02.02.10
-THE POWER OF RED
Red lipstick sales soar at Selfridges as women use it to boost their confidence
post recession -
Red lips are back in Vogue and number one on the lip charts. Having identified
"the lipstick factor," Selfridges, the UK’s leading department
store, reports a rise in red lipstick sales as British women look to boost
their confidence.
Spring beauty campaigns depicted confident, glamorous and seductive models
with red painted lips. A 35 percent year on year growth of red lipstick
sales at Selfridges shows this desire has quickly trickled from billboard
to high street.
As David Walker-Smith, Beauty Director for Selfridges, says; “Red
lipsticks are on the up because women want to feel sexy. It instantly changes
your appearance, boosts, morale and sexuality. What more could women want."
Red is symbolic of power, seduction, sex, passion and energy. The 1980s
power-suit-wearing woman considered her lipstick as part of her armour as
she struggled to make her way in the male-dominated, corporate world. In
the early days, a plump woman with a rosy lip was considered to be the most
attractive because it was sign of good blood circulation and therefore health.
For a device of such small stature, lipstick has inspired great feats;
the average woman consumes between 4lb and 6lb of lipstick in her lifetime.
Lipstick is the least expensive and most popular cosmetic in the world and
with a host of internet sites guiding on how to create the perfect pout,
confidence in applying red and other statement shade’s has vastly
increased.
Powerful women famous for their red lips:
Marilyn Monroe
Scarlett Johansson’s (Dolce Gabbana campaign)
Dita von Teese
Cristina Aguilera
Gwen Stefani
Lucille Ball
Flo Jo
Top 5 red shades selling at Selfridges include:
Chanel’s Passion from the Allure collection
YSL’s Rouge Volupte 17 Red Muse
Dior’s Serum Rouge Crimson Red
Armani’s Rouge d’Armani no. 400
Dolce & Gabbana’s Ruby
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