Written by Mara Anselm

Photos of Madison Clayburn and Lily Elcan by Hal Lueking

Wearing bold lipstick can be intimidating. It’s stressful, worrying about whether it’s smudged and gotten on your teeth. Or whether that look a stranger just gave you is one of admiration or judgment. I know all of this is true because I’m writing this while sitting in a very public coffee shop wearing the brightest red lipstick ever to exist. Gotta practice what you preach, right?

 I’m on a journey to be comfortable wearing bold lipstick, to make it an everyday thing—and maybe you should be too.

 It’s an indisputable fact: we feel good when we look good. So why not make this one simple change that could instantly make you seem more confident and put together? Like Jane Austen once said, “it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a person in possession of a bold lipstick, must be the coolest person you’ve seen that day.” Or something like that. 

 And so, in my lifelong pursuit of being cool, I’ve decided that I want that. I want the confidence that seems to come with Maraschino cherry-colored lips. It’s almost a statement, really, one that says, “I’m vibrant, you’re looking at me, and I know it.” It’s bold, as bold as bright pink or red lipstick looks. But I think we could all benefit from a little more assertiveness, and changing up our looks may be the first step to getting there.

It sounds a little trivial; you might be thinking, “if you want to wear it, then do it, Mara. Don’t worry about what anyone thinks.” But that’s easier said than done. It may take me a while to feel completely at ease and confident with my red lipstick on, but I’ll get there someday. In the meantime, though, I’ll do as my mother says: fake it till you make it.