Dior GRAND BAL makeup collection for Christmas 2012- photos and swatches!

"Now that Cinderella's fairy godmother no longer exists,
the couturier must be the magician". Christian Dior

Without a doubt, the Dior Grand Bal collection is by far the prettiest and most glamorous out of all the makeup collections that have been launched for the holidays. Every single piece is simply irresistible; from the inspiration behind it down to its sophisticated packaging and colour, they all evoke magic!

Oh, how I've been longing for the products to make their way over to our stores! I got a call last Friday from the Dior girls at Hondos that they're finally here- Saturday morning and there I was, swatching everything and feeling like a little girl in the candy shop!

"From Monsieur Dior's extravagant parties in Granville, his childhood home, to the Parisian balls of the Roaring Twenties, the couturier was profoundly fascinated by the transformative qualities of the ball gown and the fantasy of a fabulous fete. Now, Dior debuts a makeup collection inspired by Dior's love for entertaining; the limited edition Palette Grand Bal, four new shades of Diorific, Dior's most haute couture lipstick, two shades of Ultra-Gloss, and four new shades of Dior Vernis". 

Wait until you see the products, especially the new Diorific nail polishes which are lush!

Palette Grand Bal Carnet de Maquillage: Dior is known for its collectible palettes, and this year it doesn't dissapoint. It's "inspired by the dance cards held by young women in the 18th century to help keep track of their dance partners". Can you imagine a young lady in her 18, presenting herself to the elite of her times and taking notes of the eligible bachelors? Ahhh, I'm so moved by such little details with a historical backround!

Dior 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow in Night Golds, Fairy Golds: two pretty eyeshadow combinations of shimmery warm colours, perfect for the holiday season.

Grand Bal lashes: two sets of glamorous false eyelashes with gold and silver rhinestones
Diorskin Gold Powder: I'm not sure if this is meant to be a setting powder or a highlighter, nevertheless it's a gorgeous product with very fine shimmer
Diorshow Liner Waterproof: a golden eyeliner that looks amazing on the lower lashline
Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in Or Lame, Rouge Ceremony: two limited-edition lip glosses in festive shades, perfect for Christmas!

Diorific Rouge in Lady, Diorling, Diva, Marilyn: Diorific lipsticks are one of the most luxurious makeup products by Dior, and the packaging alone justifies that! Their texture is equally as lovely: beautiful pigment with enough slide to make it comfortable on the lips but without looking too "juicy", if you know what I mean. Each limited-edition shade has its pair in the new Diorific Vernis range, which are named after the lipsticks in order to be worn together.

With the exception of Marilyn which is a bright and youthful raspberry red, the rest three shades have a warmer undertone and a more lady-like feel. Lady is a muted rose-brown, Diorling is a rich burgundy, and Diva is closer to the classic red shade that flatters most skintones.

Diorific Vernis in Lady, Diorling, Marilyn, Diva: the big guns of the Grand Bal collection! As I've been informed, these nail polishes have been around during the '90s, but were eventually discontinued. Dior, please make them permanent again!!! Their bottle is just gooorge, I can't put to words how thrilled I am with this launch!

Now, onto the colours:
Lady is a pearly white that looks so elegant and classy! I don't agree with Temptalia who values it with a C, this is a beautiful shade that's worth buying! Diorling is J'Adore perfume in a nail polish: loaded with gold micro-glitter in a transparent base. Marilyn is a glossy blue-toned red with a jelly finish. Sadly, Diva was the dissapointment of the collection! It looked so promising in the promo pics, but the gold sparkles were not that obvious on my nails to justify it as a purchase.

Ultimately, I was so smitten with this makeup collection that I couldn't help but make a little haul, despite my aversion towards anything with a limited-edition tag. Expect to see reviews of the products in the following days ;)

What do you girls think of the Dior Grand Bal collection?
Will you be getting anything just in time for Christmas?

Evi   xx