To coincide with the use of velvet beauty spots in this week's Chanel Cruise show, AnOther considers the history and symbology of the beauty mark...
Beauty spots have long been considered one of the most attractive features of the female face. This week, to compliment Karl Lagerfeld's "Versailles in a Socialist France" themed collection for Cruise 2013, global creative director for Chanel make-up Peter Phillips and his team applied interlocking Cs to the models' faces. The iconic black velvet details were a striking contrast to the pastel blunt cropped wigs and the pink eyeshadow and blusher.
Following a longstanding fascination with the treatment of eyebrows in fashion, the AnOther team are excited about the revival of the beauty spot. Its popularity can be traced back to the 18th century, when women would draw their own with eye pencil or apply false silk or velvet patches known as "mouches". In the 1950s, Marilyn Monroe's beauty mark became one of the actress's most defining features; the same, decades later, for supermodel Cindy Crawford, Madonna and Natalie Portman. Medically, beauty spots are generally melanocytic nevus, more specifically the compound variant. They are usually symmetrical in shape and measure no more than a centimeter.
In Greek mythology, the gods were said to be jealous of those who looked too perfect and hence created a small dark mark on their faces, just to disturb their perfection. Here, AnOther uncovers the hidden meanings behind the positioning of natural beauty spots...
Right eyebrow... symbolises a highly active and successful life.
Corner of the eye... indicates an honest, reliable and forthright person.
Nose... indicates a person who will be a sincere friend and a hard-working individual.
Cheek (either)... indicates a serious and studious person who has no interest in material pleasures.
Chin... indicative of people who are affectionate and caring. These people adapt easily to any situation. They love travelling and respect the law of the land. They are also dedicated and conscientious workers and willingly accept responsibilities.
Lips... indicative of people who always aspire to get ahead in life.
Rose Favorite Soft Touch Eyeshadow and Rose Pétale blusher part of the Versailles de CHANEL collection available in December 2012.
Text by Laura Bradley
