When did you first start wearing lipstick?

LIPSTICK

BY

INEZ MCCOLLUM

When I first began wearing lipstick, Mother would only permit natural colored which would be much like lip gloss which is so popular today.  I finally made it to my all time favorite color of bright red.  Through the years, I would experiment with various shades; but always reverted to the bright color of red.  Occasionally, I will attempt to wear rose or orange to better match whatever dress or blouse I am wearing. red lipstick
I went with a group to Las Vegas at the end of October.  We stayed in the homes of local people and traveled around the city enjoying the change of terrain.  Yes, we toured most of the casinos on the strip and saw several theater productions.  Even though what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, I pinched those quarters and refused to risk losing them.  There were some interesting restaurants and gift shops in the casinos.
The birth date of Las Vegas is actually on Halloween.  This was their sesquicentennial year; so was highly celebrated.  Tourists and residents, turned out in costumes. Las_Vegas_63-1024x680
I was standing in a gift shop at Caesar’s Palace when two ladies rushed up to me.  One of them said:  “That is the shade I need!  Lady, will you sell me your lipstick.  We have looked everywhere and cannot find red lipstick.”  One of the ladies planned to dress as Lady GaGa and needed the bright lip color.  I felt secure with so many people around, so I opened my purse and attempted to give her the tube of much used lipstick.  She put a ten dollar bill in my hand, took the tube of lipstick and they rushed away.  Fortunately, I had an extra tube in my cosmetic case.
After returning home to Alabama, I began to feel antiquated using that red lipstick.  As I went through my mail, there was a picture of Laura Bush with those bright red lips.  A few days later, I read an article about Taylor Swift, and she wears only the treasured red, too!  I feel that I have been rescued!

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