chanel

In case you didn’t get the memo, Holiday is the new Spring. Well, at least it is according to Chanel. To the traditionalists out there, the new Les Tentations de Chanel Holiday 2010 Collection isn’t your typical holiday fare — you know, reds, golds and plums — but this isn’t the first time Chanel’s decided to mix it up.

Last year they celebrated summer for Christmas with blues, greens, golds and corals over the holidays. With a mix of pinks, fuchsias, browns and beige, this year they’re all about spring.

Like last year, lips are again light and carefree, shimmering and sheer. Rouge Coco in Magnolia ($30) looked like a pigmented shimmery pink in her tube but applies surprisingly sheer; even the Glossimers get in on the act, with the exception of Pleasing ($27), which does look opaque.

Cheeks are bright this time around (they were more golden last year) with the release of the super pigmented Les Tissages de Chanel in Tweed Fuchsia ($45), which, I’m happy to report, packs enough pigment and shine to show up on light AND brown-skinned babes (unlike the Too Faced powders we looked at yesterday), but lighter lovelies will only have to apply a little.

The eye products are kinda blowing my mind, particularly Ombres de’Eau in Splash ($32), a liquid shadow. It’s a shimmery pewter — a perfect combination of brown, gray and taupe. I’m also moved by the pink, beige, medium brown and dark brown shades in the Tentation Cuivree eyeshadow quad ($56). The colors lean toward the warmer end of the spectrum, and if you get a chance to check it out in person, take a close look at the medium brown (LOVE!). It’s got the cutest little bits of gold and pink glitter!

Chanel may have rewritten the traditional holiday color story again, but they certainly aren’t repeating themselves. Les Tentations de Chanel feels quite different from last year’s holiday release. It’s still Chanel, but where last year they took us to a fancy five-star resort, this year it’s a black-tie benefit all the way downtown.

Here’s are pics of 10 of the 16 items in the collection. Take a look, and let me know what you think. 🙂

Les Tissages de Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect in Tweed Fuchsia, $45

Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Tentation Cuivree, $56
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You know what they should give out during mass at the Church of Chanel? Coupon codes. Or maybe instead of a church raffle they could hold a friends & family sale (hint, hint, Karl!).

Wishful thinking, right? Yeah, I get the feeling we’ll be waiting a long time before we see a big sale at Chanel. I’d be less surprised to see one of the aliens from Mars Attacks win a gold medal in figure skating (“Ack! Ack!”).

But if you’re willing to throw down $65 (!) for the new limited edition SoHo de Chanel Highlighting Powder and Blush, maybe you won’t care how well the aliens do at some future Olympics because your cheeks will radiate an otherworldly glow.

Coupled with the package’s striking good looks (LOVE the design on the pan!), this is Chanel at the top of their game, and the only thing holding it back is the price.

Wear each of the pan’s three finely-milled powders separately — a light reddish plum, a pinkish ivory and a peachy pink — or swirl a brush over all three to mix them for a soft, shimmery glow (I prefer the latter).
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A glittery pinkish purple lipgloss? Yes, please!

And the fact that this one’s also a Chanel Glossimer doesn’t hurt — well, except for the $27 price. That part hurts, but overlooking the way in which that makes my tummy churn, yippee!

She’s called Star, and like her namesake she’s all about the sparkle (with a very light tint). We’re talking good glitter here, very fine, and it doesn’t migrate around my lips.

Star feels thick and slightly sticky to me with a wear time around 90 minutes (mediocre for a gloss), and I’m glad that Chanel kept her scent- and flavor-free.

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