#obsessed: Top picks from Dior, Chanel, Prada, and more

This month, #legend is #obsessed with the latest from Dior, Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Janu Tokyo, and Louis Vuitton 

Pretty in pink

Dior is celebrating one year since the release of its popular multi-use skincare offering Dior Le Baume with a limited-edition case dressed in a new pink houndstooth couture pattern. The on-the-go fashion and beauty accessory, reinvented with a joyful and playful spirit, is also housed in fully recyclable single-material packaging in keeping with the French brand’s commitment to virtuous luxury. The formula itself is made with 96% natural ingredients to repair, soothe, strengthen and hydrate hands, nails, lips, décolleté and even the body. Its enveloping and melting texture fuses with the skin without leaving any oily residue.

Screen idols

Chanel creative director Virginie Viard’s love of New Wave cinema – and in particular Claude Lelouch’s 1966 masterpiece A Man and A Woman –served as the inspiration behind the maison’s latest ad campaign starring Spanish actress Penélope Cruz, a Chanel ambassador since 2018, and Hollywood icon Brad Pitt. Photographed and directed by Inez & Vinoodh, the black-and-white campaign recreates memorable scenes from the film, using the same Chanel bag worn by its lead actress Anouk Aimée, to capture that unique and special moment when a woman has the audacity to finally become the heroine of her own life.

A thing of beauty

The wait is over. Some eight months after making their European debut and three months after launching in the US, Prada Skin and Prada Color are available in Hong Kong at Sogo Causeway Bay. Designed to reimagine existing definitions and expectations by proposing a free-thinking, avant-garde vision of beauty activated by tech and creativity, the wide-ranging collections include a serum, cream, essence and cleanser made with an Adapto.gn Smart Technology that helps skin adapt to its environment in real time as well as fashion-curated lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes. Products are refillable for minimal environmental impact.

Seeing red

To mark the beginning of Gucci’s newest creative chapter, Sabato De Sarno chose to colour his collections in Rosso Ancora. Now the creative director has joined forces with Michela Pelizzari, founder of Milan-based creative agency P:S, and Spanish architect Guillermo Santomà on a special project showcasing five icons of Italian design re-edited in the bold red hue. Gucci Design Ancora comes to life in an immersive exhibition at the brand’s Milan flagship store in Via Monte Napoleone, 7, with a special edition of the objects available at gucci.com. The eye-catching pieces include a vase, sofa, rug, cabinet and chaise lounge.

Soul of the city

Marking the first of 12 properties under the new brand, Janu Tokyo is set to reshape the luxury hospitality landscape in much the same way as its sibling Aman but with a distinct uplifting spirit and playful design narrative. The 122-room hotel, which opened in March, is located at the heart of Azabudai Hills, with eight venues for dining and socialising as well as a 4,000-sqm spa and wellness centre. Janu, which means “soul” in Sanskrit, is centred around connection with one of Tokyo’s largest gyms (340 sqm), five movement studios with eight to 12 group classes a day, and an abundance of connecting rooms for groups and families.

High and low

Embracing a certain minimalist approach while signalling the French luxury brand’s timeless style, Louis Vuitton’s new Low Key collection of bags stand out for its streamlined, sophisticated design. It includes the Low Key Hobo in black, cognac and limestone with a generous shape and supple construction as well as the Shoulder Bag in a body-friendly silhouette enhanced by a rounded, buckled strap that’s adjustable for hand or shoulder carry. Both styles are crafted in luxuriously soft grained calfskin and feature a signature padlock as a defining accent, an enduring aesthetic and nod to Louis Vuitton’s heritage as a trunk maker.

Also see: #obsessed: Top picks from Bape Gallery, Omega x Swatch, Clot x Crocs, and more