From Runway to Realway: A Fashion Week-Inspired Violet Matte Lip
Fri, 09/11/2009 by Karen | Posted in: Makeup
In case you haven’t heard (LOL!), New York Fashion Week kicked off yesterday, giving us a look at upcoming fashion and makeup trends for spring 2010.
I like to think the shows are like magic makeup crystal balls that give us a glimpse of what might come to pass and plop down on makeup counters early next year.
Spring still feels like a million miles away, but those runway looks have a tendency to go marketing mainstream.
While flipping through the runway slideshows on Style.com today (SO MUCH FUN!), the violet matte lip in the Vena Cava show caught my eye.
It’s the lip in the picture at the top of the post. What do you think of that purple? — classy yet kinda dangerous? Like something Audrey Hepburn might wear if she were turned into a vampire? 
MAC did the makeup for the runway show. Their magicians used lip colors from the MAC Pro line.
For my “real way” look, which is like a poor girl’s runway version, I improvised, using products from both MAC and Benefit.
I like how it turned out, and it’s easy enough to do again.
What you’ll need:
- A foundation, or a light face or eye primer like Benefit Lemon Aid ($20)
- A fuschia lip or eye pencil like MAC Technakohl Liner in Full of Fuschia ($14.50)
- An inky, blackish purple lipstick like MAC Lipstick in Cyber ($14)
NOTE: I ended up using MAC Mattene lipstick in Night Violet instead of Cyber, but it’s limited edition and may be hard to find. They’ve got the same vibe, though.
Swatches from left to right: Benefit Lemon Aid, MAC Technakohl in Full of Fuschia, MAC Mattene Lipstick in Night Violet
Step by step, ooh baby:
- Start by applying a thin layer of foundation or primer to your lips with your finger to mask the natural color.
- Next, line and fill your lips with the fuschia pencil.
- With a lip brush, apply a thin layer of the blackish purple lipstick until you reach a level you like.
- If you think your lips look too shiny, mattify them more by patting translucent loose powder directly on top of the lipstick.
All done!
For the full runway Vena Cava experience in your living room at home, just add sunglasses and your best Zoolander pose.
Don’t just stand there, let’s get to it…
Strike a pose, there’s nothing to it…
Vogue!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
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I can’t tell which one is really my favorite, as...
1. Maggie said, on September 11th, 2009:
I could NEVER rock a purple lip, but you do!
LOL, girl, you always crack me up.
Maggie’s last blog post… August 2009 Favorites
2. Marce said, on September 11th, 2009:
Hey Karen! What’s up? Pretty dress
I could no way rock those lips…considering I don’t have a dark purple lippie!!! I donnow, I may try them out one day…but you sure do, bring on the cat eye liner and you have a helluva goth Marilyn!!! Have a nice weekend!!!
Marce’s last blog post… Photoshoot – Marlene Dietrich Inspired
3. Rae said, on September 11th, 2009:
Love this!! I’ve been thinking about these lips all day — I’m a total sucker for violets and purples ^^
Rae’s last blog post… Added Boost
4. Citrine said, on September 11th, 2009:
I totally dig the trend with purple lips (I actually love how lavender whip look on some girls) but I am not sure how it would turn out on me. When I tried a subtle purple (lustreglass in opal) I look dead so I was thinking maybe black would be more flattering than zombie purple.
5. Livia said, on September 11th, 2009:
Wow! This purple looks fab on u.
Livia’s last blog post… Lip Swatch: MAC DSquared2 Blood Red lipstick
6. Solé said, on September 11th, 2009:
I love it! My sister just gave me her MAC Magenta lip liner so I’m going to try it with that and see how it goes. Not sure which lipstick though. I have to bust out my dark shades that I put away during summer. Oh, and “real way” is awesome! I think I’m going to *borrow* that term.
7. Astrid said, on September 12th, 2009:
I’ve never seen anyone make that look work…but of course our very own Karen did! That lip colour with your floral top really makes you look super gorgeous
8. Catherine said, on September 12th, 2009:
This actually looks very cool! I dunno if I can pull off something like this, but Rimmel Amethyst Shimmer is kinda purpleish on me? (More like a purple-toned fuschia) Maybe I’ll try darkening it out a bit with MAC Hang Up. =)
Catherine’s last blog post… Swap with Stella!
9. Tavia said, on September 12th, 2009:
Violet is a gorgeous color, but not all of us are so lucky to wear this color and also look good. I have very white skin and if I wear strong colors on my lips like violet, red and brown I look very pale, almost like a corpse:). I usually wear shades of pink, peach and light browns. Btw …funny pictures;)
Tavia’s last blog post… Declare war to acne with Avon, Clinique, Vichy, Garnier, Boots and Maybelline products
10. Glosslizard said, on September 12th, 2009:
I love the violet lip, and you make it look so good! Go girl, do your little turn on the runway!
11. Karen said, on September 12th, 2009:
Hi Glosslizard,
Ha ha!
Did the kitties fare okay during last night’s storm? Or did they freak out? We had major lightning and thunder out this way.
12. Karen said, on September 12th, 2009:
Hi Tavia,
Aww, I would think this color would look awesome on you! A lot of the models from the Vena Cava show had very pale skin — I love the contrast between the dark lips and the light skin color!
13. Karen said, on September 12th, 2009:
Hi Catherine,
Sounds like a good idea to me! Add some powder to mattify it… I think it would look very dramatic on you!
14. Karen said, on September 12th, 2009:
Hi Astrid,
Aww, thanks hon!
I want you to try this lip… do it once, just for fun. 
15. Fabienne said, on September 12th, 2009:
Karen! You look good in purple lip, I’m so jealous! I need to figure out how to make that work out on my skin tone…Thanks for the goofy pics, too, you crack me up
16. Karen said, on September 12th, 2009:
Hi Sole,
Sure thing!
I think any deep purplish black will do. If you can’t get it dark enough maybe mix some black eyeliner in… sounds gross, but it works.
17. All Women Stalker said, on September 12th, 2009:
Look at you getting all model-y. LOL. Sadly, I don’t think I’d support this trend. You look great, though.
-meream
All Women Stalker’s last blog post… 5 Bootiful Posts to BlogStalk…
18. amy said, on September 12th, 2009:
I love those earrings Karen. I really like purple/lavender lips, but I definitely like this shade of fuchsia purple better than last springs grayish lavender. It is much more vibrant and flattering for most people. Now I am going to the Pro store to check out so of their pro lip mixes!
amy’s last blog post… John Masters Organics Hair Pomade
19. Solé said, on September 12th, 2009:
Hey Karen, I don’t think that sounds gross at all. In fact it sounds like a great idea. I could use some black cream liner mixed with a magenta or plum shade. Rolling up my sleeves…
20. Glosslizard said, on September 12th, 2009:
Our kitties were fine, they just staked out their spots at the foot of the bed and stayed put!
21. Janelle said, on September 12th, 2009:
I’ve been looking for a way to wear a purple lip without looking like a douche, but I dont think I’d even be confident enough to do this one =/ also looking for a way to do a hot pink lip
22. Astrid said, on September 13th, 2009:
Once when I was modelling underwear (HORRIBLE job!) the makeup artist put on Cremesheen in Ever So Rich over Myth…it looked fab, but Ever So Rich was sold out all over Denmark
It actually did look very nice with this lilac sheen, but I don’t know how a stronger colour would look…
…which kinda reminds me of this lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTokqeL7sOU
23. suzieduck said, on September 13th, 2009:
i like this look. it suits you well.
24. Bold Pops of Color at New York Fashion Week: Would You Wear These Looks?: Makeup and Beauty Blog: Makeup Reviews, Beauty Tips and Drugstore Beauty Finds said, on September 14th, 2009:
[...] It started off a few days ago at Vena Cava with some bad ass matte purple pouts. [...]