-duty lip balm. If your lips are seriously chapped this won't do much, as the texture is thin and it wears off relatively quickly. But I still think it could come in handy under lipstick, and, come on, it smells like chocolate and has cute packaging. That's enough for me. 🙂
Happy Halloween!
I've decided that a couple days a week posts will have a certain theme. This blog could use just a tiny bit of structure! Therefore, Fridays will be devoted to retro/kitschy/just plain fun packaging. Mondays will feature makeup by the big fashion houses (Chanel, Dior, YSL, etc). The rest of the time I'll have a more freeform approach.
For the first installment of Friday Fun, I'm looking at some fall items from a few seasons ago: Benefit's Roadside Attractions palettes. Released in the fall of 2005, these kits feature either eye shadow or lip gloss and have retro images for the outer packaging, complete with cheeky phrases like "Exes Make Great Speed Bumps". The interior cleverly features a mirror in the shape of a rear-view car mirror.
(photo from benefitcosmetics.com)
These palettes definitely stay true to Benefit's mantra: "Who says makeup has to be serious to be good?" Indeed, the concept of a road trip and visiting places ("roadside attractions") along the way is fun, and the idea was perfectly executed in these palettes.