Chanel 31 Le Rouge launch event

 

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Mid-August I received a text from Julia inviting me to an invite-only event at Chanel for the launch of their new 31 Le Rouge lipsticks. She said the event was exclusive to her VIP clients and only around 20 people were invited to attend. There will be drinks, bubbles, canapes, makeup applications, and gift with purchases on the night. It was a weeknight in town after the shopping hours.  I accepted the invitation and made plans with my husband to look after dinner that night for the family.

The shop was buzzing by the time I got there just 10 minutes late (I hate parking in CBD). The shop was decorated with all the new 31 Le Rouge posters, display cases, white roses all around. We had a security guard at the shop front to greet us and all the SAs were busy with their clients. Everyone else there except for Julia was a stranger to me. I was greeted by a lovely lady to offer me a drink and I’m around the shop exploring and taking photos and videos. So there will be event photos and swatches of the lipsticks below!

After a little bit of nosy around the store, Nick, one of their team gave a short speech about the event. Then he went on to talk about the background of 31 Rue Cambon, which is the first boutique for Chanel and is now their flagship store. He also talked about the glass lipstick case, which is inspired by the Art Deco glass staircase at 31 Rue Cambon. Coco Chanel would sit on the spiral staircase to observe the audience of her fashion shows. Nick also walked us through all 12 shades of the 31 Le Rouge – the shades and the inspiration behind it. You can listen to him on my IG post above.

Afterward, everyone was invited to browse the store and try out everything, there were 3 makeup areas to try out all the lipstick shades. I sat down to swatch all the shades and I tried shades 2 and 4 on my lips. The majority of the 12 shades are red-based. There are a number of deeper reds and only a couple of lighter colours. The lipstick cartridges are interchangeable (they call it refillable, but I hate that term, you don’t “refill” lipsticks!). So you can pull out the centre cartridge (gold part) and then replace with another colour. The cartridge snaps in the glass bullet case with the magnet inside the case. You are unable to twist the lipstick cartridge without the glass case. The lid also snaps close with magnetic mechanism as well.

About the lipsticks. The glass case feels and looks luxurious in real life. It might remind you of L’Oreal lipstick cases, but this one by Chanel is what I would call quiet luxury. If you know, you know. If you feel it in your hand, you can feel the luxurious shine, weight and texture of the case. “The lipstick formula, which has been carefully developed by the Chanel laboratories, offers a long-lasting look and an entirely new sensory experience. Formulated with 75% naturally derived ingredients. Finely micronised pigments combined with sheer mother-of-pearl reveal intense, purely radiant colour. Enriched with Gardenia oil from Gaujacq, a Chanel-exclusive ingredient*, and Maracuja oil, to leave lips smoother and better defined.” – Chanel.com.

*Patent pending in Europe, the United States, South Korea, China, and Japan.

Ingredients: PENTAERYTHRITYL ADIPATE/CAPRATE/CAPRYLATE/HEPTANOATE | CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE | LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL | SQUALANE | ETHYL OLEATE | BIS-BEHENYL/ISOSTEARYL/PHYTOSTERYL DIMER DILINOLEYL DIMER DILINOLEATE | SYNTHETIC WAX | POLYGLYCERYL-2 ISOSTEARATE/DIMER DILINOLEATE COPOLYMER | HELIANTHUS ANNUUS CERA SEED (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED WAX) | CANDELILLA CERA (EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX) | LAUROYL LYSINE | CELLULOSE | CERA CARNAUBA (COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX) | STEARALKONIUM HECTORITE | SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE | PASSIFLORA EDULIS SEED OIL | GARDENIA FLORIDA FLOWER EXTRACT | ETHYL LINOLEATE | ETHYL PALMITATE | PROPYLENE CARBONATE | ETHYL STEARATE | PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) | ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE | TOCOPHEROL | DIMETHICONE | [+ / – (MAY CONTAIN) | CI 12085 (RED 36) | CI 15850 (RED 6) | CI 15850 (RED 7 LAKE) | CI 15985 (YELLOW 6 LAKE) | CI 17200 (RED 33 LAKE) | CI 19140 (YELLOW 5 LAKE) | CI 42090 (BLUE 1 LAKE) | CI 45380 (RED 22 LAKE) | CI 45410 (RED 28 LAKE) | CI 73360 (RED 30 LAKE) | CI 77163 (BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE) | CI 77491, | CI 77492, | CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES) | CI 77742 (MANGANESE VIOLET) | CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) | MICA] | BS000142A

12 shades

1. Rouge Beige
2. Rouge Croisiere
3. Rouge Roman
4. Rouge Flou
3. Rouge Premier
6. Rouge Imaginaire
7. Rouge Prive
8. Rouge Fetiche
9. Rouge Tailleur
10. Rouge Byzantin
11. Rouge Coromandel
12. Rouge 2.55

When I first heard about the lipstick from Julia, I asked her the price for each lipstick it was $250 each and the coffret set is around $590 with one lipstick already loaded into the glass case, 2 refills, and a limited edition sleeve. The set comes in a white, mirrored wooden box which does look very pretty. However, right away I knew I wasn’t going to get any, but I decided to go to the event anyway. $250 per lipstick is not what I want to pay for a lipstick no matter how much I love a brand or how exclusive it is. I would spend that amount on skincare or clothing, but not a lipstick that I cannot use for years and years.

At the event, there were many people purchasing the lipsticks and the box set but my SA did not make me feel any less important than people who bought the expensive lipstick. I did purchase other products – mainly restocking of favourite items and I did get a gift with purchase pouch that everyone else got. Also loaded with samples. I will share the mini haul on my IG, but not on my blog. So check it out there!