The French fashion and accessories house is launching La Beauté, its first foray into colour cosmetics and an accompaniment to the house’s now-extensive fragrance offering.
The creation of the collection, that includes 55 lipsticks, 10 lip balms and eight eye shadow palettes, was overseen by Louis Vuitton’s new Creative Director – Cosmetics, Dame Pat McGrath, and plays into the house’s heritage around travel and daring creativity.
With pricing landing at AU$265 ($293) for a lipstick and AU$420 (NZD$464), the line is one of the most premium cosmetics offerings in existence, but no expense has been spared ensuring the product lives up to expectations in line with the luxury fashion brand’s reputation.
“We’ve made something heirloom-worthy. Iconic. Bold. And unforgettable,” enthuses McGrath of the lip-focused debut that promises rich pigments and silky textures.
“With product development I have always been obsessed with the smallest of details: the perfection needed in product texture, the precise application methods, just the right amount of pigment pay-off, and how products should make you feel, says McGrath.
“I always like to push boundaries with make up — and this métier is no different.”
With the lipsticks, there are 27 shades in a smooth satin finish and 28 in a velvety-matte texture. Each shade has been crafted by McGrath to be universally flattering. The standout? A power-pout, rich scarlet red known as ‘Rouge Louis.’
With more of a lip calm consistency, the La Beauté Louis Vuitton Baume offers luminous, sheer, balmy colour with plenty of skincare ingredients to deeply hydrate lips.
Continuing the elevated approach, the lip products even come scented with a custom fragrance created by Louis Vuitton’s Master Perfumer, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud. Those notes, if you were wondering? The lipsticks carry a ‘bespoke blend of mimosa, jasmine and rose’, while the lip balms emit a ‘delectable scent of mint and raspberry’.
For eyes, McGrath’s expertise again comes into play with eyeshadow quads each containing three wearable, everyday shades, with one shade that’s an ‘unexpected twist,’ like a shimmer, to help amp up the glamour.
Each makeup item is housed in elegant black and gold, or white and gold cases more akin to objets d’art. Each element has been designed by German industrial designer Konstantin Grcic. Better known for his work with furniture, Grcic turning his hand to cosmetics means each piece is minimalist yet unmistakably luxurious. The idea, the house says, is to elevate makeup from a functional, disposable product into a ‘forever keepsake’.
Further cementing this approach is the fact each original case is able to be refilled with an insert that clicks into place.
“The starting point for our design language was the golden ring – a detail inspired by the brass fittings of Louis Vuitton’s iconic trunks,” explains Grcic. “It’s a nod to heritage, but also a powerful marker of identity within the beauty line. The way it feels in your hand, the sound of the closure, the temperature of the materials – these are all part of the emotional connection.”
“Our approach was about delivering on longevity and quality, while staying true to our sustainable commitments and convictions. These are pieces meant to live with you, to be kept, treasured, and used again and again.”
Known for covetable accessories, its no surprise the house is also celebrating the arrival of the makeup items with some limited-edition beauty cases and pouches to hold the new products. For the true beauty obsessive, there’s even a make-up station masterpiece that pays homage to both Louis Vuitton’s early 20th-century beauty case commissions and Pat McGrath’s modern day backstage beauty station. The folding station uses artisanal techniques employed in the brand’s famous trunks and cases.
The La Beauté collection will be available in selected Louis Vuitton boutiques globally including the Sydney Maison, Louis Vuitton Bondi and Louis Vuitton Brisbane stores from 29th August 2025.
