BY LISA PIERPONT
I’ve seen a few magazine
trend reports out there
that red lips and a bare
face are a big look for
spring. Is there any way
to pull this off without
looking completely
washed out? — R. W. IN CANTON
I love the idea of bright-colored nails, but
the reality always seems a little punk-trashy.
(Especially after even just the teensiest chip.)
Am I right, or just being too timid? — T. Y. IN NEWTON
Once upon a time, there was a lovely
girl named Snow White who wore
apple-red lipstick and wowed Prince
Charming. Fast-forward a few centuries
to Dita Von Teese, whose burlesque
blood-hued lips dripped so much drama
and femininity that she caused scarlet
fever. The moral of the story? The old
tube of rouge can produce magical
results. What’s thorny about this is that
one shade off, and it’s cheeseville. First
of all, there is no such thing as a naked
face in the cosmetics world. That’s why
foundation was created in a matching
skin tone. Second, on the lipstick front,
there’s raspberry red for darker skin
tones, coral reds for lighter. In other
words, you need to take the time to test
what color looks best. Third, the bare
look works because it doesn’t compete
with all that sizzle on your smacker. So
dab light blush on your cheekbones, line
the upper lash line only, pat on neutral
eye shadow (if any), and top
off with mascara. Now you are ready
to live your own fairy tale. The End.
You’re not being timid at all; a couple of chips transform a fetching lacquered
nail into a tattered garage door. Strip it. Now. The hot tones for spring are
truly mesmerizing — Essie’s poppy red (“One of a kind”), OPI’s misty lilac
(“Done out in deco”), and Zoya’s deep plum (“Moxie”) all prepare you to
shake hands with hip-hoppers and world leaders alike. The trick is to
consider a bold nail polish as you would an oversize necklace or cocktail
ring: the polish pulls the weight here, so wardrobe yourself with comple-mentary-colored (black with reds, for example, or brown with violets) rather
than clashing threads. And be sure to carry around a travel-size bottle of
nail polish remover if you can’t swing a new paint job.
ILLUSTRATION B Y NATHALIE DION/ AGOODSON.COM
I just got back from L.A., and it seems like
everyone there right now is wearing false
eyelashes (individuals) for day. Is this too much
for Boston, do you think? — A.D. IN BACK BAY
Oh, please don’t go there. Please don’t draw comparisons between L.A. and
Boston, and please don’t ever think of refraining from a look because you’re
nervous about offending any conservatively inclined Bostonians. If you like
long lashes, glue them on, babe. There’s a boutique on Newbury Street called
Lux Lash that is devoted exclusively to silky, magnificent eyelash extensions,
and the owner, Suzanne Cats, would doodle mascara all over your face if
she heard you talk like that. As a matter of fact, she hails from Los Angeles,
and opened her studio because she had enough faith that Boston’s beauties
would not only bat an eye with football-field-long lashes, but might even give
rhinestone lashes a flutter. Eyelash extensions hit the spotlight a few years ago
when J. Lo blinked in mink, Madonna winked with diamond studs, and Paris
Hilton clinked champagne in jet-black lookers. At their mildest, fake eyelashes
replace the chore of applying mascara; at their boldest, they are as enchanting
as a tiara, far away from LA-LA Land, front and center on tea party turf.
I LISA PIERPONT IS THE FOUNDER OF BOLDFACERS.COM, A WEB PUBLICATION SPOTLIGHTING BOSTON’S UP-AND-COMING TALENT AND STYLEMAKERS.
MOREOVER, SHE IS ALSO AN UNQUESTIONABLY SNAPPY DRESSER. IN A FASHION BIND? SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO FB@GLOBE.COM.
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