Manolo for the Beauty

The Telegraph had an interesting little article on the “coolest” brands in Britain, which were anointed to be hair products company ghd and skin care line Dermalogica.  They also labeled them as iconic, but I’m not sure I agree.  Then again, I don’t live in Britain.

It got me to thinking about the way I feel about certain brands that I like. I mean, I adore Guerlain lipsticks, but I’m guessing the company is not considered to be “cool.” Doesn’t mean I won’t stop buying them, though. I think I’ve moved past the stage where I’m worried if people will think I’m cool by association of what products I use. Case in point, I drive a minivan.

The definition of cool is so nebulous, and so very dependent upon the person you ask.

If you had to choose the “coolest” beauty brand, what would it be?

On to day 2 of my testosterone-infused beauty posts.

This is a man:

This is a woman:

I’m thinking on this one, the man wins.

Yes, the man has a bit of a plastic-y vibe going, but that is all Photoshop’s fault. And maybe it was easier to hide his facial hair that way.

And Gaga looks good, but I still see this as Gaga with a pompadour.

What say you?

While I certainly respect Cindy Sherman as an artist and applaud MAC for doing something out of the box, I have to say the campaign for Fall Colours 2011 does not actually make me want to purchase the makeup.

Vogue + Yves Saint Laurent makeup+ Natasha Poly and Jourdan Dunn= beauty eye candy galore.

Girl done brought it for W Magazine.

I find this to be much more compelling than your average Kate Moss spread, despite the lack of flowing hair and artfully spread, pouty lips.  To me, this editorial is a perfect jumping off point to discuss what qualitites people respond to in a model.  In this case, it certainly isn’t “conventional” beauty.  But I can’t take my eyes off of it, or the fabulous SWINTON.  It is her facial expression? The eyes? The clothes? The photography?  Some wonderful confluence of all of those?

The world will be safe as long as she sticks with advertising clothing and not something like crack.

Or is it the fish eye and the dead mouth?

Either way, it’s doing nothing for me.

For their Summer 2011 beauty campaign, Armani inexplicably chose actress Megan Fox.  I can’t think of an actress with quite less charm.  Maybe January Jones, but even she does a better editorial.

Whatever.

If this picture is supposed to entice me into buying some Tom Ford makeup, which I’m pretty sure it is, it isn’t doing the job.

All I can do is stare at that horrible green eyeshadow and note how it clashes not only with her lips, but her cheeks and nails as well. On the other hand, you can’t help but look at it.

And the makeup line itself? I hear that this will be a true luxury line with prices to match. Too bad the packaging looks like the ugly stepchild of Chanel and YSL.

Because nothing makes me want to whip out my credit card and buy an expensive dress like a model who looks like she lost her job, her boyfriend, and her puppy on the same day.

Is this Children of the Corn slash Stepford Wife look going to become all the rage?

God, I hope not.

My initial reaction? Bluuuurrgh…

I have no feelings about Gaga one way or the other, musically speaking.  Some of her tunes are catchy, although the comparisons to Madonnna are inevitable and often spot-on.

I find myself wishing that they would have just featured the black and gold look on the left and been done with it.  Because damn, the face in the middle is boring as hell.

Also? HATE the hair.  Why can’t people spend some money on extensions, for God’s sake?

Also also?  Please let the pointy nails stay away as a trend.