Independent on Sunday, The: BeautyBag; How to be a scarlet woman

Red lips are back, if they ever went away. Crimson lippy is both classic and edgy; it will give you the fashionable Forties look and instantly make you appear groomed. But when it goes wrong, it goes very, very wrong. Here are some tips on how to avoid red-lipstick train-smash.

Colour: the received wisdom is that pale, creamy complexions should stick to pinky reds, while sallower skins look best with orangey reds. So if you are coloured like Sophie Ellis Bextor, go for a bright fuchsia-tinged red as sold by Red Earth (lip tint RD101 compact pounds 8, 08708-377 377). But if your complexion is Monica Bellucci olive, try a warm shade such as Barry M's tomato-coloured lipstick (Number 121 pounds 4.25, 020-8349 2992). And remember, a solid burgundy does not suit thin lips, since dark colours have a shrinking effect. But if your mouth is full, try RMK's Berry gloss crayon, number 5, which works as a lip liner as well as a lipstick (pounds 14, 020-7243 9450).

Application: red lips have to be done audaciously. The dab-it- off, gloss it over half-hearted approach just does not do. Use a good, old-fashioned lipstick like Nina Ricci's new "Rouge Glamour" (pounds 14, 020-7499 4420), put it on thickly, and blot, once. It will make you look like a Fifties flight attendant, which is the epitome of red lip chic.

Boundaries: with age comes experience, and lip wrinkles. Benefit's De Groovie is a waxy sealer that helps prevent bleeding (pounds 23, 0901-113 0001). To avoid red teeth, close your lips round your finger, then pull it out.

Staying power: red lipstick does not smudge gracefully. A dependable fixer - a clear varnish applied over colour, is a wise investment for confident pouting. Aesthetes with a bob or two will like Benefit's She Laq, which comes in a pretty bottle but costs pounds 18; for the rest of us, Lipcote will do nicely. It's old school, but it works (pounds 3.25, 01608 811539). But if you are caught out without your sealant, and don't want to make your mark on your champagne flute, give the glass a tiny, lizard-quick lick.

Accessories: fishnets, shoulder pads and a roulette rake are optional.