Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color & Mad Men Style

Over the weekend I picked up a couple of Bobbi Brown's new Rich Lip Colors. These are highly pigmented, creamy and opaque lipsticks with a lightweight texture. The finish is somewhere between satin and matte, and reminds me a bit of the feel of lip pencils such as Nars' Velvet Matte. The initial collection includes twelve shades ranging from nude beige and pale pink to deep rose, bright corals and intense reds (none of which are metallic or shimmery). The price is $22, which seems relatively reasonable when compared to Guerlain's Rouge G, for example, which is more than double the price, at $46.

I think there may just be a shade to suit everyone in this collection: Heather Pink is a nice mid-tone neutral, a "safe" shade for those who steer clear of overly bright or dark colors. There is also a pale beige, Bare Pink, which looks like it might be a flattering nude. I look forward to trying out more of these and may go back for the pretty coral Sweet Nectar, which was the only shade that had not yet arrived at any of the stores I visited. I recommend trying these on before purchasing, if possible, because I found that the shade applied on the lips is somewhat brighter than it appears in the tube, at least for the two I purchased. (Visit Temptalia for information on the other shades offered, along with more helpful photos and swatches than mine!)

Recently, a coworker loaned me the first three seasons of Mad Men and I've been on a Mad Men viewing marathon for the last few weeks (although this show has been around since 2007 I hadn't really paid much attention to it, but now I'm hooked!)  These new Bobbi Brown lipsticks definitely call to mind the type of shades women like the characters Betty Draper or Joan Holloway may have worn back in the early 60's. (In fact, there is even a bright red shade named, appropriately, "Old Hollywood.") I love the attention to detail in the show, from the historically accurate home decor and fashion, to makeup and hair--even the actresses' nails are of the longer, tapered oval nail shape which was popular at the time. The timeless elegance and clean simplicity of the makeup of the 50's and early 60's make these styles very appealing, and still relevant and wearable today. 

Grace Kelly (Photo by Sharland/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Audrey Hepburn (Photo by Allan Grant/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

If you have the time, visit Beauty Blogging Junkie for an interesting 2009 interview with Lana Horochowski, Head Makeup Artist for Mad Men. And read makeup artist Pat McGrath's tips on how to achieve Mad Men makeup style in a Jan. 2010 article in the Times (UK).

On to the lipsticks!

Plum Rose is a vibrant deep rose that is actually more rosey than plummy. Bikini Pink is a pale, but fairly bright, milky pink.

Thanks for visiting ~ and enjoy the rest of your week!