Hot Holiday Trend: The Red Dress Red Lip Combo

Tis the season to rock red. And celebs—who are apparently in full holiday mode—have taken that statement to the next level by pairing red dresses with fiery crimson (or deep red) lipstick. Tia Hebron, Bobbi Brown Pro Team Makeup Artist, tells you how to pull of this matchy-matchy trend without a hitch. The RunWay “Exactly matching cherry lipstick with a your dress is a very runway take on the red-on-red trend. This strategy is for the fashion-forward girl who already owns five other red lip colors and just wants to play,” says Hebron. Her suggestion for all you beauty junkies out there is to find a matte red hue (Editor’s Pick: Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl, $25) and make the rest of your makeup a complementary juxtaposition—subtle rather than bright, neutral rather than daring. Wear a flattering golden shadow, like Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Copper ($25) on your eyes paired with pastel nails (Hebron loved Jessica White’s lavender polish). “A navy liner looks great paired with red and brightens the eyes,” says Hebron. The Real Way “Wearing an exact match might be a bit much for some women,” says Hebron. A subtle way to embrace your crimson crush is to select a lip shade that’s close to your dress color, but not an exact match. “Picking a red lipstick sometimes gets overly complicated,” says Hebron. “I think a woman should go to a counter, try on all the reds that catch her eye, and go with the one that makes her feel pretty powerful.” If you need a little more guidance when picking your signature scarlet, try looking for a “true red,” one that’s neutral in tone. They’re flattering all all skin tones and will channel that old school Hollywood starlet vibe. We love Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 01 ($6). But truly the key is not to stress over it. Red lipstick should be fun! Pop it on with your fiery red dress, and you’re ready for a merry night on the town.