- CORRECTION: 1/13/2011 — The promotional pictures in this post have been replaced with color corrected versions provided by Dolce & Gabbana.
I wonder what Lewis Carroll 
would have thought about the secret garden of pink Post-It notes that decorate my desk…
…and my notebook.
Of course, the note’s totally unnecessary, because there’s no way I’m going to forget about the new 12-piece Dolce & Gabbana Secret Garden collection for eyes, nails, face and lips. When it hops into town this spring, I’ll need a fainting couch to catch me when I fall (in love). 🙂 
The colors look so bright and authentically springy that I can almost smell fresh-cut grass and sunshine when I look at them (I swear I can smell the sunshine).
But the story behind the collection, according to Dolce, is one of mystery…
“With Secret Garden, we wanted to provide a kind of privileged information — or a secret formula — for the women we love so much, so she could effortlessly achieve that illusive look of intrigue that all women crave.”
–Domenico Dolce
I haven’t quite figured out the mystery angle yet, but designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana say they played with the idea of a hidden paradise in which a mythical, delicate beauty seduces the senses.
Perhaps she’s wearing a flower-print dress to a garden party. Yes, I think I can see her now. She’s walking barefoot across a large lawn of vivid green grass. I don’t know who she is, but I feel like I should go to her.
“The aura of romance — the intoxicating wild flowers, the soft pastels — is such an integral part of our heritage and our aesthetic. The creation of Spring 2011 was almost subliminal; it came directly from our hearts. It gave us so much pleasure to make something so special for the Dolce & Gabbana woman we known so intimately. Secret Garden is meant to be a key to her innermost soul, very personal, very private, and of course, extremely seductive.”
–Stefano Gabbana
Here, warm nudes contrast with cooler neutrals, and pastels against brights, and there’s a strong focus on the eyes, with lavendar, green, gray, blue and cream eyeshadows, and lilac and white liners to define the lash line.
There’s a brand new Illuminator in a shade called Eva, along with a repromoted Blush in Delight. They should lend a lovely warm sheen to cheeks and faces. Lips are treated to voluptuous shades of mauve, red and pink, while nails get a shimmery green lacquer to complete the overall look.
“I love the Secret Garden palette; It’s such a daring take on nudes and neutrals — and the pastels, while muted, are full of radiant color. The look is very now — luminous barely-there beauty — but it encompasses what Domenico and Stefano have always done so well — treating a classic facet of femininity in a radical way that doesn’t read radical, but reads unique, gorgeous and so sexy.”
–Pat McGrath
Several luxury lines have been playing with shimmer and sheen finishes, and we should see a little bit of that in Secret Garden, too. But instead of the soft pearly glows like the ones over at Dior and Chanel, expect to see tone-on-tone shifts of color, where lustrous, duochrome shades transform in the light.
Now, kick off your sandals, young lady, and walk with me while we take an early look at Secret Garden. 🙂
Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Eden
Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Romance 120
Crayon Intense in White
Crayon Intense in Lilac
Illuminator in Eva
Shine Lipstick in Romance (left) and Love (right)
Ultra Shine Lipgloss in Secret (left) and Bon Bon (right)
Intense Nail Lacquer in Platinum
The Dolce & Gabbana Secret Garden Collection…
Lipstick, $30
- Shine Lipstick in Romance (new)
- Shine Lipstick in Love (new)
Lipgloss, $29
- Ultra Shine Lipgloss in Secret (new)
- Ultra Shine Lipgloss in Bon Bon (new)
Eyeshadow, $36-59
- Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Eden ($59, new)
- Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Romance ($36, new)
Eyeliner, $29
- Crayon Intense in White (new)
- Crayon Intense in Lilac (new)
Mascara, $29
- Volumized Lashes in Black (repromote)
Highlighter, $47
- Illuminator in Eva 3 (new)
Blush, $44
- Luminous Cheek Colour in Delight (repromote)
Nails, $20
- Intense Nail Lacquer in Platinum (new)
* Not shown, the repromoted blush and mascara
Stay tuned for more details coming soon… 🙂
The Dolce & Gabbana Secret Garden collection arrives at Saks Fifth Avenue stores and online this spring.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The illuminator looks so pretty! It looks really fresh.
It does, doesn’t it? I really hope it works with a bunch of skin tones!
oh, oh, oh! those lip products! bon bon is calling my naaaame…
I KNOW! I need those lipglosses in my life. 😀
Oooh, I love the lilac lips and mossy green tips!
I’m totally feeling all these greenish/grays for nails this season. 🙂
BTW, didja end up getting anything from Chanel spring?
Hubby got me the Les Ombres Perlees palette for Christmas! He’s so awesome! I sense that Nakkar and I may have a close encounter in the near future….
I love the lipsticks from this release! They definitely make me think of spring…can’t wait to see this collection in person
Me too! I’m drooling over the glosses, especially.
Gorgeous,I am loving Bob Bon and that nail polish!By the way Tabs looks adorable on that fainting couch!
LOL, the funny thing is if somebody actually made a kitty fainting couch I’d be all over it in a hot second!
Omgggggg that quad is GORGEOUS!!!! I want the illuminator too:)
I had a notion you’d be digging that quad.
How are you doing? Is your back okay?
Oooh this collection looks hella pretty 🙂
It does, doesn’t it? What’s your favorite piece?
That Bon Bon lipgloss… oh my! O_O Gorgeous.
This collection looks so fun and flirty, thanks for sharing! Unfortunately we don’t have D&G makeup where I live so I will just admire from a far, haha.
xx Renee
I do the same thing with foreign lines! Sometimes it’s nice to just window shop and admire the view. 😉
I wouldn’t know how to use most of these colours, but this lilac crayon is oh so pretty! Either way, it’s very refreshing to see new colours.
Karen, those post-it notes made me think: would you have any tips on how to organiser your workload and schedule, since you’re self-emloyed? My life is ruled by lists, but I’ve so many I’m still a mess and spend more time making them than actually getting things done..
Hi Advah,
Staying organized is definitely a challenge of mine too. I’m still working on getting the most efficient form of time management down, but one thing I’ve found works for me is to keep everything in one central notebook. It’s hard bound, so I can write in it standing up if I need to, and 4X6 inches, so it’s also very portable. I write down lots of lists and do a LOT of highlighting of things I need to do. The Post-its get thrown in there too.
Oh, and if I’m out and about and remember to do something, I’ll email it to myself, and then write it in the notebook later.
What’s your system like?
And can anybody else here offer some words of organizational wisdom? Lawd knows I need it, LOL!
Ah, the ONE notebook thing is genius. I love stationery (doesn’t help) so I keep a notebook for anything freelance magazine related, then all the rest (work, groceries/must do lists, memos, notes and articles ideas) is scattered between various notebooks, sheets and post-its.
I used to be more organised by keeping a small notebook with me all the time and writing down everything in it, but I’m trying to make my handbag lighter and leave it at home now. Instead I write lists on post-its that I later plan to copy in other notebooks (and rarely do).
Gosh, I’ve just reread those two paragraphs, I’m crazy! 😀 And I’ve not yet mentioned the Gmail tasks (my freelance inboxes are on gmail, difficult to get things organised there) and Google docs, where I’ve created folders for finished articles I can use as writing samples, drafts and general ideas. That way I can access them from any computer.
Thanks very much for the tip, I should go back to the one notebook and use only this. And make better use of lists and reminders on my phone (been using this as an excuse for getting an iPhone, but my Nokia probably has similar options).
Oop I think my reply got caught by the spam filter..?
The eyeshadow palette is so bright and spring-y!!! and the 2 lipsticks are equally beautiful!
I know! I wish it was spring here already. It’s been sunny but so cold. I’m totally over it, LOL!
I love the palette, it’s beautiful and springy! The lipsticks look nice too. 🙂
I had a feeling you liked this one, Gio!
No surprise that the Crayon Intense in White is my favorite thing. 🙂
I can’t wait until you swatch these because the description of “luminous, barely there” does not seem to go with the green and pink in the Eden quad! Of course, you’d think I’d be used to that by now. Scary bright in the pan usually turns out to be lovely on the skin. 🙂
Hi Kim,
So, do you wear the white liner along your lower water line? I know a lot of women do that to open up the eyes. Or do you like it as a base for powder shadows?
I’ve yet to get a white liner but have been wanting one for ages! I usually use white shadow around the inside corners of my eyes to brighten me up a bit. Usually I can’t wear liners on my waterlines because I tear up awfully and they just run everywhere. I definitely want to experiment with the white though, since even if it runs, how bad can it be? Famous last words, I know! 🙂
Actually, now that I think of it, it may depend on the brand. I just realized that I had much better luck tightlining with my Clinique pencil liner than my UD Zero. The Zero would just not stay put. Maybe it’s just me. And I do love the UD above and below my lash lines. 🙂
These look Gorge! But I can’t figure out if the eye duo in Romance is bluish, grayish or greenish…. I know it’s just my moniter,. but I’d love to know which way it leans. Also the nail Lacquer looks like a lighter version of OPI for Sephora’s “Leaf him at the Alter” (which is one of my favorite colors by the way!)
On a different product note, I just found out that Wal-mart is carrying Essie polish! I finally was able to pick up “Sew Psyched” I have been lemming and looking for that color for so long! It looks like it will be right in for spring too!
Hi Lisa,
The Romance duo is a pair of grays. 🙂
So what do you think of Sew Psyched? Have you had the chance to try it on yet?
Nope! Gettin’ ready to try it this weekend. Anything I need to know?
oooh, the nail polish is the same color of Tabs’ eyes!!! 😀
It does. It’s only time before he claims he’s the inspiration behind the shade. 😉
OMG I am totally breathless. The colors are gorgeous! I want one of everything. But, I wonder if the romance lipstick is similar to mac violetta?
Me too! I’m pretty stoked about all the purples and greens in this release. So lush!
Ooooh, the quad and the eyeshadow duo are very pretty! The quad looks very fun! I hope you’ll be swatching for us in the future! 🙂
are you surprised that i like that duo? its like a gray and a green eyeshadow had a baby! 😀
I have you to thank for my new found D&G obsession. These color look a bit too cool for my skintone but that doesn’t mean I won’t give it a shot. I especially like that Lilac pencil!
ZOMG is right. I didn’t think jaded old me with the crazy-huge makeup collection could still get excited about new collections, but this looks gorgeous, and finally, a collection that seems made for my complexion!
I know what you mean. When I saw the colors I went, “OOOOOOOHHHH.”
I’m hoping to swatch it soon on both my skin and on lighter NW20 skin! 🙂
I love every single item.. but Bon bon is just *sigh*, perfect!
LOVING those lippies!!! I think I need all the lip stuff.
Just Lovely,Can’t wait to see in person!
I hope the lipglosses are as pigmented as they look!
I love that lipstick called Romance! I wish I could get that in Canada!!
I was SO excited to see this up here, but sad at the same time! I work for DGMU in Atlanta and haven’t even seen these glorious colors yet! Did you get press samples of any of these?
I can’t WAIT for them to arrive at counter, but the pigment in all of the latest collections has been REALLY fabulous, so I’m sure these will deliver!