Your Lipstick Name Is Now A Status Symbol

Fashion has typically been at the forefront of celebrating muses. Case in point: the designer bag. Your status as an It Girl could be instantly solidified by cozying up to a designer and having them whip up a purse in your name. Jane Birkin, whom Hermès' iconic Birkin bag was named for, was apparently sitting next to the fabled designer when her bag fell apart. After explaining her need for a sturdy leather bag, Hermès designed a purse to her specifications. And, as they say, the rest is history.

There's never really been a beauty equivalent to the It Girl bag. Beauty products are named after flowers, sunsets, and naughty turns of phrase. But, there's recently been an uptick in high-end makeup brands giving lipstick shades human monikers. It's official — we've entered the era of It-Girl lipsticks. But, instead of being one-and-done deals (like Alexa Chung's tote for Mulberry), these roll-outs are happening with more frequency.

The first brand to set the stage for this trend was NARS with its Audacious Lips collection. For the 40th anniversary of his eponymous line, Francois Nars gave each of his 40 (count 'em) new lipstick hues the name of a famous woman he respected. Audrey, Brigitte, Bette, Greta, and Jane — a whole spectrum of muses were represented. Each shade was different and had its own personality, along with a famous woman's name attached to it.

Tom Ford took the entire idea and spun it on its head (as he has the tendency to do). His Lips & Boys collection was 50 strong — and named after the important men in his life. "I like the idea of lipsticks named after boys," he remarked in the collection's press release. "Why commit to one when you can have several?" Amen to that, Tom.

These hues weren't exclusively named for men that Tom has loved romantically. (Although Addison, his first crush, and Richard, his husband, are definite standout shades.) Colin Firth got a shade, and Tom's best friend Rory got one, too. The idea of giving a lipstick a male name was scandalously subversive. Nothing like saying you're wearing a certain man on your lips, am I right?

Now comes Chanel, closing out this status-naming trend trifecta. The brand's spring collection — Rouge Coco (out in March) — is inspired by Coco Chanel and her closest friends. The 29 shades aren't just for her BFFs, though. They're named for family (nude shades), her muses (corals), and her lovers (red). Chanel's collection is a mix of men and women, proving to be the most inclusive of the bunch.

The interesting part of these collections is that, unlike the designer bag, there are multiple muses being represented at any given time. And, it's not necessarily a celebrity who is being paid homage — it's someone who is near and dear to the designer's heart. And, since this can range from anyone from the designer's boyfriend to his second-cousin-twice-removed, it's much easier for a consumer to project their personalities onto the lipstick tube that shares their name. Perhaps that's why this trend is becoming so popular. Like nameplate necklaces, it serves to give people a sense of identity. Who wouldn't want to say that their lipstick shares their name, or the name of their significant other?

With this new trend of lipsticks, anyone could be an It Girl. Whether or not they mean to, these collections level the playing field. Snagging a lipstick with your moniker is like finding a little piece of yourself, right? Now, can someone get to work on a Maria lipstick? I look pretty good in red.

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