Temptalia Asks You - How do you feel about occasion appropriate makeup?

I agree mostly with what everyone else says! I think the ‘rules of thumb’ regarding makeup are mostly all about respect, like someone mentioned you don’t really want to vamp it up at a funeral, out of respect. For the same reason, I wouldnt really rock a bright orange and pink look to work, even though we have a casual office. But i feel like these ‘rules’ much like the rules regarding clothing, are somewhat outdated. Just like (IMO) it’s now pretty acceptable to wear white year round (if done right), the ‘occasion-appropriate’ guidelines for makeup are relaxing a little too. I think the point is to look your best so that you feel your best, and not call too much attention to yourself if it is not that kind of event. But color is always allowed!

I agree with everyone as well, you always have to look at situation appropriateness as well, such as I work at a vet clinic so lipstick and lipgloss are a no go since I would have so much dog and cat hair stuck in it in about 5 minutes! But I often rock bright, intense eye looks!

I’m very conservative with makeup, in the work setting, and I find that many people don’t seem to have a clear concept on what is appropriate in the workplace, and that goes for their attire, as well. I cannot forget one day when I was in line at the cafeteria, and I kept seeing something fluttering out of the corner of my eye. I was kinda grossed out, because I thought it was a fly and nobody wants flies around their food. when I finally turned my head a was stunned to find out that it was another employee in a different department, and her lashes so far from her face, she might have been able to graze my face had she turned to face me. Not only was it work inappropriate, she looked stupid as hell. That only would have looked appropriate if she was clubbing or worked as a makeup artist, or had some other sort of alternative career.

When you were doing your “work safe” looks, Christine, I thought they were great, and perfect examples of looks we should go for. I’m not opposed to a flash of unexpected color (I’m definitely guilty of sneaking in colored mascara or liner) but people need to be clear on the line of what is too much, especially during the day.

I think these kind of rules are usually good guidelines to make life easier. Even if we don’t agree, putting on a certain piece of clothing or a certain shade of lipstick sends a message, and, like in the case of the fake lashes for the funeral, it can send the wrong one (in the example, “you’re dead, let’s disco!”). Of course, rules can ALWAYS be broken (thank God!), but it’s better to break them carefully and knowingly because you want to dare and/or make a statement – even if just a fashion one, heh – then to do it out of ignorance about the message you are sending. So yeah, hurray to rules and to bending them! 😉