Do Lip Masks Actually Work?

[I’ll Buy Anything Called ‘Bardot’] [Insert alt text here] Story by Nora Crotty There’s a reason why Robert Zimmerman, John Stephens, and Peter Hernandez became Bob Dylan, John Legend, and Bruno Mars — and why The Cape of Storms in South Africa was [renamed] as The Cape of Good Hope: A person, place, or thing’s name has a lot to do with the way we perceive them. Remember Mad Men’s first season finale, when Don Draper [rebrands] Kodak’s slide projector — originally called “The Wheel” — as “The Carousel,” a product that “lets us travel the way a child travels” — and everyone’s so completely overcome with emotion that some of them have to leave the pitch meeting just to stop themselves from crying? And who was the genius who decided to start calling pleather “vegan leather”? The point is, names matter. And not one of us is 100 percent immune to their influence — least of all, yours truly. My own personal weakness? Anything called “Bardot.” I can’t remember exactly when iconic French actress Brigitte Bardot became my style icon, but it seems like it was always meant to be. Her oft-imitated early-‘60s style, with the long tousled hair, flicked black liner, and pinched-waist dresses, felt like it belonged to me as much as it did her. It was because of her that I began wearing off-the-shoulder tops several seasons before they were heralded as the new It-silhouette, along with the high-waisted jeans, ballet flats, Breton tops, jersey headbands, full skirts, hair bows, and adult pigtails that all helped define her aesthetic. Of course, the fact is that I’m nowhere near the only girl to feel this way about Brigitte Bardot. And much to my delight (and my wallet’s chagrin), clothing brands have caught on. It used to be that I’d spend my spare time scouring the internet for vintage photos of Bardot to reference when I did my shopping — but now, it’s like my favorite stores and websites are doing most of the work for me. At Topshop, off-the-shoulder [dresses and tops] are no longer referred to by the way they drape off your arms; they’re simply called “Bardot.” It’s the same thing at ASOS: [A search for “Bardot”] turns up no fewer than 540 results, even when the word isn’t part of the item’s name. [Zara, too]; [ditto H&M]. [Insert alt text here] Photo: A Zara dress tagged “Bardot” Footwear brand Repetto’s classic ballet flat has come to be known as the “BB,” while the pointy-toed version is called [the “Brigitte.”] Earlier this summer, I purchased two versions of a gingham, high-waisted [bikini bottom] from the swimwear site Solid & Striped after misreading its name as “Brigitte.” Its actual name: “The Bridget”. My most recent obsession is Free People’s [“Bardot” block heel]: a square-toe, quarter-strap shoe in a snakeskin print with a retro round buckle that, frankly, I’m not sure I’d ever look at twice if it weren’t for its name. I also can’t even find any photographic evidence of Bardot ever wearing any shoes that are remotely similar in style. No matter — they’re currently perched atop my list of new-season needs. The weird thing is that I’m actually more critical of items named after myself (well, those named “Nora”) than those called Bardot. It never occurred to me that my first name might conjure up images of a [beaded choker necklace], or a [fake leather dining bench], or an expensive [suede sandal]. Then again, maybe that’s how Brigitte Bardot feels every time she sees a pair of [cropped, flare-legged pants] with her name on them. Am I a slave to marketing? No question. But having majored in advertising in undergrad, I like to think that being conscious of the fact makes it somehow more acceptable. Besides, it’s not like I’m whipping out my Visa card for just any old frivolous frippery with the name Bardot slapped onto it: Those Free People shoes would totally elevate any fall outfit — I can even see them looking cute with tights in the winter. I mean… they would, right? Now the only question that remains is: Should I get them in pink or tan? Feature [Everything You Need to Know About Lip Masks] [Insert alt text here] Arguably, 2016 has been the year of the lip. Controversial lip injections in famous teenagers! Those same teenagers making zillions of dollars from selling lip kits! Seriously, though, there have never been more options for things to put on your lips, from [lip gloss hybrids]to [Pat McGrath’s] forthcoming glitter and gold options and everything in between. Now you can add a $5 gooey pink lip mask to the list. A few weeks ago, the Snapchat stories and Instagram feeds of social media savvy women like Kim Kardashian and [Hannah Bronfman] showed them sporting a lip mask that at first glance makes the wearer look like they went way overboard overlining their lips with the shiniest lip gloss on earth. But no. They’re actually a treatment offered by the newly launched [KNC Beauty]. [Read More >>] Ad from our sponsor From around the web A selection from the editors at Racked [alt text here] [These Kate Middleton Style Bloggers Are the Hardest Working Women on the Internet] An army of writers track Kate’s every sartorial move. [Read More] [Fluid images] [How Personal Style Can Show a Sense of Humor] We talked with New Yorkers in Soho about what style means to them. [Read More] Ad from our sponsor [Facebook] [Twitter] [Instagram] [Change your preferences] or [unsubscribe]. Sent to {EMAIL}. For advertising, please visit our media kit or contact sales@racked.com. 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