Throughout its long history—it was invented more than 4500 years ago—red lipstick has been a symbol of many things: charm, power, sin, emancipation, seductiveness…

It adorned the lips of many powerful women such as the Sumerian queen Puabi, Cleopatra, Poppaea, wife of Nero, and Queen Elizabeth I of England, and was deprecated by others such as the austere Queen Victoria; but it is only during the twentieth century, after various periods of highs and lows in popularity, that lipstick became the fashionable cosmetic accessory of today thanks to the production of the first lipstick in cylinder containers by Roger & Gallet. In 1912, Elizabeth Arden handed out her Red Door Red as a gift to all the women walking in Fifth Avenue, turning red lipstick into a symbol of the feminist battles of the Suffragettes in New York.

It was instead during the Second World War that Winston Churchill ordered that the use of cosmetics had to be rationed; all except one: lipstick, of course, which was regarded as a source of energy and vitality by those who wore it and those who saw it.

Then, it was the era of the great divas. Celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor, Betty Page, Audrey Hepburn, etc. turned red lipstick into their own personal brand image.

In the 1970s, David Bowie flouted with convention, showing that also men could wear it and transforming it into a symbol of fluid identity and non-binary freedom. And it has been one since then.

Some of the most popular lipsticks of all time that never go out of fashion are: Authentique by Rouge Baisier, 999 Rouge by Christian Dior, #400 Rouge by Giorgio Armani, Rouge Coco by Chanel, N°1 Le Rouge Rouge Pur Couture by Yves Saint Laurent and Ruby Woo by Mac.

Matt, shiny, cold or warmer colours… red lipstick has always been fashionable. It could be said that it has been the real fil rouge of fashion trends.

This year, darker colours are in fashion, even purplish, shiny and with contour lines like in the style of the 1990s, or also opaque, patting in the middle of the lips to create a blurred effect in line with Korean trends. But a rich lipstick with a velvety finish will always be the emblem of elegance.

(ph. Sekatsky – Unsplash)