Is there anything more sophisticated than a dark berry lip? When it comes to makeup, it's a look that's hard to beat and it just so happens to be one of the biggest trends from the Autumn/Winter 2013 catwalks. Hurrah!
From deep fuchsias and plums to oxblood and burgundy, there are plenty of rich, smoky shades to choose from. The question is, once our favourite cherry red lipstick has been reluctantly wiped off, how should these richer colours be worn?
Terry Barber, director of makeup at Mac, is a big fan of this beauty trend. "The stained lip is the new blush", he said during the brand's A/W presentation. And guess which colours he recommended? "Charred reds and smoked purples".
However - this doesn't mean going all out vamp. Barber referenced the "modern, diffused quality" at Kenneth Cole and Marni, where red lip stains were blurred around the edges for a softer focus.
It's not just about the lip either. "Milky skin and a bigger brow with no or little mascara" are also important for keeping this look strong and clean. Our favourite example of this? Bottega Veneta's A/W 13 show. Paired with the bouncy curls and a sharp, structured collection, this makeup made these girls look all the more alluring.
There are a few tricks for tackling the eye vs lip battle too. Poppy King, founder of Lipstick Queen, shared her secret with us. "Keep eye makeup to an absolute minimum so as not to come over too goth!", she said. "Dark berry shades with a nuance of chocolate brown are super flattering and are a bold statement"
As for what to wear these lip colours with, Kerry Washington got it just right at the Django Unchained premiere - a neutral off-white and grey print gown.
Fancy giving this trend a go? Here's our favourite dark shades to experiment with...