Just as a helpful warning, if you plan to fly solo when you peep the purple, plum and berry shades in the new NARS Audacious Lipstick collection, wear a Bluetooth headset, or bring a pomeranian in a bow tie.
That way, when you’re gushing over shades like Angela at the counter (“OMG, I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS SO GOOD!”), instead of looking like a crazy chick who carries on loud conversations with herself, you’ll appear to be enthusiastically chatting with your BFF or your favorite canine shopping buddy. 🙂
It’s about planning ahead, yo.
Among the eight bad-@ss purples, plums and berries in the new 40-piece NARS Audacious Lipstick line, I think the purples are otherworldly!
They may or may not have me speaking in tongues… (“WJguoib hj ahiogh pjogiognae naweagzzzzz!”)
Here they are, along with pics and profiles of the plums and berries.
Let’s do this!
The Purples: Angela, Silvia and Dominique
These three are like the Cher/Dionne/Tai trifecta of the entire collection. Don’t even try to sit with them at their lunch table, unless you can bring it.
Angela, the queen bee, is the one who runs sh*t. A vivid pink orchid, it oozes je ne sais quoi.
Seriously, every time I open this tube, I want to worship it. When I wear Angela on my lips, I feel like raising my arms and screaming up at the sky, “WHERE ARE MY DRAGONS?!”
Now, I know that Angela looks like it might work best for cool skin tones, but don’t be afraid to try it if your skin tone is warm. It’s one of those colors that I think will work well on almost everyone.
Wear it, fall in love with it, and then send me an invite to the wedding. 🙂 I’ll be bringing a plus one, BTW, Tabs or Ryan Gosling. Depends on their schedules…
If you like the idea of Angela but feel like it’s a little too perky for you, peep Silvia. They’re both similar, but Silvia is slightly deeper and more purple.
Dominique, the last of these three, is exclusive to Barneys New York. A pink lilac with a hint of silvery gray, for some reason it reminds me of Dame Edna’s hair…
In a good way.
I feel kind of like a poser when I wear this shade…but if you’re one of those chic, trendy types who can pull off silvery gray hair, you could totally make it look legit.
The Berries: Fanny and Janet
I bet these two can’t wait for this year’s holiday parties.
While they look very similar at first glance, they come into their own on lips. Janet seems slightly bluer to me and leans cooler.
If you like both and can’t decide which one to get, I vote for Fanny if your skin tone is warm, and Janet if it’s cooler.
The plums: Vera, Vivien and Liv
If Fanny and Janet are the party shades, then Vera and Vivien are the bold lip shades for work (when you don’t want to rock something as dramatic as a red or as muted as a brown).
Vera is a bright plummy raspberry, and Vivien (a Barneys New York exclusive) is a plummy red. Both of them exude polish and professionalism.
I’d wear either one with something like a matte beige or brown eyeshadows on my lids, crisp black cat eye liner on my lash lines and mascara (of course). Then I’d carry around a clipboard, stomp up and down the halls, rattle keys like I’m hella important, and hover around the doughnuts in the break room (the chocolate ones are mine!).
Last, but not least, there’s Liv, an intense plummy eggplant.
I bet Liv will love darker damsels and porcelain princesses, where it’ll look striking, edgy and cool, but it’ll take a certain swagger to pull off.
The swagger is key — as is keeping the rest of your makeup sparse. I’d skip the eyeshadow and liner, and just do lots of mascara to play up your lashes.
Reminder: September 1
That’s when all eight of these shades arrive, along with the rest of the 40-piece NARS Audacious Lipstick collection, at NARS boutiques and counters. They’re available now online.
Within the 40-piece collection, 10 of the shades — Vanessa, Julie, Marisa, Kelly, Carmen, Dominique, Silvia, Vivien, Sandra and Ingrid — are exclusive to Barneys New York stores, but all 40 of them are permanent.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Love these! Also love your top.
Hi Ashley,
Thank you! It’s a random find I got at Marshalls a while back. 🙂
Which of these shades is your fave, by the way?
That’s what I have been waiting for! Plums and berries. So I’m debating between Silvia and Vivien. What do you think?
Hi Agata,
It really depends on what you’re going for. If you want something sassy to wear to a party I’d definitely do Silvia. Seriously SO FUN. And I don’t think I’ve seen you in something like that before. Vivien is super pretty too…but more like for every day, ya know?
Happy (late) Friday! What are you doing this weekend?
Ahh, choices, choices! I def don’t have anything like Silvia in my lipstick collection.
I am working of course but today after work I am doing my running training and later going out to dinner with friends to some Mexican-Italian restaurant in SW Detroit that’s supposed to be very good (although it does sound like a strange combination) and we are supposed to go to a local bar after (it’s run by 85 year old woman who’s lived above the bar her whole life and the bar is inside an actual house).
Which blush are you wearing Karen? And you really pull off all these shades!
Hi Natalie,
I’m wearing NARS Dolce Vita. 🙂 The contour shade is MAC Delphic Extra Dimension Bronzer and the highlighter is Bobbi Brown Sandstone.
I absolutely NEED Angela, Silvia and Dominique in my life! They’re all beautiful! I think I’m pretty set on vampy lipsticks but Liv looks mighty nice on you. It’s a very sexy color!
Hi Fancie,
You need Liv in your life! You’d look amazing in it.
droooling now to the browns also please 🙂
Ooo, Vera and Fanny look GORGEOUS. I wish the pricetag wasn’t so high, or I’d want at least ten of these amazing lipsticks 😀
I’m walking straight to Barney’s to get Dominique as soon as she is released. Back in the day, Diahann Carroll played Dominique Devereaux on “Dynasty”. Ms. Carroll and Joan Collins used to fight in designer duds almost every week. I loved that campy show as a kid. I’ll be channeling my inner “Dominique Devereaux” with this lippie!
I adore Silvia and Liv. So pretty!
These colors look awesome on you, Karen! Loved the descriptions you wrote for each shade too :).
OMG a lippie called Janet?!? I never see my name on stuff, like those cheap keychains or mugs with names on them? Janet is never there lol. I think this might have to be my first Nars purchase – although I’m super pale so it’ll be a strong colour on me, but hell – it’s literally got my name written all over it! I can’t not buy it!
They are all soooooo pretty. I think I like Silvia and Janet the best.
What is that amazing GLOW on your cheeks from?
Gah, I want all of these! I’m sad that Dominique is an exclusive shade, though…it was the one I was most looking forward to!
Definitely a fan of Vera and Vivien but I think Liv looks amazing on you. You have the swagger to pull it off without a doubt. 🙂
Omg omg omg VERA. COME TO MAMA.
OMG. I hope these launches in Singapore soon. Can’t wait.
I’m in love with plums and purples, and already have tons of them, so from this release all I need is Dominique and Janet. Janet is a nice everyday shade for me, but Dominique, that’s so unique and new!
I love your website and I definitely want Dominique. Look like it’s sold out in Barneys 🙁
I am eyeing Fanny…I think I’m in love with this color! My skin tone is just a tad lighter than yours Karen…do you think Fanny will still look good on me as it does on you? 🙂
xo
p.s. I love your blog and all your swatches and am so happy to have found someone with a similar skintone!
How do you think NARS Fanny and Milani Uptown Mauve compare?
Silvia and Angela are gorgeous. I love a purple tinted pink!
Wow, they all look good on you! I got two today, Audrey and Fanny, and I probably would have bought more, if I didn’t stop myself. Great reviews!