Money burns a hole in every fashionable girl’s pocket. In fact the fashionable student is much akin to the alcoholics of the world, no money for food but always cash for a bottle of vodski. My brown bag used to be a Topshop one. Disguising a few accessories I would convince myself I was not spending money. Well my poison of choice over the past few weeks has been makeup and it seems I’m not alone. There’s something stirring in the waters this spring that sees make up come to the forefront of every ladies look.
We have been stuck in a bronzed and beautiful J.LO look for a near decade now. We shunned it for a smoky Kate Moss eye for a while and a bright red lip on VERY fancy occasions. Not anymore. The tides are turning and a full face of make up in all manner of hues is crashing over us in 2010.
Blame it on the makeup heavy stars like Katy Perry, Rhianna or the stage goddesses GaGa and Florence for injecting some theatricality to the muted masks we have worn for so long. Recessionistas are realising that make up is an affordable way to update your look. A splash of colour on your lips or eyes can dramatically change a ladies face when they usually wear browns and taupe.
I know what you're drinking, makeup isn’t exactly groundbreaking blogging. We are all aware of the lipstick effect in times of financial crisis but what I’m talking about is the new hold make up now has on us. Ever since Girls Aloud launched their eyelash range I am struggling to find a girl who doesn’t use them as part of her nights out. This new staple of lashes were brought even more into the limelight because at the time the X Factor had just recruited one of the bands members and Cheryl mania had taken hold. Not since Britney Spears wore silver eyeliner in her “Oops I did it again” video did a fashion idol ignite such a fire in makeup lovers across the globe.
For many girls the made up face is becoming more important than the outfit. I recently bought a bright plum Armani lipstick and have since been pairing it with outfits rather than picking clothes first. It has become perfectly acceptable to wear a full face of makeup every day. I regularly spot women on the tube with fake lashes and blush on their way to work. I also spy women shopping in m&s with pastel nails and bright pink lips. French tips, matte nude lips and lashings of bronzer are on the outs. Women are allowing themselves to experiment with colours and styles of make up more and more.
It’s not surprising that women are looking for a more statement look these days. There is such an emphasis on the individual that in actual fact we are all ending up looking the same. Blame the high street if you will but the point is that with a celebration of individuality (Lady GaGa, La Roux, Dita Von Teese) we are more likely to copy them than create our own individual look when it comes to clothing and accessories. Make up gives you free reign to create your own persona without labels and price tags. And of course you never have to show your brown bag and admit you’re an addict.
