Beauty trends don't have quite the same impact on office fashion
as, say, a shoe-bootie or see-through blouse. This is because it's generally assumed that most women understand the difference between their day and night looks when it comes to hair and makeup.
For some, the difference is barely noticeable (a smokier eye , a darker lip), whereas others go big or stay home (think false lashes, glittery lids, over-the-top extensions).
So the news that dewy cheeks or blue shadow liner are having a moment never really penetrates 9-to-5 culture unless the looks are subtle enough to avoid raising superiors' eyebrows.
Still, trends do emerge that fall into that grey area between work and play.
This spring, it's the optimistically orange lip. On the Proenza Schouler runway, the shade was a zesty blood orange, while Missoni took a softer coral-coloured approach. The makeup artists for Prada and Sonia Rykiel did not hold back in going orange-licious. Unsurprisingly, Hollywood's early adopters – Maggie Gyllenhaal, Chloe Sevigny and Leighton Meester – have already been spotted with juicy fresh lips. It's certainly a look that lends itself to the red carpet.
But what about the office? As a test, try softer cantaloupe and papaya hues before going full-on Fanta. If you're going to buy only one tube, try MAC's Morange, which will work for most skin tones. (Honourable mention goes to YSL's Rouge Volupé in Orange Shiver.)
A gloss such as Makeup Forever's Electric Orange or Stila's Mango Crush stain is less committal.
Whatever shade or finish you choose, keep all other makeup to a minimum (except perhaps for a dusting of bronzer to play up the sun-kissed glow). Even your typical eye routine should be toned down. For this reason alone, orange lips are ideal for those with little time in the morning.
The goal, over all, is to avoid any comments from colleagues that sound passive-aggressive, as in, “Did you just eat an orange Popsicle?”
You can almost be sure, though, that some joker is going to crack wise with a line like “Orange you glad you wore lipstick today?”
But if you've brightened the day of even one person at work, consider your job well done.
