Chanel 31 Le Rouge is meant to be the type of beautiful object you cherish, choose to reuse and perhaps even hand down to another generation.
The verdict
Shade-wise, I chose Rouge Beige as I’m more of a nude than a red lipstick kind of girl. First impression: it’s magically spot on for a nude – not too warm but not so cool that my lips look like the life has been sucked out them.
Followed by: “Ooh my lips also feel plump and hydrated.” The latter comes down to the satin finish with just a hint of sheen and a shot of hydration courtesy of maracuja oil and camellia esters.
So did I feel expensive wearing a £140 lipstick? The easy answer is yes. Chanel 31 Le Rouge is weighty to the touch, smells of money (well, gardenia, but you know what I mean) and looks like the type of product your cool graphic designer boyfriend would appreciate.
But is it worth it? That’s harder to answer. Remove the rose-tinted glasses and £140 is admittedly a lot to pay for just a lipstick, no matter how beautifully crafted. I also have to admit that the refills (£65 each) are unnecessarily costly, given they are twice as expensive as that of a regular Chanel lipstick refill.
That said, however, there is no denying that the psychology of luxury will make Chanel 31 Le Rouge catnip for die-hard beauty and fashion fans.
The fact that each shade captures a moment in Coco Chanel’s life means it could even be considered a purse-friendly second best to the iconic tweed jacket, where every stitch speaks to the heritage of the House.
But maybe there’s also something more meaningful at play here. At the launch, a fellow beauty editor took a long time swatching each shade until she’d found the perfect one. When I asked her about it, she explained that this lipstick is so special, she’s going to save it for her wedding day and then hand it down to her future daughter or daughter-in-law on her special day.
Perhaps this is a more practical way to look at the Chanel 31 Le Rouge lipsticks – as a purchase to mark a milestone, or a special occasion, rather than something that is going to loll around on the bottom of your everyday makeup bag.
I remember when my great aunt died she left me her beautiful powder and rouge compacts. All were in pristine condition, the metal intricately embossed with art deco designs, and refillable in an age when soothing your eco conscience wasn’t even a consideration.
With magpie keenness, I was desperate to play with them as a child and remember the care she would take pulling the compact out of her handbag for a delicate midday top up.
Chanel 31 Le Rouge is the chic, modern-day equivalent of those compacts – an heirloom beauty product that stands the test of time.
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR’s Acting Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.