What do Sasquatch and Red Lipstick have in common?

The answer? Both have been presumably seen in the Pacific Northwest but no one can prove it. Have you ever had the temptation one morning to put on something that is considered bold and interesting? For some time now, I struggle with the thought of putting on some red lipstick at work.

On the East Coast, I wouldn't even have blinked an eye and put on some Fire Engine # 72 on my pout on the way out the door. Here, in the Seattle area, the lip is prudish. If you walk on the streets, you'll notice that no one, even sometime the most "Gothesque" chick on the street wears anything more than a demure pink or lip gloss. Where does this stigma of the painted lips comes from exactly? How do MAC counters make a living exactly?

I am fascinated by the sexually charged red you see in fashion magazines this year. When I think red lipstick, I think French, I think Power Woman, I think High Fashion Editor at Vogue Magazine, I think Marilyn Monroe, I think Geisha and I get dizzy at the thought of this velvety girlie dream. It is unclear how men sees the plump scarlet mouth of their feminine counterparts. My man for one hates lipstick as a hole, thinking of it as a barrier to the routinely morning kiss. For some others, it objectifies the Femme Fatale so often presented in yesteryear's cliches.

If you can take away anything factual from this story, it is that lipstick can be traced back to as early as 5000 years ago in Ur, near Babylon where ancient texts described the process of crushing precious gems to smear on one's lips. Furthermore, the ancient Egyptian women squeezed out purple-red color from iodine and bromine, leading to serious diseases. With time, it came to be known as ‘the kiss of death’. It is said that Cleopatra’s lipstick were made from carmine beetles, which when worked with pestle gave a strong red color pigment. This was mixed with ant’s eggs, which provided the base. Apart from this, henna was also one of the preferred substances amongst Egyptians. To provide the shimmer to the lipstick, fish scales were used.

But back to the strong urges pushing me to apply Moulin Rouge Number 53... It is with great sadness that I've noticed it not being well received by the Pacific North West Coast girls. Perhaps the absence of Fall colors leaves them uninspired. Perhaps it just doesn't add up with their North Face jackets or maybe, just maybe we're just all red lipstick closet wearers. In the meantime, until I feel especially irreverent one of these gloom and doom mornings, I will bite down on my Rose Petal # 14 and walk anonymously among them.


Sad........... Jewel tones are so luxe this season!