NARS + Guy Bourdin - Holiday 2013

[Aquamarine1543]

I just thought I'd mention that I think the debate/ discussion about this collection that's happened in this forum has been very intelligent and respectful. It's nice to see people voicing their opinions and not have it turn into...

One more way in which it's a pleasure to be on Specktra.

Looking at the products, I'm nervous about the shadows now, because they seem to shatter so easily. If I get any (right now Wilful and Mississippi Mermaid of all colours are the ones I'm most drawn to) I'm definitely going to ask the SA to open it up so I can have a look. Hopefully, the PR samples come from a pre-production batch and the problem was fixed.

So far, I'm certain about Coeur Battant and Daydream (which I don't think looks like Deep Throat at all, although T says they're close). Of the lipsticks, I want Full Frontal and Goodbye Emmanuelle, both of which look like they'd be quite unique in my collection. Future Red is also a possibility. It's strange how it looks warm on T but cool on Karen. I'll have to check how it looks on me...

I'm pretty confused too since T said Future Red is warm-toned, but I thought it's cool-toned and it looks like from other reviews and swatches.

 

[kanne]

I strongly disagree with T. Ever if some photographe look weird and macabre it has nothing to do with domestic violence. It's more surrealism than mysoginy, it's an artistic work. Violence often pervades paintings or photographs but artists. are no monstres or dangerous political leaders so far I know, they are misunderstood for some of them. David Lynch was inspired by Guy Bourdin so was François Nars, that's it in my opinion. Nars is a huge fan of cinéma and photography and a photographer himself. I love the collection and the inspiration behind the scènes.

I agree with you, and I absolutely am a huge fan of surrealism, and think it's incredible that he used photography as his medium. I love his artwork. However, I think it was a vogue article that I read about him, and it was quite disturbing. He was quite sadistic in the way he treated the models, and had 2 of his partners die from suicide consecutively - he was well known for being extremely demanding and difficult to work with.

On the other hand, he is no longer alive, he isn't profiting from this collection, and its clear to see that Nars has been inspired by his work for a long time.

 

[Miss QQ]

Swatches and review of Cambobia eyeshadow: http://www.beautygala.com/brands/na...ematic-eyeshadow-in-cambodia-swatches-review/ Karen from MakeUpAndBeautyBlog reviews the collection in more details: http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/nars-guy-bourdin/

All the lipsticks are beautiful. I noticed that Karen always make all the lipsticks look great in her lip swatches. My top choices are still Goodbye Emmanuel and Full Frontal. I might get Daydream, it doesn't look like Deep Throat now that I've seen more pictures. Wishful Thinking looks like a gorgeous blue.

 

[LiliV]

I strongly disagree with T. Ever if some photographe look weird and macabre it has nothing to do with domestic violence. It's more surrealism than mysoginy, it's an artistic work. Violence often pervades paintings or photographs but artists. are no monstres or dangerous political leaders so far I know, they are misunderstood for some of them. David Lynch was inspired by Guy Bourdin so was François Nars, that's it in my opinion. Nars is a huge fan of cinéma and photography and a photographer himself. I love the collection and the inspiration behind the scènes.

I completely agree, I hope I don't offend anyone but to me Bourdin's work just looks very Parisian. Not discussing the man as a human being, just his work which is so scrutinized. Vogue Paris today is somewhat similar in style, I feel

 

[Anneri]

  I want both of those too now after T's swatches. Well, at least the lipstick, it looks perfect. I'm just not sure where to order from, since HQhair stopped shipping Nars to Germany.

They have?! Uh-oh. Did they state a reason for this? We could always order at the Nars Europe site, couldn't we?

 

[Naynadine]

We could always order at the Nars Europe site, couldn't we?

Nope. But from what I know it wasn't their decision, so it must be coming from Nars directly.
Some items were listed as ,,not shipping to Germany'', but not all. Let's see what happens. Haven't tried placing an order since then.
I have never ordered from the european site, last time I checked everything was more expensive there and no free shipping like HQhair always has.

 

[Anneri]

Nope. But from what I know it wasn't their decision, so it must be coming from Nars directly.
Some items were listed as ,,not shipping to Germany'', but not all. Let's see what happens. Haven't tried placing an order since then.
I have never ordered from the european site, last time I checked everything was more expensive there and no free shipping like HQhair always has.

Well boo. You'd think that ordering stuff from all over the world would be getting easier due to globalisation and all that, but it's getting harder (or so I feel). Do you get the newsletter from Nars EU? They usually offer free shipping codes for orders over 50€. Which is easily reached, I think.

 

[Naynadine]

Well boo. You'd think that ordering stuff from all over the world would be getting easier due to globalisation and all that, but it's getting harder (or so I feel). Do you get the newsletter from Nars EU? They usually offer free shipping codes for orders over 50€. Which is easily reached, I think.

Yes, I do. I should start reading it more thorough from now on.

 

[Dominique33]

I agree with you, and I absolutely am a huge fan of surrealism, and think it's incredible that he used photography as his medium. I love his artwork. However, I think it was a vogue article that I read about him, and it was quite disturbing. He was quite sadistic in the way he treated the models, and had 2 of his partners die from suicide consecutively - he was well known for being extremely demanding and difficult to work with.

On the other hand, he is no longer alive, he isn't profiting from this collection, and its clear to see that Nars has been inspired by his work for a long time.

Yes certainly but Hitchcock was very demanding too ( Tippi Hedren was really in a poor state mentally speaking after the Birds, and she was not an isolated case ), a collection Nars/Hitchcock would be difficult too then. What annoys me here is the phrase " domestic violence ", it's not the case so far I know. Violence against women is something of major importance, a very sad and cruel issue indeed but comparing Guy Bourdin to a monster who raped and killed ( for example ), well it's not appropriate at all.
As you said, Guy Bourdin is not profiting from this collection, I fully agree. It's a tribute from a photographer and makeup Genius to another artist.
Here in France we have Bertrand Cantat ( singer, artist ), he killed his girlfriend and his former wife died from suicide a few years later, reporting violence and more. Cantat is an artist but he is seen as a monster too, I understand the word domestic violence in that case. Cantat has BPD, but he should have been on therapy and specific drugs to control his bouts of extreme violence.
Guy Bourdin is an artist, he never killed anyone, he just translated his fears and ( sometimes violent ) obsessions into photographs.

 

[kanne]

I think comparing him to Hitchcock is a really good analogy, and I agree with your issue with calling this "domestic violence". Honestly, I have no issue with his photography and only when I read his biography, you could find the connection disturbing. But I do also think that a mountain has been made out of a mole hill - you have to dig to find the drama. If people want to boycott, I mean each to their own, more makeup for me

 

[Audrey C]

I think that this is a very personal issue - how people will perceive this is shaped by their experiences and beliefs. Not a thing wrong with that. I think it's entirely fair that Christine (and others) choose not to promote or purchase this collection because it disturbs them.

I'm planning on purchasing both Last Tango and Day Dream, but I'm going to wait for the Sephora VIB sale.

 

[mac_aiken]

It is comforting to see such an articulate intelligent discussion going on here as opposed to what could go on. I guess that is part of what makes Specktra so important to me. Audrey is correct. The information available coupled with the buyer's own life experiences will determine what if anything they purchase from this collection. My research into this artist as well as my life experience means that I will not spend a penny on this collection. But it does not mean that I won't enjoy hearing about everyone here and what they think of their purchases.

 

[Dominique33]

Thank you all, it's really a good and honest discussion. I think ( not quite sure though ) that Mississippi Siren was named after a French movie directed by François Truffaut, many names seem to come from movies, which is no wonder of course. Back to the collection, I love the blushes, the lipsticks, some nail polishes and eyeshadows.

 

[lovingmakeup]

I completely agree, I hope I don't offend anyone but to me Bourdin's work just looks very Parisian. Not discussing the man as a human being, just his work which is so scrutinized. Vogue Paris today is somewhat similar in style, I feel

i dont think he's a monster or anything, but i was in a physically abusive relationship for more than 10 years ( with black eyes and all) and when I clicked on Bourdin's page to see some of his work, I got nauseous. I couldn't get thru it. Maybe that's what T meant too....... and it doesn't take away from the fact that he's a great artist... he is.

 

[LiliV]

i dont think he's a monster or anything, but i was in a physically abusive relationship for more than 10 years ( with black eyes and all) and when I clicked on Bourdin's page to see some of his work, I got nauseous. I couldn't get thru it. Maybe that's what T meant too....... and it doesn't take away from the fact that he's a great artist... he is.

I'm really sorry to hear that, and I compeltely understand that some may be bothered by the photographs, I just personally don't see them that way

 

[elkaknits]

hmmm I thought the eyeshadows were crushed because she personally destroyed them due to the inspiration. I didn't read anything of the sort on her blog but that was my thought when looking at pictures. The colors that survived were the more unusual ones {purple and blue vs nude, chamois and blackish}. I know that I have destroyed or gotten rid of things in fit of pique and not been able to part with my favorites or harder to duplicates. Are they rumored to be very prone to shattering? All the reviews I have read was very soft which to me would mean powdery or like cream ones. I would think a hard, and hard to lay down, eyeshadow is more likely to crack than a silky soft one which is what all the reviews have said when mentioning texture.

I too appreciate the civil discourse. I feel that T actually caused a lot of drama to circulate around the collection despite an earlier assertion that she avoids drama. If she had not said I will not review these because _______ then we would not be discussing it for pages and pages. Just my opinion. And having read many an issue of French and Italian Vogue I do not see anything untoward in his photography. But I do understand, coming from an abusive relationship, that how one reacts to such depictions and how they feel they encourage people to view women as objects is a personal thing. I personally feel that if you are the type of person lacking in empathy then you don't need an image to spur you on to being callous just as if you are a person who has a lot of empathy and compassion for others you can view the most horrific things and be... well.... horrified. Of course many psychologists and sociology type of observations disagree with me. The whole violence on video games or tv defense. Still I do know women who refused to watch things like SVU because they felt it was gratuitous violence and nudity.

I see no reason to seek out and support something that offends you in any way. I spent many years only supporting companies that did not do animal testing. To me this is the same sort of issue. Andrea Dworkin would agree fwiw ;-/

 

[Addict4MAC]

T did write in a comment that they were basically shipped to her in an envelope and without boxes...maybe (hopefully) this is why. =|

I sure hope that was the reason and NARS doesn't ship costumers' packages in envelopes. I wouldn't know because I've never ordered from NARS.

 

[shontay07108]

I've ordered blushes from Nars plenty of time and they've always arrived in a box and with proper padding.

 

[MarieMary]

I sure hope that was the reason and NARS doesn't ship costumers' packages in envelopes. I wouldn't know because I've never ordered from NARS.

They don't, at least in Europe. It's a cardboard package that folds onto itself and the whole interior is lined with thick foam so that even if it's bumped and shaken the items inside are secure.

See here:
http://delicatehummingbird.blogspot.fr/2011/06/nars-etrusque-oh-i-wanted-you-soo-much.html

 

[Addict4MAC]

They don't, at least in Europe. It's a cardboard package that folds onto itself and the whole interior is lined with thick foam so that even if it's bumped and shaken the items inside are secure.

See here:
http://delicatehummingbird.blogspot.fr/2011/06/nars-etrusque-oh-i-wanted-you-soo-much.html

Ok, thanks! That's really reassuring because I really like the eyeshadows.