Monday, April 25, 2011

Red Lipstick: A Tumultuous Love Affair

I've had a love-hate relationship with red lipstick since I can remember. As a kid, I always associated it with a look of scowly disinterested detachment. The wearers always seemed cold, a bit garish and higher-than-thou, which I blame entirely on Robert Palmer.


Seriously though, I think my anti-red lipstick mindset came from my youthful affection for all things lightly hued. I grew up with a makeup drawer filled to the brim with Clinique glosses and Bonne Bell balms. In high school, a friend of mine started wearing The Body Shop's Rutabaga and, desiring her effortless glamour, I hopped on board as well.

Drew Barrymore, 1998. Is that Rutabaga?!

The berry-stained hue was all over the red carpet in the late 1990's, so I felt really refined and adult wearing it, though when paired with Coty face powder, I looked downright spectral. Sadly, despite my attempts to rock Rutabaga, I couldn't, so eventually I let the pretty silver tube roll to the back of my drawer to the land of lost cosmetic products. Then finally, when I graduated from college and moved away from Pennsylvania, it made its final journey to the trash.

These days I can't get enough of red lipstick. I don't wear makeup every day, but when I do, it's always in my arsenal. Nars' Velvet Matte Lip pencil in Cruella has been my go-to for a year or so, but now I'm all over Chanel's Rouge Allure Laque in Coromandel! I spotted it on a beauty blog last week and it was love at first sight. It's a little orangey, so it's the ideal choice for summer!


Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in Coromandel (72), Chanel Le Crayon LĂ©vres in Carmin (14)

So, Chanel? Je t'aime!

You're a reminder that red is always in style, fun, flirtatious and totally attainable. No slicked-back hair and bad faux guitar playing required.

6 comments:

  1. gorgeous.

    that shade of red looks great on you!

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  2. Thanks so much! :) I really love it... so bright and fun!

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  3. oh my, i haven't thought about coty face powder in such a long time. i used to pile it on along with a dark berry hue on my lips. 'spectral' is the perfect description for the combination.

    i haven't worn red lipstick in a long time, but i love it. you've inspired me. that color is lovely on you!

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  4. Thanks!

    Isn't Coty face powder a blast from the past? :)

    You should try red lipstick again! I was so against it for so long, but it's really classic and immediately dresses everything up!

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  5. I don't think I ever wore Coty face powder. but you know that I wear the heck out of red lipstick!
    this one looks great on you! great post! & now I will be singing that song all night.

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