Hedi Slimane is expanding the Celine universe to include Celine Beauté, set to launch in the coming months. There's been chatter that the Creative Director would follow its luxury counterparts like Hermès and Prada, moving beyond fragrance and accessories to include colour and skincare. But now we have a date for its inaugural collection: Le Rouge Celine will be available from October.
Inspired by house codes and Slimane's modern-but-bourgeois approach to Parisienne glamour, the lipstick is said to combine comfort with performance, with a 'clean' approach to beauty. Creamy, soft and saturated with pigment, the lipstick feel is inspired by Slimane's obsession with couture fabric (tactile, comfortable, luxurious special), while the scent is a 70s accord of rose and rice powder (note, he's one of the few luxuriates t0 focus not just on the feel of a lipstick, but the smell — Hermes followed a similar path, tapping an in-house perfumer to coin a scent just for its lipstick range).
Initially, we'll see Slimane launch 01 Rouge Triomphe, named after the iconic logo that he reintroduced to the house back in 2018. The red lipstick hue is, arguably, the embodiment of the French aesthete and what Celine stands for: austere sensuality, low-key sex appeal, confidence, but never too much... And isn't 'French' beauty all about doing less?
The Celine Beauté range will also include a complete suite of 15 Le Rouge Celine lipsticks (including the La Peau Nue nude hue worn by models in the 'Triomphe' film), as well as lip balms, mascaras, eyeliners, pencils, loose powders, blush cases and nail polish. The lipstick packaging in particular is noteworthy — a shiny gold bullet with the Triomphe bullet stamped on top. While there's no word on complexion, one might argue the aforementioned lineup is distinctly Celine... and very Parisienne (a smudged eye, statement lip, raw skin, no fuss).
The just-released 'La Collection de L'Arc de Triomphe' film marks the start of this new chapter for the house. Starring Ever Anderson to a soundtrack of Grace Inspace, Celine Beauté feels like more than just another luxury beauty launch. It feels like an authentic extension of the chic world Slimane has built (albeit more accessible than a Triomphe bag). Watch this space for more news closer to the Australian launch date.
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