In the meantime, the Chanel designer has created a number of cosmetics for the company, including eyeshadow and nail polish, along with a doll in his image (it is Lagerfeld, after all).

Collaborations between fashion designers and beauty brands are increasingly common. Designers can put their signature on entry-level products to complement expensive dresses and handbags, while cosmetics companies gain gravitas and a sense of newness that helps to drive consumer interest and, hence, sales.

''It creates a point of difference and it's another little extension for the cosmetic house and the fashion house,'' says the general manager of cosmetics for Myer, Liz Webster.

''If you are a devotee of the [fashion] brand then you want it, so it absolutely does create sales.''

Three collaborations involving five Australian designer brands and three beauty companies are on sale at present in Australia, timed to capitalise on the lucrative summer party season.

Ginger & Smart has created two eyeshadow palettes inspired by two prints in the label's spring-summer collection for Japanese beauty house shu uemura and camilla and marc has devised a limited edition make-up bag for Lancome filled with its make-up.

Ksubi, sass & bide and Zimmermann have each collaborated with American company Kiehl's to create three separate labels for its best-selling Creme de Corps body cream, with the bottles on sale in Kiehl's stores, department stores and each brand's free-standing stores around the country.

''Our customers are fashion savvy so I thought it would be really great to work with the fashion industry to create a limited edition visualising the Creme de Corps with a new pop of colour,'' says the general manager of Kiehl's, Tere Heathcote.

''If you're a sass & bide person you want not only to wear it but to display it in your bathroom.''

Part proceeds from sales of the bottles with Ksubi's skull and bones, sass & bide's colour blocking and Zimmermann's signature feminine florals go to each brand's chosen charity, which was an added incentive for them to participate.

''It's a chance for us to do something for the Starlight Foundation (Zimmermann's charity) but Kiehl's Creme de Corps is also a really good product for us to be associated with,'' designer Nicky Zimmermann says.

''At this time of year you have a lot of people doing resort shopping, so having body creams works really well for us because they'll pick up a cossie, a beach hat and a dress and they'll definitely get a body cream.''

Camilla and marc designer Camilla Freeman-Topper says the Lancome collaboration was an organic one born out of her long-standing relationship with the brand, which is the make-up sponsor for camilla and marc's runway shows.

''Lancome has similar brand values to camilla and marc - an emphasis on quality and beautiful product - so the relationship has a natural feel to it,'' Freeman-Topper says.

''It's been really enjoyable having them bring our creative [vision] to life for Australian Fashion Week and now be able to create a product together.''