Is this jewelry, or is this makeup? — because sometimes with Tom Ford I just can’t tell!
Do wear it on my face, or do I dangle it from a chain and rock it as a statement necklace? I gotta hand it to Tommy-boy for nailing the whole luxury aesthetic. He’s got it down pat, especially when it comes to limited edition packaging.
Here’s a look at two of the lush and tasty (and expensive) purple and gold tidbits in Tom’s new Fall 2016 Orchid Collection.
The new nine-piece limited edition fall release (yup, fall!) just launched online July 1, and it arrives at Tom Ford counters this August. It’s inspired by Tom Ford’s Black Orchid Eau de Parfum, his first fragrance.
And fragrance plays a big part in the launch, as five of the nine pieces are perfumes, while the other four — two lipsticks and two blushes — are the goodies you can wear on your face.
The Tom Ford Fall 2016 Orchid Collection includes…
- Black Orchid Lip Color ($60)
- Velvet Orchid Lip Color ($60)
- Nightbloom Powder in Black Bloom ($80)
- Nightbloom Powder in Velvet Bloom ($80)
- Black Orchid Solid Perfume ($190)
- Velvet Orchid Solid Perfume ($190)
- Black Orchid Eau de Parfum ($115)
- Velvet Orchid Eau de Parfum ($115)
- Orchid Soleil Eau de Parfum ($120)
I’m a “smoky eye till I die” kinda gal, so I always look forward to the dramatic eye pencils, eyeshadows and all of that fun schtuff I’m used to seeing for fall. So I’m a little bummed that this release doesn’t include any eye makeup for me to lust after.
Strangely, neither of these two pieces here — pearlescent rosy plum Velvet Orchid Lip Color ($60) and sheer, cool-toned pink Nightbloom Powder in Velvet Bloom ($80) — give me that same visceral desire that I usually feel for Tom Ford’s products.
Like the Velvet Orchid Lip Color? Yeah, it has all the hallmarks of a dreamy TF lippy, with its deliciously even application throughout, in and around the curves of my lips (none of that patchy nonsense!), its fabulously lighter-than-air formula, and yeah, the color, which is something I can totally see myself wearing in fall, but I dunno… I guess I was hoping for more.
Same goes for the $80 Nightbloom Powder in Velvet Bloom. Yes, it blends like a dream, but it also looks super sheer on my cheeks.
Now, I don’t necessarily mind barely there cheek color (I’ve been into a natural look lately anyhow), but I still wish it packed more punchy drama.
I’m not sure… Maybe it’s because of the packaging. The dark plum and gold are so strikingly luxurious that I expected bolder colors inside.
Perhaps the other two items in the release commandeered most of the pigment…
These two remind me of something you might see from Aerin Beauty — subdued colors and finishes, smooth textures, easy-to-wear formulas and high price tags. If you’re an Aerin gal, these might whisper sweet nothings to you.
Now if I could just figure out a way to turn them into wearable jewelry (for me and Tabs! LOLZ).
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Lubna says
The whole range looks lovely and luxurious ! So expensive…Great post x
themisslubna.com
Karen says
Thanks!
Chelsea says
That compact us to die for.
Karen says
Hi Chelsea,
It’s super pretty to look at and so luxe!
I hope you had a nice long weekend. 🙂
Chelsea says
It was good! Pretty lazy, but I had my trapeze glamour shots taken, so I should get proofs in a few weeks 🙂 I ended up going with coral red lips and nails, I think it looked good with my black and white leotard!
Cheyanne says
Lovely post!
-Cheyanne
http://www.lifeofcheyanne.blogspot.com
Karen says
TY!
Janet Shepherd says
I love that compact, it looks like a fabulous clutch bag! But I’m kind of with you, the colours are lovely, but a little underwhelming given the premium price you pay for Tom Ford products.
(I posted the below in a previous comment, but I wasn’t sure if you’d seen it, so here it is again) ?
Karen, I have an off topic request. I was wondering if you could collate all your old pregnancy/maternity/baby posts under one heading? Currently I’m searching through old posts by title key words, but it would be handy if they had their own section.
And I need to re-read this stuff, cause girl I am 13 weeks PREGNANT!!! & need all the advice I can get! ??
Karen says
Hi Janet,
OHMYGOSH, Congrats! I’m so happy for you. 🙂 Do you know yet if you’re having a boy or a girl?!
I’ll try to tag the pregnancy posts, but for now, this was one with advice in the comments. It’s very helpful!
Question for the Mommies Out There: What Does Baby REALLY Need?
Let me know if there’s anything that I can help you with or if you have any questions. Congrats again!
Janet Shepherd says
We will hopefully be finding out the baby’s gender in the next couple of weeks. I’ve had a blood test taken that checks the baby’s dna – and they can tell us the gender as part of that. I can’t wait to find out! At the 12 week scan the baby was super active, moving around a ton! So exciting.
Thanks for the link, I’m trying to wrap my head around what I’ll need to get for the baby – I think I’ll start a list!
Erin says
I think Velvet Orchid will be wearable year round but it’s a great fall transition shade.
Eesha says
That blush is sooooo damn pretttyyy ??????
Rae // theNotice says
Oh, these are so pretty!! I’m a little disappointed that they don’t pack more punch too, though — from a collection that centres around velvet orchid/black orchid (which I think are both very “hey, look at me; I’m super glamorous!” kind of scents), I really thought they would!
CrystalCandy says
I think the blush would look great on fair skin, but yeah it looks very sheer. I like the lipstick though!
LindaLibraLoca says
I guess Tabs would rock that as a statement necklace.
Tatiana says
Being super pale, this is one Tom Ford collection that is right up my alley. But $60 for a lipstick!!! Sheesh, you gotta be kidding me. The price on TF lipsticks just keeps edging up, higher and higher. Even though I can afford it, at some point it’s just offensive.
Kelly B. says
I totally agree, this is a little underwhelming as I would have loved that blush to be more pigmented and eye-popping. But that lipstick is still very pretty, it’s definitely something I would rock during fall!
Chris25 says
I wonder if TF wanted to create a product that would appeal to many different skintones? Sheerer products can be built up or toned down depending on who is wearing them.
Kelsey says
Velvet Bloom looks gorgeous! Tom Ford is still above what I can afford, but a girl can dream.
Lisa C says
That blush is beautiful in the pan, but too sheer for me. $80 is too much for barely there coverage IMO.
Kiss & Make-up says
I agree, the packaging is stunning but the shades themselves are just a tad underwhelming.
Kim says
I feel terrible that every time you do one of these posts, my first reaction is “I hate you, Tom Ford”. But only because everything is beautiful. And I don’t even like purple! HAHA! Actually, the Velvet Orchid lipstick is right up my alley in terms of color and a more sheer finish (so the $60 price tag is really why I’m hating on poor Tom). 🙂 Thank you for only swatching and not using it for a FOTD because that probably would have put me over the edge.
denise S says
Still haven’t been bitten by the Tom Ford bug,lol. I think that line is over priced. And so far I’ve only brought the eyebrow pencil and a perfume from Tom Ford. Neither of them are that impressive. Maybe one day I’ll get one of the blushes or eyeshadows but this collection doesn’t tempt me.
Rachel R. says
Absolutely gorgeous stuff, but outside my budget at the moment.