Linda Rodin talks lipstick
‘I’m sure it’s osmosis from my mother,’ says Linda Rodin when I ask where her love of a strong lipstick comes from, ‘I never saw her without, it was the 1950s and women wore lipstick. I have pictures of her looking very glamorous in bed, wearing a pink bed jacket and lipstick.’
Rodin is one of the first women I’ve interviewed for my second book (yes, I’ve finally made a start!); I admire her style, her ethos and aesthetic. And I love her miniature poodle Winky. She tells me she spent three years working on the new lipstick range to add to her Olio Lusso beauty line (acquired by Estee Lauder in 2014), ‘The lipstick is very creamy, I don’t like glossy or drippy or matte – I can’t function with that. It has a little stain and stays on for a long time.’
The packaging is the same Lucite used for Rodin’s lip balms, the colours are classic and timeless and will run from one season to the next. I’ve tried Rodin’s Olio Lusso face oil and Crema hand and body creme and if the quality of these products is anything to go by, the lipsticks will be fab, too. So, how does Linda Rodin recommend wearing her new lipsticks? ‘Use a pencil to line the lips and fill them in and then apply the lipstick over the top. I’d wear all these colours; the nude one is a note to myself at 16-years-old, when I wanted to look like Twiggy and Brigitte Bardot. Lipstick finishes everything off – and it doesn’t have to match, if you’re wearing red, your lipstick can be hot pink. ‘
Rodin is currently working on a set of lip liners to go with her lipsticks – meanwhile, I’m working on a little Rodin-inspired style.
A crate of lipstick would be my luxury of choice if I were a castaway on a desert island. I love the sound of Linda’s creamy one. I always wear lipstick – it just lifts my spirits.
Linda Grant in her book ‘The Thoughtful Dresser’ tells the story of the British army officer in charge of Belsen who was dismayed to find that a huge consignment of lipsticks had arrived when he was in urgent need of medicines etc. but he changed his mind when he saw the delighted reaction when they were handed out to the liberated women. I can really empathise with that.