“The dreamlike quality we were looking to capture in the desert could be best achieved with a Polaroid. It’s a medium that produces images that are intrinsically imperfect. In somewhere like a desert, a sharp or overly realistic image doesn’t feel like an accurate record of the experience of being there. Something blurry, like a memory, seemed more appropriate, and the collection those pictures inspired is super-soft, very feminine and at ease. That’s a place I’ve come to, personally – a softer state. This is a natural filter that makes everything look dreamier.”
– Lucia Pica
It seems unlikely that a barren desert landscape could be the inspiration for an entire makeup collection. What started as a simple idea—a Polaroid camera and desert dunes—gave way to Chanel’s first makeup collection of the new decade. The Spring/Summer 2020 collection dubbed Desert Dream was spearheaded by Lucia Pica, global creative makeup and color designer for the brand. Inspired by the natural environment and golden hour sunsets, the ancient landscape was the perfect muse for Pica, “I was looking for something poetic, like a memory – a natural filter that makes everything look dreamier.”
The Chanel SS20 collection is Pica’s artistry come to life through a muted color palette that invokes the simplicity of the Namibian desert. In reflecting on her creative journey she said, “The energy in the desert was very calm and virtually silent. The muted colors of the desert and the muted tones of Polaroid came together to create a palette that exemplifies calm.” The new collection includes eyeshadow sticks, eyeshadow palettes, lipstick, and nail polish each embodying the browns, pinks, peaches, and reds of the desert. To create a collection that brings desert dreams to life was a challenge and different from Pica’s previous work; a collection that is softer and more feminine. The unique collection is a testament to the beauty of nature and Chanel’s creative vision.