CosBeauty Magazine #101

FEATURE
Fashion
& beauty
the ultimate
collaboration
L’Interdit
fragrance by
Givenchy, $177
MAKEUP, SKINCARE AND FRAGRANCE HAVE
BECOME PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE OF FASHION
HOUSES, GIVING LOYAL FANS MORE REASONS
TO STAY ENGAGED WITH THEIR MOST-COVETED
LABELS. WORDS BY RICKY ALLEN.
There seems to be a natural progression from fashion label to
beauty brand for many of the world’s leading fashion houses,
which, of course, makes perfect sense. To be successful in
fashion, you need to understand women and aesthetics.
Following with a beauty range is the next logical step.
Perhaps the most notable example is legendary luxury
fashion house, Chanel. In 1910, Coco Chanel opened her first
store at 21 Rue Cambon in Paris. It started inauspiciously as
a hat store – and went on to become one of the world’s most
famous fashion brands.
Chanel has changed the course of fashion – you can thank
her for creating the little black dress and evening trousers
for women, which were groundbreaking and era-defining at
the time. The influential designer was also well ahead of her
time in merging the worlds of fashion and beauty. In 1921
the iconic Chanel No 5 fragrance was created. It became an
instant hit and is the best-selling perfume of all time.
In similar fashion, The House of Dior, synonymous with
dramatic evening dresses and sculpted silhouettes, burst
on the Paris fashion scene in 1947. Dior’s revolutionary
‘New Look’ was accompanied by a fragrance, Miss Dior,
the finishing touch designed to ‘leave a trail of desire in a
woman’s wake’. This was followed by the now-famous Rouge
Chanel fragrances,
from $134