Last year, make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench caused a stir when she launched a collection of penis-shaped lipsticks. Coming in two shades – a vivid red and a sheer black, with a pink edition added later – and housed in heavy metal casing, the reaction was split between mothers horrified that their children might stumble across the lipsticks in their local Boots and those who took enjoyment from the silly humour inherent in anything shaped like a dick. This, of course, did not phase Ffrench, who has also always thrived on creative disruption and a bit of controversy.
Now, Isamaya Beauty is adding another shade to the collection. “Chalice” is a metallic, multi-dimensional gold shade which comes in a gold edition of the penis packaging. To celebrate the launch, Ffrench is hosting a treasure hunt across London, where they have hidden four of the lipsticks at various locations. For the next four days, starting today (March 15), friends of the brand, including Cora Corre and Chet Lo – who worked with Ffrench for AW24 to create molton tears as the beauty look – will release clues on where they have stashed the lipsticks. These three keywords will help direct people to the location, where the first person who shows up will receive a free Chalice lipstick. Runners-up will receive a ‘Golden Ticket’.
“LIPS Chalice is an exclusive limited-edition drop and so I thought it would be fun to do a treasure hunt so that diehard fans have the opportunity to get hold of one!!” Ffrench says. “Who doesn’t like a treasure hunt?” For those penis-lovers who miss out on the treasure hunt, the lipsticks will also launch worldwide on March 19.
Speaking about the LIPS collection last year, Ffrench said, “sometimes things that are the most basic and obvious are the funniest. That’s what humour is all about. What connects people more than humour? If the fashion industry can play within that space, then why can’t beauty?” It’s a motto that she has carried throughout her career and the work she has been doing during fashion season. Last year, she created cartoon prosthetic animal heads for the models at Collina Strada, while at Chet Lo models were given stained teeth and dyed tongues. This season, she took the concept of flashback make-up – traditionally dreaded and avoided – and took it to the extreme, sending models down the Vivienne Westwood runway brightly powdered and concealed under eyes.
