Red lips and Taylor Swift have become synonymous over the years, but the iconic look almost didn't come to be. During a recent appearance on 'Today,' celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman shared the story behind Swift's signature red lip.
Westman revealed that during a makeup session for an April 2009 Allure cover shoot, she noticed that Swift had never worn a red lip before. Despite her desire to try the bold hue on the singer, Westman had to seek approval from Swift's mom, Andrea Swift, who initially expressed hesitation as Taylor was not accustomed to wearing red lipstick.
After some persuasion, Andrea eventually agreed to let her daughter experiment with the red lip, and as Westman put it, 'the rest is history.' Since that momentous decision, Taylor Swift has sported crimson red lipstick on numerous red carpets, magazine covers, and awards shows, becoming a trademark of her beauty look.
While the exact shade used on Swift remains a secret, Westman shared a throwback post in 2021 from the 2009 Allure shoot, revealing that she let Taylor keep the lipstick she used. Swift herself has admitted to her affinity for red lipstick, stating that she feels her face looks incomplete without it.
Despite keeping her preferred lipstick shades under wraps, fans have identified some potential favorites, including MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo, CoverGirl Exhibitionist Cream Lipstick in Hot, Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl, and Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick in Elson.
Swift has also mastered a kiss-proof application technique, learned from makeup artists, involving blotting, powdering, and reapplication to create a long-lasting stain effect. This method has served her well, especially during public appearances and performances.
