The Easiest Look for This Day of LOVE, No Matter What Your Plans

I think it's safe to say this Holiday Which Shall Not Be Named is a bit polarizing. It seems either people are head-over-heels obsessed with the red, white, and pink, or the inescapable reminders of the holiday make them want to barf (or cry). The mention of the very day can elicit squeals or eye rolls (if you're one of the latter, I highly recommend checking out this post). I find myself somewhere in the middle. Much of the polarization seems to be due to the focus on romance instead of love.

I was digging through some old family photos last week when I found an old valentine that Grace had sent me after she had visited: "Kelsy, I love sleeping with you. I love doing fun things with you. Your the best biggest sister I love you and I hope you have a good valentine day!" She reminded me of why I used to love Valentine's Day—an opportunity to show everyone I love (classmates, friends, sisters, brothers, parents) that I love them. A nostalgic feeling of funfetti cupcakes with pink frosting and valentine mailboxes came over me as I looked at it. I sensed her innocence, her excitement for the holiday, her pure goodness, and her desire to shower others with love. This feeling, of simply wanting others to know they are loved, seems to get lost in the commercialization of the holiday. My friend Jenny articulated well our shared desire to make this day about love rather than romance. That's a holiday we can all get behind, regardless of relationship status.

So no matter what you're doing tonight—ordering pizza with your roommates or slipping on heels for a night on the town—a red lip is something you can wear for any occasion. As some of you might have seen on my Instagram, I have been sharing all the reasons I wear a red lip as part of the #VerilyRedLipChallenge. This bold lipstick is an instant outfit-maker and statement "accessory" no matter what you're wearing. While it might seem a bit odd to pair lipstick with your casual duds, I actually think it dresses them up and pulls everything together. I love to wear red lipstick with an otherwise neutral outfit as a pop of color, or pair it with more red, of course (In case you've forgotten, I love red!). However, sometimes I feel silly wearing all-out red to a Valentine's event or date night (though who cares!) so opting for a more subtle yet equally appropriate ode to the holiday in a red lip tones it down. Finally, as I've mentioned before, I first learned my love of wearing "just a little lipstick" from my mother. Growing up, my mom had a tube of lipstick in every nook and cranny. If she didn’t have time to put on any other makeup, she would always swipe on “just a little lipstick,” as she would say. I realized that “just a little lipstick” magnified the confidence and warmth brought out by her signature feature—her smile. In awe and imitation of my mom’s inner and outer beauty, I made lipstick (especially a bold red!) a regular in my makeup routine. As women and girls, we often struggle to love and appreciate our bodies, as I discussed in my last post. On the contrary, a red lip highlights what I love about myself—it brightens my eyes and draws attention to my smile—two of my favorite features. So no matter where you're going or what you're wearing, I highly recommend adding a pop of red.