adminLifestyle Editor
Unilever launched their reconstituted Lux classic beauty soaps at a classy event held at the Glass House at Borrowdale Race Course last week, a move that confirms that the Zimbabwean market is important and not a dying one as some analyst like to claim.
The invitation cards asked guest to dress in “Oscar red” and raised expectations of an occasion that is not common to Zimbabweans who seem to like everything casual.
Upon arrival guests invitees got to feel like Hollywood stars in a ‘red carpet’ moment as they posed for pictures at the branded welcome point. Most people were dressed appropriately for the occasion in suitably chic and elegant costumes. But some guests including some prominent personalities should have felt embarrassed at turning up for a black tie event in casual clothes.
Lux has established itself as a high end beauty brand with endorsements of movie stars and other prominent women. Unilever says Lux has been associated with “over 400 of the world’s most glamorous actresses from Hollywood legends like Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly, to Bollywood Royalties such as Ashwarya Rai and Katrina Kaiff”.
Many local TV viewers will be familiar with a Twilight actress as well as Former Miss South Africa, television personality, fashion icon, media mogul, business woman, philanthropist Basetsana Kumalo both adverting Lux.
The message was that the popular mass market beauty soap is all about sensuality and women learning to love their own skins, thus themselves. Then that self-love will be followed with love from the partner.
Those at the launch were treated to music by Tariro neGitare and Amara Brown as well as fashion shows for men and women. All this was interspersed with product videos showing that Lux has moved from the famous faces to using ordinary women in their adverts.
Finger food which included chicken in peanut butter sauce and fish balls fit the sophistication of the night while drinks of every variety where kept flowing.
Some guests said that while the launch was well-done, they were a bit disappointed in the way things panned out. “I expected this to be a high-powered woman’s event and I really thought I would be rubbing shoulders with all the premium women in the country, not necessarily the ones who are always in the news, but powerful women nonetheless. Instead it looks like they decided to turn it into a man’s event,” expressed one woman.
Notable female guests included former beauty queen Brita Masalethulini and corporate player Eve Gadzikwa. There were a number of prominent men like musicians Stunner, Ex Q, Ngoni Kambarami and one half of the former Afrika Revenge.
There were also a number of male TV and radio personalities but women from the same quarters were conspicuously absent.
Guests were presented with beautifully packaged hampers containing Lux soaps and wash gel.
Online Reporter