beauty squared: Daphne Guinness for MAC Preview

An Artist who values her freedom to discover the myriad ways to express and transform the human soul, from couture and punk, to historical research and the metaphysics peculiar to mankind. Mother. Model. Muse. Journalist. Actor. Once again, the Honourable Daphne Suzannah Diana Joan Guinness has added another project to her resume with her latest creative endeavour, which could be her most electrifying and beautiful yet. Everyone’s most obsessed-over, free thinking and cross-disciplining aristocrat has teamed up with M·A·C to create a collection of colours as sophisticated, authentic and refined as Daphne herself. Someone who defies the labels with which society brands those they can’t explain. A person who is not only unafraid to dirty her well-manicured hands, but one for whom the actual process is an ultimate pleasure and not just a means to an end. Someone for whom life is an infinite journey of discovery.

To create this magnificent collection, Guinness kicked off her towering shoes and threw herself into the world of makeup artistry to concoct a truly elegant wash of watercolour-inspired shades that recall the classically beautiful cool and rich tones of the Old Masters and the stark light of northern Europe. From inception to final incarnation she took instructions, and for weeks applied herself to personally mixing palettes of differing hues. Her ethos is that unless you do it yourself or are part of the process, the final result is not interesting or authentic. For her that is unacceptable. In M·A·C she found a team that was willing to support and help her bring this first collection from the drawing board to the final product, so each colour is curated to perfection.

Her inspiration? The stories and influences of her life: the whispered luxury of an antique Chinese porcelain vase, the way the light illuminates the clouds of her childhood home in Northern Spain. Inspirations range from the blues of Duccio, to the discovery in the 18th century of Prussian blue, to pigeon’s blood and the watery greens reminiscent of a Whistler painting, to how the intricate wings of a butterfly resemble the images of deepest space.

Much like the artistic expression looming within each skein of silk thread on a finely wrought couture gown, the same attention to detail has been applied to a collection that is perfectly tailored for the woman who is eternally youthful, possessed of intellectual, spiritual and artistic integrity, and of course, great beauty. In short, the Daphne Guinness in all of us.

Available December 26 in North America.

Blush Ombré in Azalea Blossom
Light cool pink
$31 CDN/$26 US

Blush Ombré in Vintage Grape
Mid-tone violet pink
$31 CDN/$26 US

Cremesheen Glass in Borealis
Pale grey pink with iridescent pearl
$22 CDN/$18.50 US

Cremesheen Glass in Japanese Spring
Pale dirty pink
$22 CDN/$18.50 US

Cremesheen Glass in Narcissus
Dirty eggplant
$22 CDN/$18.50 US

Cremesheen Glass in Richly Revered
Deep brown plum
$22 CDN/$18.50 US

Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Grey Utility
Uniform grey
$22 CDN/$18.50 US

Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved
Rich black
$22 CDN/$18.50 US

Interior Life Quad
Stratus - light pink (matte)
Interior Life - mid-tone grey blue (veluxe pearl)
Bruised Sky - dark lavender-grey (satin)
Heather Belles - dark charcoal/carbon (satin)
$45 CDN/$38 US