Great news for all beauty addicts and fashion lovers around the globe, this month Isabel Marant, the queen of effortless Parisian chic, is launching a make-up collection with L’Oréal Paris. Five multi-purpose products in a range of perfect shades, the line is ideal for creating the insouciant, pared-back look Marant’s customers adore. Below, take a first look at the products as the designer gives us an insight about the process behind creating the collection, and how the partnership came about.
With Isabel Marant – the queen of effortless Parisian chic
L’ORÉAL X ISABEL MARANT – WANTED: ONE COLLECTION OF EFFORTLESS PARISIAN ALLURE
For your first ever makeup collection, what did you want to bring to women?
Exactly what I want in my makeup bag. The essential products for every day, for life on-the-go. I approached this makeup collection in the same way I design my ready-to-wear collections: to be wearable anytime, anywhere. For me, Parisian cool style is not about social media perfection, it is a natural elegance: Super-natural for day then statement updates for night with a dark eye or a bright red lip. But never both at the same time. And always worn with a slight offbeat edge. Imperfection has a charm all its own. A makeup embracing your own personality.
This collaboration is Paris meets the Wild West, what inspires you about that era?
I love the myth of the Wild West. That borderless way of life, eyeing new horizons and feeling the endless possibilities of adventure. The way our culture is today. This modern reinterpretation of the West has been a theme of my fashion collections. The wildness of that era, the exploration, the rebelliousness… it is a continuous inspiration to me.
Why on-the-go makeup products?
For this collection, the question I asked myself was the same as when I design clothes: “what do I want to wear? What do I need that I don’t already have?” And the answer is makeup that’s effortless because we’re all on the go. Who goes back at home to change after a long day of work? I wanted to create products that are practical, fast on the draw! That can be applied on the go. Products that are small enough to take with you anywhere, any time. And also what was important to me was that each of these is multi-purposed. Easy to use and easy to take with you anywhere.
How did you decide what you wanted to include as essentials?
For me, every day makeup should be about wearing just one thing. One brush of mascara or a touch of lipstick or a little shadow. To create this collection, started with those three products. Then, the addition is a bit of color on the cheeks. The look I envision is makeup without trying, slightly undone. Easy natural elegance.
What influenced which colors you wanted?
For this collection, I had in mind colors “hors du temps”, timeless. The sought after Parisian look of today with a modern feel. We have three red lipsticks for that modern women can dress up with.
Isabel Marant F/W 2018
What inspired the L’Oréal Paris x Isabel Marant graphic aesthetic?
The inspiration is my Fall Winter 18 Collection, which is cowboyish: The “Wanted Posters” from the Wild West that we have reinterpreted in a modern way. And Black on white is the signature!
With each product emblazoned with either to SMILE, to SHINE, to AMAZE… is the message to wear makeup with confidence?
Absolutely. For me, that’s the difference between embracing first the woman, her personality, rather than the makeup first. It is very important to me. Those sentences are a lift me up to women using my products. And it is also a small touch of humour. We had fun in thinking about those sentences.
Let’s talk about each essential.
SMILE – You’re known for your smile – what is lipstick to a smile?
I love red lipstick: Beautiful alone, lipstick can even be more powerful with a smile! We’ve created 7 Isabel Marant shades for Color Riche, 2 nudes, for a bare lip look, 3 different reds for that bold lips you spot brightening a grey day on the Paris streets, and two deeper plum shades.
WANTED – Why a double-duty translucent mascara?
This transparent mascara is very natural but in the same time very sexy and you can also use it to tame your brows. Transparent, it suits every lash color, and gives a very natural, ‘wet’ look – a dewy, just emerged from water finish – that works on everyone. I love it.
SMOKE – When and where do you rock a smoky eye?
I’l l create a smoldering smoky eye to go out. The handy pocket shadow combines matte black for the smokiness with a beautiful iridescent black, blended with chromatic emerald and blue shimmer to add depth and intrigue to any eye color. Smudge on with your fingertips for a nonchalant Paris night.
AMAZE – When do you most need or use a cheek tint?
At the final stage of a show, when all the final touches being placed start showing up. When you just need a most subtle touch of color and light on the face. What’s genius about this cheek tint is that the formula adapts to your skin’s natural coloring.
SHINE – How does this highlighter reintroduce shine?
This is the light to detract any shadows or dullness. It’s a flattering, anytime highlighter that puts women in their best light. A multi-purpose cream that turns into a powder on skin, to blur imperfections while it subtly highlights.
What did you learn in the L’Oréal Paris labs that you didn’t know before about makeup?
So much. There’s a level of technology involved in the colors and in the textures. For example, AMAZE really amazed me! A formula that responds to the pH of your skin!
You’re the epitome of the natural look, how does this new capsule collection achieve that effortless result?
I would say understated not overdone. We’ve made the tones and the shades for natural looks – that take a nude lipstick, transparent mascara, a cheek tint for a flush that looks healthy and natural.
WANTED: WHEN THE WILD WEST HITS PARIS
How is the spirit of the Wild West captured in the campaign?
The Wild West comes to the Paris of today. So, of course the first shot is a woman on horseback. You see these strong women who dare to kick up dust, stand tall and prepare to duel in the City of Lights. These heroines will not stand for the status quo. The world is theirs – and they know it.
What made you decide – “Women on horseback!”
It was inspired by my Ready to Wear Fall 18 Collection. Uninterrupted horizons and low skies were the unseen backdrop for my silhouettes that inspired me. It’s such a powerful image, the rider on horseback. I enjoy rewriting the myth of the Wild West, the Wild West in Paris. These are heroines in their own right, not a cowboy in sight.
Is the Isabel Marant woman a loner or part of a bigger gang?
I don’t like the idea to put people in boxes. But I see my “girl” as an independent-minded woman shaping her own paths – yet joining up with other women to travel stretches of road at a time together.
Isabel Marant’s F/W 2018 campaign was photographed by Juergen Teller.
WANTED: A SHARED FORCE OF FEMININITY
What are the 3 values distinct to the Isabel Marant brand?
Sincerity, pioneering spirit, joy.
What is self-worth to you?
It’s self-respect, having an inner voice that speaks up for yourself, not down. Being yourself without letting the others change your point of view.
When did you first hear “Worth It”?
“Je le bien” I remember hearing as a teenager. It stood out at the time, but it must have resonated, even as a tomboy teenager raiding her dad’s wardrobe and not subscribing to the feminine ideals of the time.
What does “Worth it” bring to mind today?
It makes me think of women having to take ownership of their identities and choose their own path. Unfortunately, it is still not the case everywhere in the world.
Why L’Oréal Paris & Isabel Marant?
I love dressing women all around the world, in all their diversity – with a vision of femininity that I share with L’Oréal Paris. I like to give women the confidence to express themselves freely.
Both represent facets of the Parisian look, how would you describe French style in a few words?
French style is style. It’s somewhat hard to define the Parisian look. It is a carefree nonchalance, without trying just simply elegant, not pretentious. I think my style is really Parisian.
How do both you, and L’Oréal Paris champion women?
Giving each woman the freedom to be whoever she wants to be.
How do you define beauty?
Beauty is embracing yourself, it adds confidence.
WANTED: ONE SELF-MADE DESIGNER
How did your journey to a most wanted fashion designer begin?
I was actually going to study economics, but then because I couldn’t find the kind-of clothes I wanted to wear in the shops, I started making them myself. And that’s how the label first began.
Over 24 years as creative head of your label, what are your greatest triumphs?
I’d say one of the things I love most is seeing someone on the street wearing one of my designs from years ago. Seeing a pair of boots or a dress, be loved and worn for seasons. That to me is the greatest triumph.
Known for her conic heels: Lileas ruched leather ankle boots for F/W 2018
As a fashion designer, everybody wants more of you, how do you deal with fame?
I don’t see myself as famous. I’m not recognized all the time and luckily in Paris, people are mostly discreet, they want to play it cool and that’s great with me.
Your designs have a very distinctive Parisian signature, how do you describe it?
Effortless, free. A silhouette that speaks of self-affirmation and individuality with an art of contrast. Tomboyish but sexy.
What drives you to stay independent?
I always had creative freedom since I was young and that is never going to change. Freedom is everything to me.
You’ve said before what you do isn’t about fashion, rather “getting dressed.” How does that ethos translate into this beauty collection?
This collection is about getting ready: getting ready for a special day or getting ready for a party, the essentials to have always in your bag but still embracing yourself. Essentials that aren’t about creating an entirely new look but giving elegance to the look you have.
What makes Parisian style so desired by the world?
This is a question I’m often asked. I think Parisians are known for not overdoing their style, for having discreet elegance. Just having that little touch of charm. That’s said, French don’t look to work on their style but in fact they do!
WANTED: THE WOMAN BEHIND THE DESIGNER
How do you feel about your reflection?
I am happy with who I am and I am not afraid of time passing. I see the movement of time. I see aging as a beautiful thing that does not need to be changed and I do things for myself, to keep my mind and my body healthy. I’m very happy to be here, doing what I do.
Why such social media discretion?
I lead a full life, I’m a busy working woman. I cannot spend my time on social media because I don’t have time. But I am curious about what customers have to say about the brand. In the past, it was difficult to get feedback and get customers points of views.
Agnès Varda and her historical alter ego in her most recent movie.
Who’s your superhero?
Agnès Varda, one of the only female film Directors of the New Wave. I like what she represents for the French cinema, and what she has made smoothly for the feminist cause.
Do you see yourself as feminist?
I am not a feminist as a militant but rather in the way that equality is so rooted in me that I do not really think about people’s gender when I think of them. A majority of women work in my company, but this was never thought-out and I don’t make a political statement of it, they were just the best persons, the right moment.
If you could live in any other decade, which one would it be?
In the Wild West of the 19 th Century.
What would you say to your younger self?
Stand up for yourself. Trust your voice. And don’t listen to anyone else. Follow your own path.
What is your mantra? Favorite quote?
Less is more.
One makeup product that you couldn’t live without?
A beautiful red lipstick which galvanizes when you are a little bit down.
Indians or cowboys?
I love the culture, the history and the myths surrounding both. Indians and cowgirls you mean?!
AVAILABLE NOW ONLY AND EXCLUSIVE AT MANOR IN SWITZERLAND.
HIGHLIGHTER: CHF 14.90
BROW MASCARA: CHF 16.90
LIP GLOSS: CHF 15.90
LIP STICK : CHF 21.90
TO SHOP ISABEL MARANT PRÊT-À-PORTER AND ACCESSORIES, CLICK HERE PLEASE.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of L’Oréal Paris and © Sandra Bauknecht
Olivier Rousteing with me
