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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Tom Ford Fall Color Collection for Fall 2012

The Neiman Marcus Fall The Book introduced me to the Tom Ford Beauty Fall 2012 Color Collection. The limited-edition makeup collection "explores the mesmerizing depth and versatility of color, from floral pinks and lavenders to bewitching shades of black cherry and emerald. It can create a spectrum of captivating looks, from delicate and romantic to hedonistic and hypnotizing."

Pfew, that's pretty stunning language for a collection that looks disjointed to me. Let's dissect this collection as presented in The Book (there's more to it, but I'm equally unmoved by the rest of the collection).

Here are the items, lest I get carried away and forget them. The "sexy" names actually turn me off. I'm so over Tom Ford's ideas about sexy.
  • Extreme Mascara in Raven (snooze) ($42)
  • Nail Lacquer in Dominatrix (I find the name a turn-off; the color lies on a well-worn path) ($30)
  • Lip Color in Aphrodisiac (bold pink - not unique this fall) ($48)
  • Limited-edition Lip & Cheek Stain in Tainted Love (OK, this looks interesting; I'd like to see it in person) ($48)
  • Eye Color Quad in Emerald Lust (did someone say spring?) ($75)
Overlook the price disadvantage for a moment. Is there anything here that makes you want to run right out and purchase the collection? Do the pieces seem like afterthoughts? To me, they appear to be a random collection of this and that, totally lacking in cohesiveness or a theme.

I'm sorry, Mr. Ford. In my humble opinion, this one is a big miss. Including black mascara, a staple, in a color collection is a cop-out. An intense pink lip color? How original! A blue, aqua, and green quad? I already have eye shadows that will give me the peacock look. It's not on my fall radar. We did these colors last spring.

Have we reached the point at which his name will sell anything? Was he counting on that when he "designed" this collection?

Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus - let's not blame them; they just sell this stuff

23 comments:

  1. Every word you said is true, Charlestongirl. The collection is horrible and the prices are too. As long as we are being honest about Tom Ford I have this to say.... I find him to be incredibly handsome. I also know that he is a gay man. So why does he often show up in ads with equally good-looking women? It seems dishonest to me and frankly "weird". I think I'm no longer impressed with him.

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  2. I think the collection is exquisite. It includes another eye quad called Enchanted, as well as a plum creme shadow and a gorgeous blush. I think the models in his makeup ads are just as beautiful as his products. And I am glad that he is gay because I support gay rights. As for the prices of his collection pieces, we pay that much or more for other things. Armani and LMDB, for instance. Tom Ford is a genius and it shows. I see nothing dishonest or weird about him.

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  3. All I'm interested in is the Cheek and Lip Tint and that plum creme eye shadow - everything else is run-of-the-mill.

    Mr. Ford thinks he's God's gift to men and women. He's nice to look at, and I really do like a few of his products. I think it's time to change the direction of the product naming...the sexual connotations don't bother me at all, but some of the names go a little too far in the direction of mistreatment...enough already!

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  4. I, too, am really interested in the lip and cheek tint as well as the plum eye shadow, but I can't get over those prices. His version of what's sexy is irritating - Bitter Bitch is the one that bugs me. All the women I've known who could uncharitably be referred to as such have had horribly tragic and difficult lives. Nars's names are worse, though - G Spot, Deep Throat (that poor woman did that movie against her will. I do not think it's appropriate to name a blush after it).

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  5. I have been seriously underwhelmed by Tom Ford's beauty collection ever since he expanded beyond the lipsticks. It seems extremely overpriced and I am a luxe make-up junkie! That said, I will be in search of the lip/cheek stain because I am a stain fanatic. I don't see how Tom Ford's sexual orientation has anything to do with anything and I don't understand some of the comments here.

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  6. Long time follower of your site but first time commenter :) As an eyeshadow junkie, the teal quad is utterly disappointing. Guerlain Les Aqua looks like a better (and cheaper!) version. Did you get a chance to see his other eyeshadow quad in Enchanted? ZzZzZzzzzzzz...

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  7. My counter already had the collection and I purchased the Enchanted quad ( beige/brown).
    I needed something some subtle after months of wearing Les Aquas, Les Roses and Capri.
    Those are gorgeous neutrals, I loved the colors at first sight. Yes, maybe boring for some, but I dont own many neutrals.
    I can not comment on the quality yet, as I only used it this morning in a rush and need to play with it more before judging.
    Those are pearly shadows, similar to guerlain les Perles or chanels pearls quint from spring 2011.
    There is also gorgeous berry gloss in same color as blush. I dont wear vibrat lips so I skipped it. Blush is beautiful but again maybe not for my coloring.
    I didnt look at the green quad as I already own Les Aqua.

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  8. I agree with you Charlestongirl. There is nothing binding the whole collection except to call it fall 2012. I know browns and greens are supposedly huge this fall but it's not even the right green as I think the focus is khaki green. I can't comment on quality because I refuse to indulge in the brand when I saw that their pot shadows have sticker logos on them. I mean, if you're going to pay luxury prices, it has to be luxury packaging not generic with stickons. Sorry, I love the colors on the Enchanted palette but it is dupe-able.

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  9. Hi Nemo,

    Hope you were able to get the pieces you love.

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  10. Hi Nina,

    There are some TF Beauty products I really love, but I do gag at the prices - and I love buying luxury makeup.

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  11. Hi That Fashionista!

    We don't have a TF makeup counter (beyond lipsticks and nails) here in DC. So I have to rely on photos. I hear that's changing very soon. Yea! I might be more inclined to buy if I could play first.

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  12. Hi Anonymous,

    Thanks for the feedback and tips!

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  13. Hi Anonymous,

    Those sticker labels stuck in the throats of a lot of buyers. You just reminded me.

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  14. The colors are pretty. They're just not my thing. I believe I'm a little older (OK quite a bit older) than his target market. I guess I'm just looking for elegance right now.
    I've also read other reviews that say his eye shadows glaze over and become hard. Wouldn't know, nothing he's done in his color line is subtle enough to appeal to me.

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  15. Wow, Tatiana, I haven't heard that, but if it's true, it's terrible. I must go check mine.

    I can't imagine how an EL-produced product could dry out like that unless the top were left open.

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  16. I'm just not impressed either....nothing appeals to me. Maybe other colors he's offering for fall are better, I don't know. It's a pass so far for me :)

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  17. Please don't paint me as some kind of gay-basher. I am far from it. I have gay friends and relatives whom I love and support. My point was more about Ford's ego. I'm tired of the sexualization of makeup and it bothers me when he tries to pass himself off as straight to sell his products.

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  18. I won't be seeing these until some time later next week, but I must admit, there are a couple of things that interest me even though the "collection" appears disjointed. His colors might look, at first glance, to be similar to those released by other brands, but I would not automatically dismiss the palettes just because I though I might have some dupes. TF's shadows--at least in the three palettes I own--have nuances to them that are reminiscent of the kinds of complex colors that Guerlain creates. My only complaint with his quads is that they tend to be heavy on shimmer and light on satin/matte. As for his blushes, I adore them! And his lipsticks are very kind to my dry lips and give me a look that is polished, poised, and lush--real grown up lipstick for an evening out. His esthetic isn't going to suit everyone, he occassionally comes up with names that are outré, and his prices aren't for the budget minded. All considered, though, I'm quite a fan and have yet to be disappointed with anything I have selected upon visiting the counter.

    As for TF's sexuality, I'm not sure why that has been brought up. It's his cosmetics that are being reviewed; not his sexual orientation. He said in an interview that he does not like being referred to as a gay man; not because he denies his homosexuality, but because he doesn't think it is appropriate to define a person by their sexual preference. I agree. He is a handsome scalawag who delights in sensual displays of sexuality. He designs phenomenal clothes (Who can forget Gweneth Paltrow's white caped masterpiece?), gorgeous jewelry, beautiful cosmetics, and scents that make you feel like you've died and gone to heaven. He appears in his adds, but since he is a handsome man and uses his own products, why not?

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  19. Hi Eileen, I like his blushes too. That said, I like a lot of blushes, and sometimes I question why I need a Tom Ford blush vs. another luxury blush, e.g., LMdB or Chantecaille, that costs less.

    I doubt I'd have as much TF makeup as I do if I weren't a blogger.

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  20. Hi Charlestongirl,

    That's the wonderful thing about cosmetics--there's something for everyone. No matter our taste, needs, preferences, or budget, we can all be beautiful :-)

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