“Red is the great clarifier— bright and revealing,” Diana Vreeland once said. The late fashion icon made scarlet her signature, painting it on her lips, nails and cheeks as the mood struck her, and splashing it around her New York City living room—carpet, sofa, walls and all. I noticed a revival of more-is-more red on the fall runways, with models sporting the hue from head to toe at Tom Ford, Jonathan Saunders and Prabal Gurung. More recently, at the couture shows, makeup artist Stephane Marais painted glossy rouge on both lips and lids at Jean Paul Gaultier, a defiant look inspired by goth-rocker Marilyn Manson and one I’m keen to try myself. While old-school makeup rules call for spotlighting only one feature at a time, I say, why stop there if you stick to the same shade? No doubt Vreeland would have agreed.
Using your ring finger, prep lids by gently smoothing on a shadow primer. This will even out your skin tone, make pigments look brighter and prevent creasing.
Sweep the eye shadow across your lids with a fluffy brush, blending it into the crease. Keep the red from looking overpowering by restricting the colour to your upper lids and skipping the gloss topcoat used at Gaultier.
Finish with two coats of matching red lipstick, blotting with a tissue in between layers. Go for a creamy satin formula for a flattering, easy-wear finish.
