When I received the news that Poppy King was going to be in Melbourne to launch her new collection, Liptropolis and was available for private interviews, I jumped at the chance to be able to meet with one of my beauty idols up close and personal. I’ve always admired her, the girl who started her own lipstick empire just at the tender age of 18. It was my sister-in-law who introduced me to her label when I first got to Melbourne in 1996 and have since fallen in love with her lipsticks. Although Poppy King left Australian shores for something bigger and better in New York, her passion and obsession for designing unusual lipsticks re-ignited her need to start her own thing again. So Poppy started her own business again now known as Lipstick Queen.
Me with THE Lipstick Queen, Poppy King
I got re-acquainted with her new range when it was first launched over at Kit Cosmetics and bought one of her lipsticks from her Saints & Sinners Collection. Yes, I’m a “saint” so I got the Saints in Natural, might venture into the Sinner shade for something a bit more daring and darker in the very near future.
With other collections in her range like Jean Queen – a colour to perfectly offset denim, making it perfect for casual wear, to her Fifteen Minutes of Fame Pop Art Gloss – inspired by Andy Warhol’s Pop Art movement with gorgeous pop art colour in 15 shades without the shimmer, and now, Liptropolis – a lipstick library consisting of 3 beautiful colours that are unique to the 3 different areas of New York City - Soho, Upper East and Central Park, Poppy’s range is slowly but surely growing to accommodate the different tastes and needs of women like you and me. Unlike fashion, where you go from season to season and delve into trends by looking back at what’s been done previously, Poppy draws her inspiration for her collections from films, art, literature and ideas are drawn from the textures and colours that she is surrounded with, which was why I thought it was apt that she focused on New York for her Liptropolis collection having been there for such a long time.
Lipstick Queen Collection
The new Liptropolis range
While chemists create their range from a technical perspective and make-up artists a runway perspective, Poppy’s creation encompasses what we, the everyday consumer; just like her, would want. She takes into account what would appeal to the imagination of what a woman would want in respect to creating the look and style we were after. With red being her signature colour, Poppy assures us that anyone can wear a red lippy, it all really depends on how much confidence we have in carrying out the colour. For someone new to red, Poppy recommends using something sheer, like her Medieval Tinted Treatment or the Saints collection, and then once you were confident enough to build it up from there.
If you were confused as to which reds would suit your skin tone, then as a general rule Poppy recommends sticking to this guide:
- People with fair skin, lighter hair and eyes – Orangey red tones
- People with darker skin, hair and eyes – Pinky reds or blue based red
When asked what the best compliment she has ever received on her products was, Poppy shares how a mum who had a difficult birth felt a huge difference simply by donning on one of her red lippy. Ahh…the power of a red lippy!
Stay tuned for my review of the new Liptropolis next week as I try the different colours each day.
8 comments
1 ping
Skip to comment form ↓
Alyce {Blossom Heart}
July 10, 2012 at 12:20 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
What an awesome question to ask her!! And what a beautiful answer
Alyce {Blossom Heart} recently posted..How To Get Rid Of Onion Smell From Hands
baublesb
July 13, 2012 at 5:08 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
Yeah, I was totally not expecting that answer, but goes to show how a simple thing that might be considered superficial can actually change someone’s mood!
Ingrid
July 10, 2012 at 12:31 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
I too admire Poppy and it must have been such fun to finally meet her. I look forward to checking out her new collection when I’m next in Kit (my happy place) =)
Ingrid recently posted..So Organised!
baublesb
July 13, 2012 at 5:09 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
Yes, it was fun actually, albeit the fact that I felt so totally flustered afterwards! hahaha star struck I think!!
Julie-Ann
July 10, 2012 at 9:26 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
How wonderful to get to meet Poppy. She is truly inspirational:)
baublesb
July 13, 2012 at 5:10 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
She truly is. Amazing how she picks herself up, look for other opportunities and now back to what she loves doing most!!
Kirsty
July 11, 2012 at 7:58 am (UTC 10) Link to this comment
I could never pull off wearing red lipstick! I normally just stick to the pink lipglosses! What a great question you asked Poppy, I remember when she first started and loved the name of her lippys!
baublesb
July 13, 2012 at 5:11 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
Ahh…that’s where her advice comes in, start with something totally sheer, and then build it up. Her Medieval lippy is actually really good, looks like a deep red on the lipstick itself but comes up really light on your lips, much like a tint.
The Red Lipstick Dare That Got Some Attention | Baubles, Bubbles and Bags
November 3, 2012 at 10:41 pm (UTC 10) Link to this comment
[...] pick the right shade for your skin tone? Yes, EVERY skin tone CAN wear red lipstick. Check out the tips I got from Poppy King a while back. The lady of red lipstick herself gave me some simple tips for you to pick the right [...]