London - Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani, Topshop, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior – and, of course, Chanel. Every fashion house worth its salt has a satellite make-up line.
It’s not only a way of reaching out to their poorer customers (you may not be able to afford the frock, but you can still own the lipstick), it’s also a fantastic cash cow.
The mark-up on designer cosmetics is every bit as outrageous as it is on clothes – only the multiples are a chief executive’s dream.
Tie in to your ever-changing catwalk collections, and you’ve got a nice steady revenue, one that is – as we’ve seen over the past few years – pretty much recession proof.
Until recently, designer make-up lines were mostly clothes-related.
Last year, however, Christian Louboutin, king of the killer heel, threw his hat into the ring. And later this month, he will debut his first product: a red nail polish.
To those readers wondering why on earth the world needs another red polish, let me explain. For this, you see, will not be just any red nail polish. Oh no. It will be an “iconic” (fashion’s favourite word) nail polish.
That is because way back, when Monsieur Louboutin was just a struggling young cobbler, he was looking around for something to liven up a new design – and saw an assistant painting her nails red. He grabbed her pot of polish, coated the soles of the shoes with it and voila, a legend was born.
So now you see: a fashion myth made real. Now you want some, don’t you?
Only you can’t have any. And neither, for that matter, can I. It’s top secret, this red nail polish.
The only thing we’re allowed to know about it is that it’s red. And it’s polish. Everything else is strictly embargoed until July 23. – Daily Mail