In 1947, M. Dior created quite a stir in the world of fashion with the introduction of a unique silhouette: the legendary ‘Bar Ensemble‘, a tailored and minimalistic yet still quite feminine tone, dubbed the “New Look“. The newly released Bar Trio from the 5 Couleurs Collection for Fall 2014 (see my previews reviews on the other trios here, here and here), pays homage to that look in shades of grey, black and beige – all working in harmony yet with enough dark touches to keep things modern and edgy.

Dior legendary Bar Ensemble – New Look (1947)

Rouge Dior #317 Bar (CAN $36.00) | A pinky nude lipstick hue made totally unique by grey/lavender undertones and a fine silvery sheen in the über-hydrating Rouge Dior format. Finding the right neutral lipstick shade to suit my skin tone can be a daunting task as most can pull either too flat or ashy on me, but something about the combination of colours here just works; I’ll even go out on a limb and say that #317 Bar may very well be my most favourite nude lipstick shade to wear. EVER. Any settling into lip lines is minimal at best (keep in mind that as my photos are high resolution, they magnify EVERYTHING) and wear time was about average for a shade as light as this, about 4-5 hours before reapplying (no mirror needed for that either – another plus), leaving my lips feeling super nourished long after all traces of colour had gone.

Dior 5 Couleurs Collection Fall 2014 | Rouge Dior #317 Bar

Dior 5 Couleurs Collection Fall 2014 | Rouge Dior #317 Bar

5 Couleurs #056 Bar (CAN $61.00) | The most neutral leaning of the 5 eye shadow palettes released with this new collection, #056 Bar has quickly become my go-to range of shades for every day. A breakdown of the colours, starting clockwise from the upper left:

• silky taupe with grey undertones (slightly cool leaning) and superb pigmentation
• cool white frosty hue with light silvery reflects, well pigmented and non-chalky
• soft mauve (warm leaning) with a light pink duo chrome-like sheen, satin formula with excellent pigmentation
• matte soft black, great pigmentation and excellent blendability
• cool baby pink in a frosted formula, least pigmented of the 5, pink tone more apparent when applied damp

As a taupe fiend, I couldn’t be happier to see 2 versions in this palette – and both quite different one from the other. Some matte black shades can appear quite flat and light-absorbing, but the one in this grouping seems to defy that principle with its unique velvety softness and the easy manner with which it can be blended – or taken to a new level of dark by applying it with a dampened brush. The pale pink shade when applied dry seems like a slightly different version of white against my skin tone, but on the eye it appears to reveal more colour – especially when juxtaposed beside the others (which goes to prove that arm swatches are not always a good indicator of how a particular colour will appear on the lids), but it still bears the least amount of pigmentation (unless applied with a damp brush) making it an excellent highlight hue (inner eye corners or under brow bone). Apart from the 2 palest hues, I experienced no powdery residue or kickback when swirling my brush through the shades and regardless of pigmentation levels, they all blended beautifully.

One of the main advantages offered by the #056 Bar palette, is the total wearability of these shades and how well they should compliment basically all skin tones across the spectrum. Another plus is how travel-friendly this palette is, small enough to take up little room in your makeup case and with plenty of look options offered by the 5 shades.

Dior 5 Couleurs Collection Fall 2014 | #056 Bar

Dior 5 Couleurs Collection Fall 2014 | #056 Bar, with flash

Dior 5 Couleurs Collection Fall 2014 | #056 Bar, swatched dry

Dior 5 Couleurs Collection Fall 2014 | #056 Bar, swatched damp

Dior Vernis #902 Bar (CAN $26.00) | An obsidian black hue with Dior’s secret shimmer that adds a unique overall depth (not very overt but still visible to the naked eye), in a plush jelly-like formal. Self-levelling and with a mirror-like shine at the finish, #902 Bar is a decadent black shade that appears almost velvety soft (sounds odd, but that’s what the final look reminds me of) and has enough cool & warm tones to suit all skin tones. Bonus: non-staining upon removal (provided base coat is applied first). Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Dior 5 Couleurs Collection Fall 2014 | Dior Vernis #902 Bar

Dior 5 Couleurs Collection Fall 2014 | Dior Vernis #902 Bar, in sunlight

In case it wasn’t made clear in my breakdowns above, I am absolutely in LOVE with all three items of the Bar Trio. I’ll keep it short: for all who love neutral eyeshadow shades, then the #056 Bar palette is definitely worth looking into. For lips, don’t be fooled by the cool gleam of #317 Bar; there is some sorcery at work here, as this shade seems to work on all. As for nails, #902 Bar is an obvious urban yet sensual hue, made even more distinctive when seen in contrast to lighter makeup. So much for keeping it short – just goes to show you that this trio is a total hit … at least for me. prescription

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*Disclosure: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration