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The boys weigh in: Yay or nay to a ruby pout?

The boys weigh in: Yay or nay to a ruby pout?

We don't dress to please men but just because we're not affected by their opinions doesn't mean we're not curious.
Updated 16 Oct, 2015

Let's be honest: unless you're super metrosexual or Kanye West, no one really cares what guys think about fashion. Us ladies get dolled up for ourselves and occasionally, other women.

However, just because we're not affected by their opinions doesn't mean we're not curious.

We asked a handful of our well-dressed male celebs how they feel about women in red lipstick; their answers ranged from insightful to predictable.

These ladies know how to pull off a red pout but are all of us slaying the game, according to the boys?
These ladies know how to pull off a red pout but are all of us slaying the game, according to the boys?

Leave it to Adnan Malik to understand the power of red lipstick

Adnan Malik with Sadqay Tumharay co-star, Mahira Khan —Photo courtesy: sadqaytumharay.wordpress.com
Adnan Malik with Sadqay Tumharay co-star, Mahira Khan —Photo courtesy: sadqaytumharay.wordpress.com

Adnan says: Red lipstick? Yay! Peggy Olson, a character from my favouurite show, Mad Men pitches in a client meeting that wearing lipstick should no longer be seen as a women's submissive response to patriarchal values but should be owned by strong, independent women —the tag line she pitched was "Mark your man".

Peggy Olson in a still from Mad Men —Photo courtesy: madmen.wikia.com
Peggy Olson in a still from Mad Men —Photo courtesy: madmen.wikia.com

I think seeing bright red lipstick on an attractive woman is sexy, exciting and powerful. I prefer it to all other shades because it's simple, classic and yet makes a bold statement.


Hamza Ali Abbasi doesn't really mind

How sweet is this guy?  —Photo courtesy: Hamza Ali Abbasi Official Facebook page
How sweet is this guy? —Photo courtesy: Hamza Ali Abbasi Official Facebook page

Well, I'm indifferent to it; a woman should wear red, pink or even blue or purple lipstick because SHE thinks it looks beautiful. As long as the woman herself likes whatever lipstick she is wearing, nothing else matters.


Umair Jaswal understands the edge a red lip can give you

The rocker shares he's a fan of old school glam —Photo courtesy: Umair Jaswal Official Facebook page
The rocker shares he's a fan of old school glam —Photo courtesy: Umair Jaswal Official Facebook page

Big yay from me! Red lips are back and I personally think they look really hot. Not every one can carry it but the ones who do are come of as bold. I don't know, maybe I'm inspired way too much by the 80s. Women in films and music videos back then mostly wore red lips and that's still stuck in my head.


Wiqar Ali Khan is not a fan

Think Khan asked Sabeeka Iman to change her lipstick? —Photo courtesy: Wiqar Ali  Khan Official Facebook page
Think Khan asked Sabeeka Iman to change her lipstick? —Photo courtesy: Wiqar Ali Khan Official Facebook page

I'm afraid it's a nay for me. I'm not a big fan of in-your-face makeup, I prefer nude hues. Then again, some ladies manage to make it look good; not everyone can carry it well but you do have your Marilyn Monroe, Charlize Theron or Uma Thurman.


Kamiar Rokni gives it a thumbs up

Models wearing House of Kamiar Rokni, all sporting a crimson pout
Models wearing House of Kamiar Rokni, all sporting a crimson pout

Red lipstick is classic old school glamour and I think you can always use a little bit of that in your life.


Imran Abbas is a one-word kinda guy

Don't get your hopes up; he's not going to look at you like that if you're wearing sporting a red pout —Photo courtesy: Imran Abbas Official Facebook page
Don't get your hopes up; he's not going to look at you like that if you're wearing sporting a red pout —Photo courtesy: Imran Abbas Official Facebook page

Nay


Model Hasnain Lehri goes down memory lane

Lehri is obviously a big fan of red —Publicity photo
Lehri is obviously a big fan of red —Publicity photo

If you want to catch a man’s attention, don’t bother fluttering your eyelashes or flicking your hair: just practice your pout. According to my gentlemen's club, a woman’s lips are the most attractive part of her body, especially if she’s wearing red lipstick

A red lip is classy, bold and oh so sophisticated. When I was a little boy, one of my favorite aunts always wore red lipstick and had her nails and toenails painted red. I thought it was the most beautiful thing for years and I guess that's why red is still my all-time favourite! It's like a red lipstick is to women what a sports car is for men.

A little piece of advice for the ladies: women with fair skin should lean toward true reds with no orangey tones whereas the darker-skinned women should opt for wine-colored hues of red.


And Shahzad Noor makes yet another verbal faux pas

Is that red lining I spot on Noor's jacket? —Photo courtesy: Baqar
Is that red lining I spot on Noor's jacket? —Photo courtesy: Baqar

Remember when he showed gratitude to HUM Awards on-stage after winning at the Lux Style Awards? Well, he's done it again except this time, it wasn't funny.

When asked what he thinks about women wearing red lipstick, he responds, "Well, it depends — I like it but not all the time. Some women can carry it beautifully but most just look a little too available with it, you know?"

Understandably an insult to a woman who loves her Ruby Woo. When was the last time someone said to Noor, "Hey, button up buddy; you're walking around shirtless on the ramp and off of it. Someone might think you're too available."?

Women all over the world have had it with this outdated notion that anyone wearing red lipstick might be giving the 'wrong impression'. Is bold lip colour too much to handle?

Sadly, Shahzad isn't the first or last man to say this.

For centuries now, across culture and time, red lips have been considered to be synonymous with immorality. In a study conducted by psychologist Andrew Elliot, Elliot states that men see women in red as 'ready and willing'. If men are the ones perceiving a red lip to be a signal for them to make sexual advances, why is the onus to avoid it on women?

Here's Aamina Sheikh in an Emirates cabin crew ad and yep, you guessed it — they're all wearing red lipstick —Publicity photo
Here's Aamina Sheikh in an Emirates cabin crew ad and yep, you guessed it — they're all wearing red lipstick —Publicity photo

Make-up of any sort is the last thing you can use to determine what sort of person someone is. Plus, most women apply make-up without giving a second thought to what a man would think. We have evolved. Hallelujah for feminism!

Author of The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf hits the nail on the head when she explains that the problem is not the colour or the connotation that lipstick is sexy; it's the guilt society compels us to feel.

Scarlet lips are a sign of strength, an instant pick-me-up when you're not feeling your most confident. To all the ladies out there who love a crimson pout: keep rocking it and ignore the haters.

Comments

Tan Oct 16, 2015 07:06pm
Imran Abbas could wear less makeup himself first!
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DB Oct 16, 2015 07:44pm
Hamza Ali ufffffffffffffffffffff
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The Most Nice Student Oct 16, 2015 08:26pm
when Hamza n mahira will do a movie or tv serial together they will KILL Pakistan wid beauty #PerfectTwo
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make_up_sense Oct 16, 2015 08:58pm
The question shouldnt be 'should you wear this color?', its more about what color works for YOU based on your complexion. I see so many desi girls wearing colors that just dont work with their skin, either too dark of a color or a color that just looks ugly on their natural color. all of this is deeply rooted on desi girls wanting to look like white girls rather than recognizing their own beauty and leveraging their natural color. For the record, average Paki girls shouldnt wear too strong of red, lighter red works OK.
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John Connor Oct 17, 2015 02:18am
@The Most Nice Student mahira is nayy!
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The Most Nice Student Oct 17, 2015 02:19pm
@JOHN CONNOR no mahira is yay.they hav gud feelings for each other telling u
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Saira khan durrani Oct 17, 2015 11:24pm
Red is the color. I have 25 red lipsticks and love them.
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