[productsample/affiliatelinks] New York Times journalist, Rachel Felder, was given access to couture beauty archives in order to write this ode to the most iconic of cosmetics – the red lipstick.
It covers the history and political dynamics of the red lipstick – for example, the suffragette movement. Elizabeth Arden famously gave out red lipsticks to a passing march as a mark of women’s rights solidarity.
Citations of famous red lipstick wearers appear throughout the book – Diana Vreeland, Paloma Picasso and Marilyn Monroe to name a few – as well as some old formulas. If we go back to ancient China, for example, vermillion mixed with animal blood and animal fat gave a nicely wearable product, apparently!
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If you love your lippies, I can’t see how you wouldn’t enjoy this brief meander through its past, present and future. It’s not a long read by any means, and best devoured when you have some time to yourself, preferably with a glass of bubbles beside you, wearing your best very red. At £18.99 it’s got coffee table class with a gold cover; a great girlfriend gift especially if you add in a lipstick from one of the brands mentioned – Guerlain, Revlon, Dior, Chanel – take your pick! It’s HERE.
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