Glam Slam: Red Lips – Red Hot?… Or Not?

Yesterday, I did something I rarely if ever do… I wore red lipstick to work instead of my usual neutral beige shade. I was inspired after a recent “Old Havana” themed event I attended where I wore classic red lips.

So what’s the big deal you ask?

I knew I would get razzed for it and I did! By whom, you ask? Billy Bush, that’s who!

Billy has quite clearly made his feelings known about red lips. He HATES them and has said so several times on air!

I joked with him that “I wore something just for you today.” “Yeah, I know, red lips! I saw them earlier today,” he said. “It was all I could do NOT say anything about them. But now that you’ve brought them up… I can say something!” he laughed. “You know how I feel about red lips!”

Oh, boy, do I! I asked him why he doesn’t like red lipstick and he gave me a “man’s perspective.”

1. It’s unkissable.
2. It looks like performance makeup.
3. It’s overly bold and aggressive.

In fact, Billy told me he remembers seeing his grandmother get red lipstick all over her coffee cup and it was so aggressive it didn’t come off even after it was washed! Apparently, it scarred him for life!

Me, on the other hand, I LOVE red lips. I just don’t have the guts to wear them because I am not good at applying them and making them stay put without getting all over my teeth. (Did you see “American Idol” last week when Ryan Seacrest had to wipe red lipstick off of contestant Haley Reinhart who had it all over her teeth and face?! Poor thing!)

Such an intense color is not for everyone, but I love how Gwen Stefani has made a red mouth her signature go-to look. It’s chic and nothing screams glamour and Old Hollywood to me more than a pair of red lips. Most guys don’t feel the love though.

“Every guy I know agrees with him 100 percent,” Billy’s producer Michael said as he walked by and heard our debate!

“If you walk into a cocktail party, you want to blend in,” Billy says. “You want a nude or beige color that works with your skin tone. You don’t want to come in blasting a trumpet, that’s too aggressive. But with all that said, if you do wear red lips, just know it looks great on you.”

I agree. If you’re gonna go for it, then own it!