Like the big, burly bouncer at da club who goes by the name, Tiny, Tom Ford’s new eight-piece spring collection is a study in contrasts. Pitting light against dark, and sheer against opaque, it takes the idea of sweet spring pastels and gives them the middle finger.
Sure, it’s an immaculately painted middle finger, but still.
Yeah, this collection wants to start sh*t! On the surface, it seems like the furthest thing away from a typical spring release, far more rowdy rockstar glam than happy Easter.
Blackened blue and forest green nails; rich plum, sapphire and cocky khaki lids; and nude lips and colorful lashes. I mean, just look at that model…
That girl is not sitting primly at high tea right there and wearing a prissy floral dress.
But delve a little deeper, and the collection reveals a softer side… Take the three new eyeshadow duos in Ripe Plum, Raw Jade and Crushed Indigo ($60 each).
All three have Tom’s latest shadow formulation and can be worn wet or dry (the formula’s very similar to the NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadows).
To go full-on, high-intensity rockstar, wet a flat eyeshadow brush, and apply one of the darker shades. Or, go with one of the lighter shades applied with a dry domed brush for a softer veil of opalescent color (that’s how I’m wearing them in the pics below).
To really embrace the contrasty concept, start by laying one of the darker shades all over your lids, then apply one of the lighter shades directly on top in the center to catch some light.
While these do have a metallic finish, it’s not a source of stress. They don’t apply crazy frosty, so any fine lines should be fine.
As for the two tinted mascaras in the collection, well, let’s just say that if you’re going for something bold and bright like the girl in the campaign poster is wearing, you may need to prep your lashes first with a couple coats of a black curling mascara.
With either of them — Teal Intense or Black Plum ($44 each) — on my lashes alone, the colors don’t show up. I have to prime my lashes first with a black mascara. In these pics I’m wearing the mascaras without having done any prep work, and the tints are barely visible.
The mascara formula also relaxes the curl (grr).
There are also three nail lacquers in the release — Black Jade, Indigo Night and Bitter Bitch ($32 each). I’ve tried Black Jade and Indigo Night this week, two of the three, and both of them look almost black on my nails.
Not gonna lie, nine times out of 10 I’ll pick bad girl rockstar nails over sweet pastels, but Black Jade and Indigo Night look almost the same on my nails.
Seriously, I can barely see a difference. I have to look really closely. I’d say that if you’re contemplating these two polishes, pick the one that moves you the most. I don’t think you’d need them both (haha, “need”).
Oh! — and with these polishes, I cannot slack off and skip a topcoat; otherwise, they’ll be chip city within three days.
You can spend some quality time with Tom and his spring 2015 collection right meow at Tom Ford counters and online.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The Indigo looks beautiful. And a purple mascara? I’d love that!! But for now Tom Ford is too expensive for me.
Those duos are beautiful! I love Raw Jade and Crushed Indigo
The pigmentation certainly gets taken up a notch when worn wet. I think the girl in the campaign ad looks bad a$$. And it’s certainly the type of look I’d go for; with nowhere to go, mind you.
They certainly look better wet!
I’d love to see an eye look with Ripe Plum. They look so pretty, but are so pricey. I live vicariously through you Karen. Thanks for the swatches!
Do you think there are people with pulses who don’t swoon over Tom Ford? I fall in love with everything you post from him and I’m always gaga over the packaging. Thank goodness I’m not into colorful eyes (for me, but that model looks fab) or my wallet would be hurting. 🙂
RIGHT? There’s something about the way he handles his collections that leave me breathless. GAH!
I’m a bit disappointed with the dry swatches… They look great wet though. But I just don’t like applying my eyeshadow wet, so meh, I guess I’ll skip them. Too bad (says me. GOOD, says my wallet).
Now you have more fun money for summer makeup, right?!
I was really hoping you would do a look with the wet shadows and give us a seriously intense eye. The dry look is quite pretty on you. It reminds me of the look you did with the Hourglass palette in Field, which I bought because of you.
I think I might be drooling a little bit over the Indigo Night polish. Good thing I’ve put myself on a ‘No Buy’ right now otherwise I think my visa would be smoking after this post!
Hi Carolyn,
I have that intense eye on my to-do list. 🙂 I’ve been going through a minimalist eye makeup phase and it’s only a matter of time before I snap outta it and start piling it on again, haha!
I hope you like your Hourglass palette! I know it’s been getting mixed reviews, but I really like it.
Happy Thursday!
So far I’ve been able to resist this collection. If I do break down it might be for the plum duo. I want more of the cream color eyeshadows in different colors. But I’m so pale that I knew there is no way I could pull off the Spring 2015 color, unless I just used it as a liner. Waiting for something to blow my socks off before I spend more $$.
I’m curious how the new Burberry Wet/Dry shadows will be. I love the old formula and hit pan twice on Trench.
That Indigo!!!
You are this Tom ford spring collection totally gives a break to prettyy pastels and softer shades but I am loving the introduction of indigo and jade blue to the season.. 😉
I wish the mascaras were more pigmented bcz at this price i really want a good colored mascara 😛
Karen, if you had to pick between the Ripe Plum and the Hourglass plummy palette, which would you choose? Like you, I love the red-brown plums. Thanks!
This is a really late comment but I finally did it and bought ripe plum – omg, I love it! Should I pick up another before they disappear?! agh the struggle is real.