Dolce & Gabbana Make Up Collection Perfect for "Modern Marilyns"

It isn't just the fictional Carrie from Sex & the City that had a passion for fashion, especially Dolce & Gabbana. The big new is that now fans can wear the duo's dynamic style not just on their bodies, but also on their faces, with their new Dolce & Gabbana makeup collection.

Designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana translated 20 years of fashion into their first makeup collection, pulling colors and influences directly from their runway collections and many inspirations over the years. The gold-clad compacts make you feel like a Hollywood star from the 1950's.


"Modern Marilyn" (Monroe) girls might swoon when they see this super-glam collection! It was designed with makeup artist and color expert Pat McGrath) and features 27 Classic Cream lipsticks,12 Semi-Sheer Shine Lipsticks, 12 wanded Lip Glosses, 14 eye colors, and a bunch of blushes, bronzer, wet & dry foundation, nail lacquers and mascara.

According to Pat McGrath, they used the "strongest and the best pigments and the most modern technology. We looked for the lipstick that lasted the longest, had the best texture, felt the most comfortable, the most luxurious; it was just all encompassing. And obviously, we tested for months, on team members and models. That's what we do."

That's what they did, indeed!

I was fortunate to receive a sample of perhaps the most talked-about lipstick ever in the history of cosmetics--I mean, the buzz is enormous. It's the Hollywood-glamour-inspired Dolce& Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in "Dahlia," an intense merlot that premiered on Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall/Winter 2010 runway, It also also used on actress Scarlett Johansson in the La Docle Vita shoot by Steven Meisel for U.S. Vogue. This deep, luxe, moistly-matte, Classic Cream Lipstick takes you from ordinary to exceptional, in seconds. It is truly a transforming experience. It's the equivalent of diamonds with a little black dress--you just go from well, same-old, same-old to sensationally sexy, in seconds. It's so gorgeous! Even though merlot isn't my main shade, I couldn't help but admire myself (a bit too much, I admit) in every mirror I passed. The power of a lipstick is demonstrated by the fact that everyone wants it right now!



Although Summer is generally the time for pretty pinks and sheer shades, this deep shade was pre-sold out, and the waiting list was miles long, but not to worry, there are 26 other shades as well. The slim, squared tube closes with an expensive sounding click! When you swivel it up you get another surprise: a whiff of soft rose that smells like you remember when grandma opened her purse. Your first reaction is: I know that smell! And then you remember how comforting it was, and how special. The lipstick is super-creamy and moisturizing (and there's that disarming scent) but it is also the longest lasting lipstick I've ever worn (no lie). When I applied Dahlia, I wore it all day without re-applying it and literally ten hours later, there was still a hint of the color, smoothly applied like a lip stain. TIP: Pat McGrath suggests: "Apply lip colour then blot with a tissue after application to help set the colour. Then, reapply lipstick. The result is a significantly more intense colour effect. It’s a great method to use when you want to draw attention to the lips.



I also tried one of the Wanded Lip Glosses in #120 "Passion" (see bottom right hand corner of the photo below)." The clear tube has a gold top with brush applicator that dispenses a silky, rose-scented, high wattage lip gloss that glitters in the tube, and literally sparkles on your lips in any light. Passion is a ruby-red that can be worn sheer, or semi-sheer if you don't spread it too thin. It would amp up that Dahlia lipstick (or any deep red color) to sexy proportions that might require you to have an entourage, or at least a bodyguard! TIP: keep your lip gloss in place with a Dolce & Gabbana Precision Lip Liner. They come in four iconic shades: Nude, warm, ruby and dahlia.




Here's the rundown (and I'd suggest you RUN to get yours before everything is sold out) on the rest of the collection:

NAIL LACQUER:Intense Nail Lacquer in 12 shades including Midnight & Stromboli (the designer's favorite vaycay spot).

EYESHADOWS:Intense Smooth Eye Colour Quad in 8 shades; Smooth Eye Colour Duo in 6 ]

MASCARAS: volumizing mascara in black and coffee

KOHL PENCIL Five shades including gold, dahlia, stromboli and coffee.

FOUNDATION: Perfect finish powder to be used wet, or dry, in a dozen shades.

BRONZER & BLUSH. Blush in 5 shades; bronzing powder in 4 shades


Mother's Day is almost here. If that Dolce & Gabbana dress is out of your price range, any one of these coveted makeup pieces will be at least a bit more affordable, and still offer that "wow!" factor. Of course, you want pieces of this collection, too!

The Dolce & Gabbana Make Up Collection is exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City, and will reach Saks Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills, and Saks.com by mid-May.