Tuesday, December 02, 2008

THE GOOD REDS...



I've noticed a lot of red lipstick moments happening lately. Maybe it's because a pop of red is the perfect hue to cheer you up on a winter's day (as long as you don't accessorize your lippy with a red nose and streaming red eyes.) As Mme Vreeland once said: "Red is the great clarifier - bright, cleansing, and revealing." It's also *in these troubled times* the much cheaper equivalent of a Chanel 2.55 bag - a classic, sound investment - but one that you don't have to feel too guilty about purchasing.

I found my perfect red; which is almost as much of a satisfyingly frivolous coup as finding a signature scent (which I always think I've found, then change my mind.) It's Saint Red by Lipstick Queen - a sheer, but bright red. It's the sheer part that makes it work I think. Most red lipsticks make me look like a goth or a waxwork dummy, but this one is just perfect. I've got brown hair, pale skin with a yellow undertone and grey/blue eyes and I'm going to daub it on an unsuspecting blonde, pale skinned/blue eyed friend who never wears red in just a minute because I reckon it'll work on her too.

{photo: crop from Vogue Paris November 08 Vanessa Paradis cover by Mert & Marcus}

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh how funny that you mention this (this day being a day of super sonic coicidences, ie, seeing kate lanphear on tv last night and thinking, "yeah i could pull off her style...but my hair is not that white!" and then today seeing her everywhere....) and re: the red lipstick..i started to wear it (again) just recently and hand to my heart...guys really do look more! you've noticed as well, huh?
nancy

Vain and Vapid said...

I just love red lipstick, it's a lovely classic.... what a shame it never looks good on me....

Rose said...

Ooh great news, a new lippe gives you a real spring in your step. I'm still looking for my perfect red. I love the Changel London bus red I bought a few years ago but it suits me better with a bit of a tan (which will be sometime never in this country!). Lipstick Queen is supposed to be great, perhaps I need to give this more attention. I go through phases of trying lots of reds on and giving up.

Claire said...

nancy: it's true, they really are simplistic beings bless them!

V&V - it never looked good on me either but this one does - it even says on the website blurb for it that it's the red for people who can't wear red...

Rose - red lipstick + slight tan with no other make up is the best...

RD said...

Yes, men are simple creatures. I think women should realize that and its implication -- women, primarily, dress for other women. Men just don't notice all the small details, but your BFF certainly will... BB

Anonymous said...

Couldn't agree more with this post.
I too bought a red lipsitck recently (dubonnet by MAC), but I still don't think is THE perfect red, at least for me. It's very probably because it's not sheer, and I'm still looking for a sheer one. I don't think I can find Lipstick Queen here, so I'll have to explore on my own!
xxx
Mia

Minniti said...

great minds think alike. i too was thinking. hmm. might want to get me some red lips for holiday. i haven't donned color like that in a decade at least. so i got the red by lipstick queen. the best is that it never comes off! thanks for the tip

Claire said...

Minniti: hooray - I like the thought of gals all over the world wearing that one shade...

Apocalypstick said...

The LQ lipsticks are my favorites. I have similar coloring to yours--try the color Natural Sinner. Plus it will make you laugh every time you go to put your lipstick on!