CARLOS FALCHI FOR MARK COSMETICS

TEXT, VIVIAN KELLY

FACT: CARLOS FALCHI IS A BRILLIANT BRAZILIAN HIGH-END BAG DESIGNER WHO'S NOT ALLERGIC TO COLLABORATING AT ALL ENDS OF THE PRICE SPECTRUM

FACT: MARK COSMETICS IS A STYLISH COSMETICS LINE GEARED TOWARDS THE TEEN VOGUE READER THAT THE AVERAGE TEEN CAN EASILY AFFORD

FACT: TODAY'S AVON IS WAY COOLER THAN THE FUSTY IMAGE WE HAD OF "THE AVON LADY CALLING" AND PTA MOMS WEARING THEIR SAFE BROWN-PINK LIPSTICK

A month or so ago, we dropped-into a Mark Cosmetics Event. After a long day of appointments in the City, we almost didn’t’ go. Always loathe to take a defeatist attitude, we hopped into THE TELEGRAPHE ESPRESSO BAR on 107 W
18th Street, and powered-up with a granita - the best in NYC.

THE EVENT HIGHLIGHT: Previewing the Limited Edition "Festa" Collection, and meeting Carlos, who is charming as only Brazilian men can be. HE's won the Accessories Council Lifetime Achievement Award, but he's as approachable and engaging as a newbie designer, who's eager to meet the press and make a good impression. Carlos is the best kind of designer there is: one who leaves his ego at the door and takes his talent with him wherever he goes – whether it’s designing a bags that sell at Neiman Marcus, or collaborating with Target or in this case, with Avon. The "Festa" line originated, he told us, with a watercolor illustrations he created of his native Brazil. The almost Van Gogh like colorful swirl pattern was evident in the 'flora' dress and 'brazilian beach bikini', with a retro-style 0-ring detail.

Happily, anyone can own a Carlos Falchi.
Over on www.target.com, you can still pick up one of the few bags he did for a recent GO collection that would run you less than filling up an economy car with “Regular” gas at the gas pump.
Mr. Falch, is one of the few GO/Target designers who successfully translated his top drawer aesthetic into "nice price" product. In fact, I bought my Mother his small green collage hobo for her Birthday. She liked it as much as the small chain link Chloe black leather bag I bought her back when I was an intern at Chloe, in Paris, in 1992. I ate take-out shredded carrots and raisins for a week to be able to pay for it, and that was WITH the company discount.
If you're in the market for a "I'll keep it forever piece", there's a killer Falchi yellow clutch for $395 at Neiman’s and a glazed python shoulder carryall, for $2595 that brought tears to our eyes [mortgage first!] on www.neimanmarcus.com.
If you can't score one of the Target bags, you can pick up his small gold 'take me to rio bag' in aby blue faux croc and/or the gold 'rio ready mini bag' on the Mark website.


FACT - TRYING MAKEUP ON TOGETHER IS ONE OF THE TOP MOTHER-DAUGHTER EXPERIENCES THERE IS
In Middle School, my Mother took me to Bloomingdales’ Stamford – now the UConn Business School Campus] -to buy makeup. That night, I left with “The Big Brown Bag”, filled with $200+ of Calvin Klein skincare and makeup. I felt like Brooke Shields in “Island of the Blue Lagoon”.
Twenty+ years later, with my own daughter and friends in tow, we sat down at a round table that starred a box filled to the brim with MARK cosmetics to play with.
The event concept was “Play with the makeup”, and play we did. My daughter and her friend over-indulged and posed delightedly for the Avon execs who snapped-away. Everyone was happy that night and excitedly Twittering-away. Ten minutes in, it sunk into my head that Mark is in fact, an Avon brand. Never has the phrase, “You’ve come a long way, baby!” been so apt.

After the four of us tested-out everything on the table at the event, we came-up with OUR TOP MARK PICS:

MARK Flat Eye LIner Brush - it's also great for eyebrows
MARK mark Totally Balmed SPF 15 Tinted Lip Balm
Best= “Totally Bare"= a neutral flesh pink for day and “Totally Hot” = crushed berry red, good for evening.

MARK Free for all Body lotion Acai Berry Blend/Shea Butter- the line contains super foods and super fruits in it.

***CARLOS FALCHI FOR MARK – “Getaway Beach Hat” - $16.
Why this is our #1 pick – unlike the cute bikini, you don’t have to strip down and try it on.

*What Needs Improvement – the makeup wipes. From years of testing, only removers that have oil in them really work when it comes to taking-off black eyeliner, mascara, and highly pigmented eye shadows, like the MAC Cosmetic ones I collect on my travels.


MORE ABOUT MARK
They're on their marketing game, having recently signed LAUREN CONRAD as a spokesperson.
To read more and to shop, visit www.meetmark.com