Opinions

Shroom Bloom: Pleasing Part 2

1 April 20221 April 2022By
Shroom Bloom: Pleasing Part 2

Shroom Bloom: Pleasing Part 2

After his perfectly pearly first launch, Harry Styles and his brand Pleasing have dropped their second collection of products just in time for spring. Carrot Magazine’s editorial team were lucky enough to visit the Pleasing pop up store, and Opinions Editor Inayah Shah reviews the latest drop. 

A New Direction

In a world where style, beauty and how we represent ourselves is ever changing and you can always rely on Harry Styles to pioneer that change, and a step in a new, exciting direction. So it was no surprise when Shroom Bloom was announced — the second micro-collection of products from Pleasing. It was a complete departure from the Perfect Pearl collection, which you can read all about here. 

The theme of Shroom Bloom is a step into spring and the beauty of colour and vibrancy in nature with a psychedelic twist, but this time with a new face for the brand ​​—none other than Mick Fleetwood. Announced through a Vogue Magazine article, Mick Fleetwood is the face (and hands) for this second collection of products and embodies the magical, otherworldly fantasy encapsulated in the products. Who better to adorn the face of Pleasing Drop 2 than a British rock legend who has cemented their eccentricity and genius with Fleetwood Mac? 

Pleasing Pop Ups

As the world cautiously reemerges into a (hopefully) post-pandemic era, Styles announced Pleasing pop up stores, in LA, New York and London for the span of a week. Being long time Harry Styles fans, Claudia Scuturici and Inayah Shah visited the store on its opening day, and after a three hour long wait — got their hands on the next drop of Pleasing products.

Located in Shoreditch, the Pleasing pop up store took over an empty shop on Redchurch street, which saw hundreds of fans step into an immersive Shroom Bloom experience. The walls were covered in orange floral wallpaper, and there was a picture opportunity to stand with a Pleasing wall and the main muse of the brand — the Pleasing Frog.  

The hallucinogenic stylised patterns are thanks to the talents of artist Marisol Muro (@marisolmuro on Instagram), who is known for her exciting and unique artwork that she has now done for Pleasing. Her patterns were plastered on every wall, the boxes for the nail varnishes and the designs of the merchandise. 

As for the shop itself, it was the perfect opportunity to fully immerse yourself in a Shroom Bloom experience. The staff were all wonderful, modelling the t-shirts and sweatshirts available, to everyone having their nails painted and decorated. Once you’ve taken your photos, you have the choice to try all the products and see what best suits you. Once chosen, you paid and walked away with some new Pleasing products and a free Pleasing tote bag (which was one of the most exciting parts of the day.) 

The store was a celebration of not only the new products, but the Pleasing community, bringing together both fans of the brand and Styles himself. There’s very few people I can think of who can attract hundreds of fans to Shoreditch on a Tuesday afternoon who  will happily wait three hours to see your new line of products. It’s not only due to  his power as an icon, but is also a testament to the products he has launched. The two go hand-in-hand and his imagination alongside his team’s creativity behind the products is the reason for its two successful micro-collections.

Polishing Up (Again)

The front and centre products of the new drop are the nail polishes, which most walked away with after visiting the shop. Available as a four, or two individuals, Pleasing brings us The Shroom Bloom Polish Set with three new colours and a new top coat. 

Available in Sprouting (pale green), Tender Bud (mushroom beige), Vine Ripe (red) and The Whole Dewniverse (a glittery top-coat), the new set of polishes provide a list of endless possibilities. Along with the purchase of the nail varnishes, customers also receive a free pack of decorative nail stickers ranging from little dancing flowers, to butterflies. 

Vine Ripe is one of the brightest and boldest colours across both Pleasing launches, yet and are a strong, exciting addition to your nail polish collection. 

Tender Bud is one of the more subtle colours, for fans of a nude/neutral polish. The colour is similar to a mushroom tone and is perfect for the transition from winter to spring. 

Sprouting is a similar colour to the nail polish Styles wore back at the 2019 Met Gala, which resembles a mint green. It adheres perfectly to the brightness of the Shroom Bloom launch and will be worn well in both spring and summer.

The Whole Dewniverse (extra praise for the name) is one of the strongest products of the collection, with glittery shards in the top coat and adds a sparkly dimension to the finish of your polish. On top of the colours or purely alone, The Whole Dewniverse is a main character in this collection.

The Skin Collection

Building on the skin product family, Pleasing presents two more products to add to your skincare collection.

Up first, is Acid Drops, a ‘lucid overnight serum’, which could be tried and tested in Pleasing pop up stores. The serum is an energising nighttime serum which leaves the skin glowing and refreshed in the morning. The skincare products released by Pleasing are an encouraging and simple way to start or revise your skincare routine and provide your skin with a burst of healthiness and care. Details of what is in the product are outlined on the website here and the product retails at a comfortable £34.

The second product for the skin collection is the Hand and Nail Balm which Claudia excitedly tried on and said, “this is one of the best creams I have ever tried”. The cream leaves a non greasy feel to the skin and provides moisture to both your hands and nail beds. For those who are conscious of the feel of a hand cream, both Claudia and Inayah can vouch for the smoothness and comfortable feel of the texture of the cream. The Hand and Nail Balm sits at a slightly lower price of £24.

The Clothing Collection 

The much loved and in demand, Pleasing jumper has been renovated for this new collection. The biggest star of the clothing is the Pleasing Crewneck in Sky Blue, with the now iconic Pleasing frog on the front, retailing at £100. 

However, as the weather begins to improve, you may feel better in a T-shirt, and Pleasing has you covered. Available in both Blush Pink and Sunshine Yellow, you can also model the Pleasing frog on a T-shirt which feels light, airy and comfortable. 

The clothing may be more expensive than the original launch but the artistry on the shirt, the sustainability aspect of it and the quality of the shirt speaks true to its price — it’s worth it. 

 Final Thoughts 

Claudia’s Thoughts:

I am an avid nail polish lover: I always have my nails done and have an extensive polish collection. As a Harry Styles fan, I knew I had to try the Pleasing sets. The first drop was impressive, but Shroom Bloom rocked my whole universe… or should I say Downiverse? The colours are very bright, pigmented and versatile. And most importantly, they last. I’ve been trying out the collection and oh, they last. The top coat makes the polishes stay on the nails for over a week without chipping, no matter how much hand sanitiser I used or how much I washed my hands.

The three-hour wait was absolutely worth it, and it didn’t even feel like long. Everyone in the cue was happy to have a chat and the atmosphere was incredible. All fans wore Harry Styles themed clothing and once music started to play, it was a fashion show in itself. People passing by were staring, and the joy in the air was contagious. The staff was very friendly, both in person and, later, online, to the great delight of stan Twitter.

To conclude, everything Harry Styles touches becomes very Pleasing, all the way from the atmosphere to the products.

Inayah’s Thoughts:

This second micro-collection of Pleasing has proven not only to show the direction of where the brand intends to go, but the endless possibilities Pleasing has promised. The collection is getting wider, the choices are expanding and the Pleasing Dewniverse (sorry, I could not help myself) is expanding. 

Most importantly, the first launch for Pleasing has built a trust with customers that not only is the brand good quality, and worth the investment, but it’s different to what other beauty brands are offering currently. It has the licence to go anywhere, launch anything and most likely be a success. 
Each product and creative decision is well thought out and executed even better. With any beauty brand, you want longevity in its products and the ethos in what is being produced. Pleasing is not trying to be anything but itself. There are no echoes of imitation or trying too hard. It evokes the feeling of individuality, creativity and unpredictability. Who knows what the brand has up their sleeve next, but if the first two launches are anything to go by — it’s going to be very Pleasing.