Pucker up Hermès lovers, Rouge Hermès is launching next month with bright and modern lipstick colors and contemporary cases to entice you into Hermès’s new makeup line.
There will be 24 intense and electric pigmented shades inspired from the brand’s archives of 900 leather swatches and 75,000 silk colors. But be warned, this is just the beginning: Hermès is taking aim at your entire cosmetic bag.
Photo courtesy of @stanislav_kemlev_live
Photo courtesy of David Abrahams for wsj.magazine.
Hermès does not regularly delve into new areas. They focus on what they do best, ready-to-wear, silks, shoes, jewelry, leather goods, equestrian equipment, furniture, tableware, watches, and perfume. In the early 2000’s, Hermès released a single shade of red lipstick in limited edition. But it was not ready to launch an entire beauty line at that time.
Photo courtesy of David Abrahams for wsj.magazine.
Things changed in 2015 when former MAC executive Agnès de Villers arrived to run Hermès’s perfume and beauty division. That was when things got serious. De Villers convinced the company that it could launch an entire beauty line. Hermès then hired Jérôme Touron, who had previously developed beauty lines for Chanel and Dior, to create the beauty and skin care products.
In conjunction with Hermès’s in-house creative teams, Rouge Hermès was developed after two years of collaboration and testing. Beginning this March, new cosmetic lines will be introduced every six months starting with lipstick, then moving on to foundations, eye and cheek colors, and eventually skin care.
Photo courtesy of @hermes
When Rouge Hermès launches, there will be a true red, a neutral rose, pinks, oranges and deep plums to name a few. Each lipstick will be housed in a refillable contemporary lacquered metal case made from their signature permabrass hardware and bright colors.
Pierre Hardy, creative director of Hermès’s jewelry and shoes, designed the lipstick outer bullet thinking about future sustainability. The idea is to appeal to future generations. He wanted to create a refillable mechanism that is plastic-free and allowed the use of more luxurious materials. The enticing contemporary design of the lipstick case makes it an accessory worth owning.
Photo courtesy of @hermes
Photo courtesy of @voguetaiwan
Photo courtesy of @voguetaiwan
Photo courtesy of @voguetaiwan
Hermès in-house perfumer, Christine Nagel, developed a delicate custom scent for each lipstick. It is a blend of sandalwood, arnica and angelica, reminiscent of plants. There will be 24 different colors to start, plus three additional options every season. The lipstick will retail for $67 and refills for $42.
There will be two different textures, a matte finish inspired by Hermès’s fine-grained suede, and a satin finish inspired by the glow of the original box calf leather Kelly bag.
The lipstick line also includes a lip brush, universal lip pencil, a lip care balm, and a poppy lip shine.
Photo courtesy of @hermes
Photo courtesy of @hermes
Staying true to its core products, Hermès will also release a line of small calfskin leather accessories to go along with the beauty products. Crafted by Hermès’s artisans and designers, there will be a lip brush with a striped, lacquered wood handle, and a matching translucent lip pencil meant to stop lipstick from spreading. A leather lipstick case with an integrated mirror, and a pop-up lipstick case and moon-shaped mirror on a cord which can function as a necklace, will be an additional accessory.
Photo courtesy of @stanislav_kemlev_live
The hope is that purchasers will feel they are buying more than just lipstick. They are acquiring an Hermès object worth owning. The ultimate goal is to convince more people to walk in their door. Hermès wants to reach larger numbers of people which will translate into bigger revenues.
Rouge Hermès will be available in 35 countries at select Hermès boutiques, on Hermès.com, and at third-party retailers, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdales.
Will you buy a $67 Rouge Hermès lipstick when it launches? We here at Pursebop will be first in line.
Love, PurseBop
XO
Updated: February 22nd, 2020
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