Beneath the sheltering sky

Paul & Joe “Sahara” Collection for Summer 2010
Review by Jessica M

If I ever visited northern Africa, I’d imagine myself as 1960s style icon Talitha Getty. She was immortalized in a photograph that showed her posing with her billionaire husband on the roof of her Marrakesh villa, dressed in a fantastic luxe-bohemian outfit, probably enjoying the sunset between dinner with Yves Saint-Laurent and a party with Mick Jagger.

Paul & Joe’s newest limited-edition collection, called “Sahara,” is inspired by the sun and sand and colors of the African desert, and it’s a treat to wear wherever you happen to be spending your summer.

The Sahara collection includes colors for face, lips, and nails. The Finishing Powder ($35) is available in two shades: one for light skin tones and one for medium skin tones. The Lipstick is offered in three shades: Caravan (“coral pink”), Sahara (“vivid pink”), and Morocco (“warm, golden pink”).

The three limited edition Nail Polish shades ($14, available in June) are Marrakesh (coral with gold shimmer), Mirage (champagne beige), and Oasis (sparkly aquamarine). A patterned emery board and blotting papers will also be available.

And lastly, a Shimmering Body Lotion ($35) can bring the gold-dust effect to the rest of your body.

I’ve been wearing the Morocco lipstick for the past few days. As usual, Paul & Joe's limited edition packaging is colorful and whimsical, and this time it’s a pattern inspired by lotus flowers. It looks like a detail from an ancient Egyptian wall painting or a Moroccan textile. This shade is a warm, earthy plum with copper shimmer, similar to Clinique’s Think Bronze or MAC’s Viva Glam VI. It has a semi-sheer consistency. The color is versatile, and the shimmer is subtle enough to wear during the day.

I’ve also been trying out the Finishing Powder in Dune (the lighter shade). It’s a talc-based powder, finely milled, with extra ingredients like orange flower water and sodium hyaluronate that maintain the skin’s moisture without adding shine. The cardboard canister is printed with the same lotus pattern as the lipsticks, and it looks so chic; it could be from the 1920s, the 1960s, or any other moment when Egyptian motifs were popular. The powder itself gives medium coverage and a nice matte finish, which I’ll really need when the weather turns hot.

Of course, if I ever really did take a trip to Marrakesh or anywhere else in the Sahara, I’d probably end up looking and acting less like Ms. Getty and more like Edina in the “Morocco” episode of “Absolutely Fabulous.” (You can view it on YouTube, if you need to refresh your memory!) Well, at least I’d be wearing some flattering, desert-themed makeup.

Disclaimer: I purchased my two Sahara products at Bergdorf Goodman. (The phone number for the Paul & Joe counter is 212-872-2759.)
Title: Paul Bowles via The Police
Image credits: Photo of Talitha and John Paul Getty by Patrick Lichfield (1969).

Sahara collection and nail polish photos via Paul & Joe Beauté.

Lipstick and powder photos by Jessica M.

“Morocco” still from “Absolutely Fabulous.”