On first “walk-by,” Chanel’s summer collection didn’t dazzle me — stripey bronzers? I saw those last summer, right? But on closer inspection (swatching, actually looking at the promo photo), I have to say I am totally digging their fantasy of summer.
Let’s start with the odds and ends. There’s a lovely, neutral, can-you-believe-this-is-limited-edition eyeshadow duo. Sable Emouvant includes a dark, satin, warm-mulch-brown with tiny shimmers and a shimmery beige (a little bit peachy, a little bit pink). It’s $42.
There’s a limited edition Crayon Khol eyeliner, shimmery beige-peach Peche Cuivre (a color clearly intended for use on the waterline). This pencil is $28.
Crayon Yeux eyeliner Khaki Dore (a shimmery olive) actually doesn’t belong in this collection; someone had swapped out a tester and I realized a little too late. The actual Crayon Yeux eyeliner from this collection is Brun Intense. It’s limited edition, a dark satin brown. Crayon Yeux eyeliners are $29 each.
There are two Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks ($32.50). En Vogue is a sheer, warm, watermelon pink. Empreinte is a very sheer, warm, light pink with a few gold sparkles.
There are also two Glossimers ($29.50). I LOVE Calypso, a saturated orange/tangerine with some pink and gold sparkles. Obviously it’s the more opaque of the two; Sirocco is basically clear with a few gold sparkles.
Last summer, I swatched the striped bronzing powders both by shade and blended together. This year’s powders feature stripes too narrow to use individually, so I just swirled them for light and heavy blended swatches.
I was surprised by how subtle these were — maybe blush/bronzers, rather than “bronzers.” Sable Beige is a light peach-gold-sand with gold shimmer. Sable Rose is a more pigmented pinked peach with gold shimmer. Sable Beige is more shimmery; Sable Rose is more sparkly (but still subtle). These are limited edition (of course), $60 each.
The collection also includes three limited edition nail polishes (each $26). Island was the first to sell out in most places, which surprises me to no end. I would have thought Holiday (or even Delight) was the prize of the group. Holiday is a deep, saturated, (almost red) orange creme. Delight is a bronze foil (looks slightly gritty but feels smooth — I prefer this finish to frosts). Island is a champagne-pearl frost.
The collection also repromotes the permanent Soleil Tan de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid, Sunkissed (but it’s so widely beloved I thought I’d swatch it again). It’s a shimmering, delicate golden highlight ($48).
Traipsing around Northpark, I found everything but Island still available for sale. If you desperately need something that’s sold out near you, try Chanel’s website (free two-day shipping with code MERCI2012, valid through through August 15th).
Or call Maya at the Chanel counter in Dillard’s Northpark: 214-373-7000 extension 5015. They have just about everything, and she said she could ship for free with a $50 purchase.
The striped bronzes are to die for. They are lovely for my skin coloring. I intended to buy only one but ended up buying both. Couldn’t choose!