Gabrielle CoCo Chanel

Chanel number 19 Gabrielle lipstick

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous." ― Coco Chanel


Gabrielle "Coco" Bonheur Chanel, born August 19, 1883. This style icon needs no introduction, Chanel was to fashion, what Marilyn Monroe was to Hollywood ... each transcended their career, beyond fashion and acting, to a stratosphere so rarefied .... that for generations after them, there can be no other to compare. Both wore their hair short, Chanel was dark haired with a slim boyish figure and tanned skin, and Monroe the ultimate blonde bombshell with a hourglass figure and peaches and cream skin. And both wore red lipstick !! which is the subject of our blogpost.

Chanel Rouge CoCo Hydrating Creme Lip Colour number 19 is called Gabrielle, after CoCo Chanel's real name, and number 19 is her birthdate.

"One thing Chanel was quite clear about was her dislike of the unadorned face: 'I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness,' she said. She regarded the lips as the primary weapons of seduction and insisted on painting them a deep vermillion. As far back as 1921 she made her first stick of colour, protected in wax paper, the precursor of the lipstick as we know it today. Next she made for herself a mother-of-pearl tube, then a push-up case in gunmetal grey. " Linda Grant, Telegraph UK .  

Chanel No. 19 Gabrielle is possibly the most beautiful red lipstick ever !! We are not saying it's the best,  ..... because the choice of a lipstick colour is deeply personal, .... and there isn't one perfect shade of red for every woman.
Red lipstick is like red wine ... you got to give it some time ... let it breathe on your lips .... just feel the beauty of red satin caressing your lips ... forget all that it stands for : confidence, glamour, power, strength, seduction, fire ... just see how you feel .... so luxurious regardless of what you are wearing !!! ( Btw, this is D's favourite red ... it's classic, it's creamy, it's vibrant and rich AND it's Chanel ;)

When we were planning this blogpost, S did the product shots ... when we wrapped up, she told D ... " You know, the first time i saw you, you were wearing red lipstick, i didn't know who you were, but all i remember is your fire engine red lipstick ! Why don't you put on some now .... i want to shoot you." Just like that, out of the blue, D was coaxed to pose for her Canon. D hates close ups .... long shots are tolerable, but not portraits. She was dressed in a simple black T and blue denims. Both of us were tired, but for the sake of a friends fond memory, D agreed. Applying a coat of red to your lips is an instant pick me up ... you look instantly less tired, infinitely more glamorous .... maybe red is a very Indian colour ... it looks great on our skin ... maybe its Chanel No. 19 and the beautiful powdery rose fragrance on the lips .... you may only be wearing jeans ... but from the neck up, you are chanelling Chanel !! :D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last 3 pics : the third last - you can see S and her precious C clicking D coz its a mirror frame :) ... the second last - D channelising Chanel in denims sitting crosslegged on the floor :) ... the last - that's our home studio ... and defacto pajama party place :D

 

Hope you enjoyed this post, its the first time one of us posed for our blog ... hopefully here's to many more of that ... ( haha, we both are still camera shy ;P ). If you donot wear red lipstick ... give it a try ... a little at a time ... but we promise you ... once you are hooked, you will never look back ... it links you directly to Cleopatra, Marilyn Monroe and CoCo Chanel ... you can't say that ... about many things in life :P ... To rephrase Gwyneth Paltrow ... Beauty to us is being comfortable in your own skin. That or a kick - ass Red Lipstick !!!!

DS