A single lipstick can tip a week. The AW25 runway lip look is louder than my usual beige comfort zone, and I wore it through meetings, the Piccadilly line, tacos, and two dates. What shifted wasn’t just the colour on my face — it was the way people read me in the wild.
It’s a deep vinyl berry — not vampire, not cherry, somewhere plush in-between — and it smelled faintly of rose and backstage hairspray. On the tube, a woman in a camel coat glanced up, then down, then back at my lips, like she’d spotted a headline before her coffee kicked in. That night over a drink in Soho, the bartender held my gaze a fraction too long and offered a napkin “in case.” I laughed into the rim, leaving a perfect stamp. And then my ex texted.
Seven days, one mouth, many reactions
The first thing I noticed: people clocked me faster. The barista at Pret asked what shade it was, then called me “power pout” under his breath as he slid the oat flat white across. In the office, a colleague I usually chat to about dog memes asked, “Big meeting?” as if power required a permit. I wasn’t acting different, but I stood a touch taller. It was like wearing a tiny neon sign that said: here I am.
On Wednesday, I swapped my profile photo to a bus-stop selfie with the lipstick on, just to see. Matches nudged up by a third in a day, which sounds wild until you remember dating apps are basically thumbnail psychology. A date in a quiet pub near King’s Cross admitted he was “a bit intimidated” and then apologised for the word. He also asked if it was going to smudge when we kissed, which made us both laugh into our pints. Spoiler: it survived the first kiss, lost the second, and I didn’t mind.
There’s a reason this trick works beyond compliments. High-contrast lipstick draws the eye to the mouth, which humans read for intent, warmth, and flirt. Add shine and you get the illusion of fullness; go deeper in tone and you signal confidence, even if you’re faking it. The “lipstick effect” isn’t magic, it’s framing: you create a focal point, and people feed back that focus. On screens, the colour popped against my winter skin, so yes, thumbnails did their job. In person, it suggested I’d made an effort — which changes the script before anyone says hello.
Making the AW25 lip work IRL
Here’s the method that saved me from the dreaded smear: prep, stain, seal. I started with a fast exfoliation (a flannel and warm water), then a thin balm that fully sunk in while I made tea. Next, a soft pencil half a shade deeper than the lipstick to sketch the bow and corners. I pressed the colour on with a fingertip for a stain, blotted, then added a thin slick from the bullet just in the centre. Finally, I traced the edges with a cotton bud dipped in concealer, and dusted translucent powder on the skin around my mouth.
Don’t overdo the matte if your lips are textured; it can look like velvet that’s seen better days. A little sheen reads alive, especially under pub lighting. Pair the bold lip with calm skin and mascara so you don’t feel like a mood board. If you worry about transfer, lean into cups with a straw on the first sip and let the topcoat set while you chat. Let’s be honest: nobody actually does that every day. Keep a tissue in your sleeve and embrace the lived-in blur after hour two — it’s more interesting than a perfect line.
My biggest fix for real kissing was a two-layer approach: stain first, gloss later. A makeup artist I trust texted me mid-week, and her words stuck.
“Choose your undertone like you choose your date — does it flatter your truth, or make you work for it?”
If your teeth lean warm, a cooler berry brightens. If your skin is olive, brick-rose sings. For nights that turn into mornings, pack light and clever.
- Date-night lip kit: travel toothbrush, mini balm, soft liner, blot papers, cotton buds, a mini mirror, and a tiny micellar pen for clean-ups.
- Straw rule for the first drink, then relax.
- A spare mask if you’re hopping Ubers — vinyl and face coverings aren’t friends.
What it really changes
By Friday, I realised the lipstick wasn’t a costume. It was a tiny ritual that nudged me into being bolder about what I wanted. We’ve all had that moment when the lift doors become your mirror and you wonder if you’re too much or not enough. This shade pushed me past the dithering. I found myself sending a clearer text, asking the second date if he likes oysters, choosing the bar with low lights and high stools, not waiting to be picked. *The colour didn’t create chemistry, but it created chances for it to arrive.* My ex? He said I looked different and asked if I’d cut my hair. I didn’t. I just looked like I meant to be seen, which is sometimes all the signal you need to change the night.
| Point clé | Détail | Intérêt pour le lecteur |
|---|---|---|
| — | The AW25 runway lipstick reads as deep berry with a soft-vinyl finish. | Helps you pick a similar shade without chasing a specific brand. |
| — | Prep–stain–seal is the most date-proof routine I tried. | Reduces smudging and keeps lips comfortable for hours. |
| — | Undertone matching (cool vs warm) changes teeth brightness and skin glow. | Makes your smile pop in person and in photos. |
FAQ :
- Which AW25 shade suits me if I’m new to bold lips?Start one notch deeper than your natural lip with a berry-rose. If your veins look blue, try a cooler plum; if they look green, aim for a brick-leaning red.
- Will a statement lip intimidate a date?Some will call it “confident,” a few might call it “a lot.” That’s useful sorting. The right person reads it as an invitation, not a warning.
- How do I stop it transferring on cups or shirts?Use a fingertip stain layer first, blot, then a thin centre-only coat. Sip from a straw for the first few minutes, then let the finish settle before contact.
- Can I wear the AW25 lip to work without drama?Yes. Keep skin fresh, skip heavy eye looks, and choose a slightly muted version of the shade. Own the room, not the meeting minutes.
- My lips are thin — will dark colours shrink them?Go for a mid-depth tone with a touch of sheen. Slightly overline the cupid’s bow and centre, and pop a dab of gloss just in the middle for fullness.
