
Rainbows shine for those who don’t care about the pot of gold.
I love rainbows. In addition to coming out right after the rain to bring the news of sunshine, they also show us a rainbow of possibilities. Even the tiniest rainbow carries all colors in the universe! I love surrounding myself with color – from clothes to books to wall paint – because it inspires creativity and makes you see things in a better, more positive light.
My love affair with color cosmetics began in the early childhood. My grandmother was a woman of a unique taste – her signature lipstick was a bright orange. But it wasn’t the kind of orange you see today, leaning on red and coral, but a simple, unpretentious orange. I remember fantasizing about that Soviet piece of cosmetics – how awesome would it be to actually try it on. Of course, playing with adults’ makeup was strictly forbidden so it wasn’t until I was about 5 of 6 that I finally got my sticky fingers on it. Filled with unspeakable delight, I smeared the lipstick across my pout, but, being inexperienced, pressed on too hard and broke it. I probably got in trouble, but what remained in my memory is the enchanting feeling of possessing a beauty item. When you’re 6, nothing can make you forget the worries of the world than the right shade of lipstick. Some things never change.
Moths & Butterflies
As I proceeded into my adolescence, I noticed that color became more and more sparse. All the bright hues were now reserved for toddlers and preschoolers, and it became increasingly difficult to find a pink jacket with a unicorn on the back. I felt cheated out of color and found escape in making clothes for Barbies. As I entered the world of grown-up cosmetics, things looked even more bleak:

The beige rainbow
An army of beige. Look around and you’ll be immediately confronted with it: nude lipstick, french manicures, the proverbial brown eyeshadow. I remember asking a sales assistant about a pair of brown false lashes they were selling. “These look more natural,” she said. Maybe she knew something I didn’t, but the idea of gluing on fake lashes to look ‘natural’ sounded absolutely absurd. The Cult of Beige feeds on the assumption that neutrals look good on everyone, but that sure wasn’t true for me. Made up in grays and browns, I looked sickly, washed out, and felt not the least bit attractive. I wanted to be a butterfly but instead, all I could be was a moth. So where do all of the butterflies turn to?
Color Crisis of the cosmetic industry
The more I thought about it, the more I came to realize how much of a crisis the cosmetic industry is in. Companies are afraid of color - and continue making the same shades they’d made for the past 50 years, in different packaging. I believe that color is essential when it comes to beauty. It can be used to enhance features, conceal imperfections, and even just for fun – isn’t that what makeup should be about? Color range is more or less explored in eyeshadows, but it came to lipstick, companies acted as if they’d never seen a rainbow! To illustrate my point, I made this little diagram:

Common lipstick shades
This is what a typical lip colors spectrum look like. As you can see, browns, beiges and reds are extremely well-represented, but the rest is pretty much shunned. Makeup companies deem colors outside this ‘safe’ range too bright, too unwearable and, by extension, unmarketable. As a result, you almost never see any shades outside the safe range. Now, I have no problem with neutrals per se. There is a place for them – foundations, concealers, powders, and bronzers are all based on the shades you naturally find in our skin – but shouldn’t we be allowed to have more fun with eyes and lips?
Meet the Wizard

We’re off the see the Wizard…
Everyone knows the story of Wizard of Oz. Dorothy and friends set off to find the amazing Wizard of Oz, who allegedly runs the Emerald City and has the ability to grant them their wish. I always wondered if there was some kind of a Wizard pulling the strings in cosmetics, someone who decides which shades are ok and which too crazy. And then I realized how ridiculous that was. There should be no Wizard! We should be the ones to decide what colors we want to wear! Someone is holding the rainbow hostage – and so I set off to find out who.
What I discovered that there, indeed, was a Wizard. And he happened to be of sexist tendencies. Did you know that MAC, Estee Lauder, Lancome and most major makeup companies are run by men? That’s right: the industry that makes female-centric products is dominated by men – and not the fabulous gay variety, either – who have no passion for cosmetics! How can we trust them to dictate our beauty trends??
This is not the end of the saga but only the beginning. I will find my rainbow – in the meanwhile, I’m building my own mini-version in the hopes that one day it will grow big and light up the world.
Deerlings, what do you think of men running the makeup business?
I think it’s time for a change. There is nothing inherently wrong with men being involved in cosmetics, but perhaps we could all benefit from a bit of a female perspective.











This made me want to stand up and shout, “Bravo!” You inspire me so much & I hope you keep expanding your make-up line.
YOU MADE BARBIE CLOTHES TOO!!!? That’s so cool, i spent so much of my free time as a kid doing that. I got frustrated with my stitches and used a hot glue gun, and not the little craft ones: My dads! I burnt my fingers a thousand times but I had so much fun, too bad a lot of my creations fell apart. I made bedding too. I even built a whole bedroom in a cardboard box. I built a canopy bed from straws and a shoebox and bright shiny blue fabric. I could go on forever so I’ll stop but I liked this post it was inspirational. Plus any mention of the Wizard of Oz is a good thing. =)
And all men deciding what we wear on our faces, That’s gonna change! We’ll make it change!
Doe Deere Reply:
January 21, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Wow, you seem incredibly handy! I love to build stuff stuff, and of course making Barbie clothes was my most favorite thing to do. I think I learned basic clothing construction skills from that. :)
it depends on the style i guess
I love to see others wear color but i keep to black white and grey with a pop of strong color like a red scarf
xxx
LOVE FROM M POPPY
LIVING IT UP IN LONDON, STYLISH
You know I was thinking the same thing as I was going through my lipstick collection and realized I owned the same shades of red over and over and over in different brands. It seems that red and pink are the only bright colors that dare to be sold to the consumer.
Unfortunately, the only colors to explore are usually boring, so I resort to the same ole bright red orange, deep brick red, and (if I’m lucky)pink fushia.
I remember as a teen purchasing a dark deep royal blue lipstick called “blue moon” that was absolutely perfect at a local drug store. 10 years later I’ve yet to see a dramatic shade like that outside costume make up.
Please keep exploring the color spectrum as you did with your current lipstick line!!! I’ll be right here waiting. :)
You. Are. Gorgeous.
xoxo
You have no idea just how much you inspire me! I’m currently in college majoring in fashion design, and I’m so tired of the bland and repetitive trends that we see today! I feel like so many women are so worried about dressing for men, when we should dress for ourselves! I’m fortunate enough to attend a college where the population is above 70% female, and it’s truly amazing to see the difference when girls dress for themselves and not just to impress men (who should love them as they are innywho)!
It just really makes you happy that you’re not afraid of colour or truly expressing yourself, and I hope that more people in the fashion business follow in your footsteps! It’s so refreshing and wonderful to have such bright and fun colours available for those of us who aren’t afraid to stand out.
Maybe the men are giving women the make up that MEN want to see them in.
If that’s the case, they’re in for a rude awakening when they see all of the fabulous Rainbow-Girls prancing around town — and find themselves smitten! ;)
I completely agree. Magazines and media always ask us to follow their rules when it comes to interior design and fashion and if we shy away from what they say, we become laughing stocks.
I don’t want to blend in with the rest of the world. We are all unique, the world will be a much better place if everyone is true to themselves and are not afraid to show who they really are.
brilliant article. you are marvellous.
I know, it’s insane right? Men deciding what women want?
Don’t worry – I’ll be a strong ally in your war against the anti-rainbow.
Oh wow, the fact that the companies are all run by men explains so much. Men are always going on and on about how they hate makeup and can’t understand why women would want to look anything other than “natural.” They all assume we wear it to attract them. So instead of giving women what they would have fun with, they give women what they want to see them in. I wouldn’t dream of trying to attract a guy with my own interests and tastes :0 Your love of color inspires me, and I’ll keep trying to spread it on my end!
Wandering Mistress Reply:
January 28, 2010 at 5:13 pm
i totally agree. men just dont understand the whole fascination with make up. and they are so ego centric they think we only put make up on to attract men, a lot of women do it for themselves and especially for other women!
you’re a chick right after my own heart. i salute you, Doe Deere!
i also have always had a hard time to find something in the mainstream (lip products mostly) that’s truly colourful and of great quality. and you’re very right, someone IS holding the rainbow hostage, the rainbow i love and just dying to see out there. it’s so awesome to see that you are working so hard to bring it back!
Well, my answer might be predictable, but as for me – I do want to look good and at the same time remain attractive to my man. And there are certain restrictions for that. Antropologically people want to have a family with a healthy looking woman, so really bright unnatural colors might scare men off. Not that they really make us follow rules, but this is human nature.
So generally, wearing natural colors is good. It goes with centuries of beauty criterium (no marketing involved) and with internal men’s wish for a healthy-looking human wife. Standards cannot be changed in a second.
I have nothing against bright colors, as you might think. I love to play with them. But I would never overuse them in my life. Just to remain attractive to the kind of people I want.
If men want to be attractive to women they also follow some rules, which allow our instincts to chose them. Many important decisions in our lives are guided by our instincts. Although modern people seem to forget about it.
This has nothing to do with sexism. The initial men’s wish is for women to look pretty. Natural colors can sell themselves.
All others need good marketing. To help the customer discover his/her wish for something different and then sell the problem-solver to them.
Kate Reply:
January 21, 2010 at 9:43 pm
I think if anyone was to judge you as unattractive because you chose to prefer bright coloured makeup, they clearly have no place in your life.
Woman should wear makeup to please themselves – not to attract a mate.
Vilma Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 6:18 am
Yep, you’re right. I wouldn’t let a person in my life who would accuse me of something. But try to understand my point. To make it _comfortable_ for a good person to love me (and be attracted to me) – I would never go crazy with painting myself. Occasionally yes.
As for my heartmate I’d never press him to share my craziness for colors and never call him sexist, because he thinks natural is more beautiful.
There’s no crisis of colors. Lots of companies make editions of make up for color-lovers. And all I was saying is that those bright ones need good marketing strategy.
Jael Paris Reply:
February 8, 2010 at 12:55 am
You should read the book Extreme Beauty. Fashion history is not, in fact, about looking healthy to attract a mate, and many cultures around the world use bright colors in their beauty rituals.
I LOVE this post. I hope your rainbow dominates the world.
Many women prefer neutral shades, and I think thats okay. There’s also alot more younger girls wearing brighter makeup, especially eyeshadow. Scene girls etc.
Also, most indie makeup companies are owned by women.
Personally, I love almost every color eyeshadow, bright ones and nuetrals. I also love red, pink and especially purple lipstick. I also like orange, but I don’t think I’d venture to wearing green or blue lipstck. ;p
There are lots of great small makeup companies run by men and women that offer candy colored cosmetics. I don’t think that gender or sexual orientation should automatically disqualify or qualify anyone from anything. Who knows maybe those CEO’s on the weekends get dressed up in full on drag grab their wives and go to a cabaret.
I’ve seen more women scoff at colorful makeup than men. I think its more stepping outside of social norms that bothers people. Standing out in the world can make you a target? Challenging the status quo and saying what other people won’t. Maybe thats why.
I love rainbows! I love the rainbow of eyeshadows and lipsticks that I own of yours. There’s endless possibilities when it comes to choice and variations.
Today is casual Friday at work and I decided I’d wear lime crime criminal on my eyelids to work. It is blended in with duchess. I feel really beautiful! I love green!
i don’t have a problem with men running it but they should find out what girls like to wear instead of assuming we like dark and dull colors. i know i can never find any bright and brilliant rainbow colors in stors anywhere.the brightest i can get to is hip eyeshadow. they should experiment with bright and neon colors more because alot of people whould buy it even if most of them are teens at least its being sold.
Another great post! :D I especially love your analogy of moths and butterflies, that’s so great. I really can’t picture how you would look in gray and brown tones of makeup… it makes me sad to even try!
You really got the point. I HATE Nude-Looks. I only wear them for work because I have to. And if I use in my free time, what can be seen as Nude-Colors I always put a highlight in my look like a very thick, vintage-like black Eyeliner or huge lashes or a popping red lipstick. God, why does everyone want to hide from the world, using only this protective mimicri????????
I LOVED this post so much, Doe! :) When I started wearing makeup (at the old age of 18; my parents wouldn’t let me wear more than clear or pale pink lipgloss until then…), I felt annoyed that all I found were nuetrals. I remember going to Target with my allowance the first week I could buy makeup, and going straight for the blackest black mascara I could find, and the brightest true red lipstick! I wanted to imitate the women of the golden age of Hollywood–not sport the pale lips and neutral eye that was so popular. I have grown to love other colors too–I finally bought my first “Barbie pink” lipstick last year (at the prompting of a very talented, MAC artist! ;), started wearing blue eye shadow and have fallen in love with glittery eyeshadows for daily use. Although I don’t use as many super-bright colors as some do, I really appreciate companies like yours that offer those with a different point of view options. :) Keep it up, girl!
Doe Deere Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 1:17 am
It’s amazing how much direction you already had when you just began to use makeup. I remember my first experience, I didn’t know what I was doing at all!
I honestly don’t care who’s behind the companies I buy my makeup from – all I care about is the color! There’s a ton of smaller companies with men in charge that make lovely bright colors of makeup.
Anyway, it seems just a tad sexist to me to say that men can’t be in charge of makeup companies. Why not? Men can be just as creative and colorful as women, and have the same artistic vision – not all of them want to see us done up in neutrals. And who’s to say that a female CEO wouldn’t stick to the “norm” and produce neutral makeup, too? (Bear in mind, women like Anna Wintour, who edit beauty magazines, promote neutral shades over bright colors all the time.) Gender and sexual orientation should have nothing to do with it, and it’s offensive to imply otherwise. It should be all about the color!
Melon Reply:
January 21, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Here here! How about those fellas at Fyrinnae, they make amazing bright colours. or illamasqua, who have both men and women in charge of the company?
And to imply that gay men would be fine, but straight men can’t relate enough to women is just hugely sexist and stereotypical towards gay men!
Leyla Timur Reply:
January 21, 2010 at 9:09 pm
I completely agree with you. Towards gay men *and* straight men. And women. Gender or sexuality has nothing to do with certain skills or sensibilities.
Anastasia Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Right there with you. In addition, I’m offended by the “fabulous gay man” stereotype, and the assertion that those are the only types who should wear/make make-up? You call make-up a “product for women” and “our” beauty trends?
I know plenty of straight AND gay men who wear make-up. As someone who adovcates individualism, expression and personal style, I would have thought you’d be all for cosmetics being for everyone.
When it comes down to making cosmetics, gender should have nothing to do with it. It should be about creativity, style, flair, talent, irrespective of gender. CEOs, male or otherwise, in large companies aren’t the ones making the colour choices, and far more often the colour range is simply a product of demand.
Your company appeals to a niche, thus you can be as specialised as you like. Comparing the two is just plain silly.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 1:03 am
Gender has absolutely nothing to do with it, you’re correct. Nonetheless, I can attest to the fact that the cosmetics industry is extremely sexist, and that most men who work in it have no passion for cosmetics whatsoever and have a very cynical approach.
I understand that this post was more outspoken than most others. But I really do feel strongly about the issue. I apologize if I offended anyone, it was not my intention.
Mark Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 9:44 am
Makeup is for everyone. This is not about kicking men out, but bringing women in. I’m a man who wears makeup and this post didn’t abrogate my individuality. It just so happens that the vast majority of the people creating the demand you spoke of are women. This post addresses those men who DO NOT use makeup and are nonetheless involved in its creation, marketing, etc. Maybe that’s irrelevant and you don’t need to use it to know and love it. We can discuss that.
You don’t think the corps use gendered marketing approaches to sell color cosmetics? Why is it offensive when someone notes that the targeted demographic should have a larger role in the industry that caters to them?
I think the colorful world you’ve built is wonderful, but I also think there’s more to the neutrals than just playing it safe.
Vilma hit on it above – cosmetics were initially meant to enhance the natural. A little more flush to a pink cheek, a rosier kiss, smoother skin. It was attractive because women were making themselves look healthier, youthful and more robust, rather than pallid and mottled as we tend to be sometimes without makeup. Natural selection would indicate that men should be attracted to those features that indicate youth and vitality – they’re signs of readiness to reproduce!
Over time, as people became accustomed to the look of makeup, it went far beyond natural. Let’s face it, there’s no natural cherry-lipped women or lids with perfectly blended brown shadows. But it stayed within the realm of trying to look healthy and young by altering the hues and finishes of otherwise nearly natural tones.
One reason it may be hard to make the leap to extreme colors is just a continuation of that biological attraction thing. If there were no cosmetics, those rainbow colors take on completely different meanings. Blue lips, for example, would naturally mean something is very wrong. In fact, they probably mean that you are quite close to death, unhealthy and therefore not attractive as a mate. Subconsciously, purple means bruised and yellow means jaundice and green means nauseated and ill.
Back when medicine involved little more than leeches and bitter herbs and diagnostics were purely visual, those cues meant everything. A blemish could be the pox, and a deep purple could mean plague. And rainbow-hued eyelids? Surely you were knocking at death’s door!
I think that without realizing why, a lot of men and women are still put off by unusual colors today because of that instinctive reaction to unnatural coloration. But we’re becoming more and more accustomed to radically hued hair and brilliant cosmetics, and those old attitudes are changing. By the time we’re old and grey, our grandchildren will be laughing at how bland people looked way back in 2010!
shannon Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Thank you for pointing this out! I think most people will always stick with the enhancing the natural route. And some people will rather take like a peacock and show off more nature inspired colors! I’m fine with both ways, when done right either looks good, no matter what the situation.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 1:21 am
Subconsciously, purple means bruised and yellow means jaundice and green means nauseated and ill. Haha, that made me laugh. :) I see what you mean, if used just right those colors could create some real theatrical effects. ;)
I’m not opposed to neutrals per se. I just think there are too many, whereas the more unusual colors are under-represented. But, without the taupe eyeshadow, how could we get possibly this amazing Dita von Teese look?!
Oh and one other thought! We can’t blame the men or the makeup companies too much really. Every one of them is first and foremost a company trying to make a buck. They’re maximizing profits by making things that people buy the most, which happen to be pretty close to neutral.
If they make a radical shade and it doesn’t sell, well they just won’t do that again. I think that’s why the bright colors seem to come from smaller companies. For a shade to be successful from a huge company like Lauder, it would have to sell to an awfully wide range of women. Bright tones might not make the cut for them, but a smaller company can take virtually all of those fringe bright-toned customers and make it work for a more targeted market.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 1:25 am
Very true. I was just chatting with someone in Chanel and she said every few years they try to bring out those nice bright colors. And they never sell. Then again, why would a Chanel customer care for a metallic green nail polish…?
You’re so right Doe, makeup companies have no creative people involved in their processes!
…Isn’t your husband meant to be a big part of your makeup company?
Mark Reply:
January 21, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Oh snap!
I’m involved in customer service, operations and occasionally photography, though. But your point is well-taken there is nothing inherently wrong with men being involved in makeup companies, I think what she’s saying is that the motivation of a board room of guys in suits who have never worn makeup is different than that of someone who wants to make the products they would like to use. Boardroom MBA dude is much less likely to say he’s excited by the transformational power of cosmetics.
Once I attempted to dye my Barbie’s hair pink, and failed miserably. I really enjoy your color chart of lipsticks, and am always so grateful that now us color loving people have a brand to turn to! I think men are running the makeup industry for a number of reasons, I won’t go into a rant about women in the workfield, but think about it. Most women wear makeup to cover up “flaws” in order to attract men. So with men running these companies, they can come up with what men actually want, and then market it to women who are trying to think “what will men be attracted to?” Or something like that.
Have you ever watched “Mad Men?” It’s a programme about an advertising agency, and on one episode they’re trying to market lipstick, and actually call in a woman to come up with their slogan and everything! YAY.
PS today my sister, who wears makeup like Bare Minerals, asked me to show her all of my Lime Crime so she can test it all out too! YES. Another fan :)
Oh my! I really love this post. I also like to wear a lot of colors in my daily wardrobe or in my makeup. I love to die my hair with colorful shades (right now I have deep teal hair), even when my boyfriend critizes this so much, he’s so conservative. As a mexican girl is even harder to find a wider range of colors in makeup because the beauty companies only sell products that suit “our skin tones” but come on as an Argentine makeup artist says “The color that suit you best is your favorite one”.
P.S. Two weeks ago I received my Lime Crime purchase, a No she Didn’t lipstick, I love it, thanks a lot! You’re such an inspiration
This is way off topic, but I just bought my first Lime Crime Lipstick! I am your typical pseudo-ex-goth…you know the type, used to be all dark and daring, but then had to get a job (not one in the hair/make-up or retail industry)…that sort of dictated that I have kinda look normalish? (I work for my local Welfare Department in management )
So..which did I pick? Not the Retrofuturist!…even though that is what my head told me to do…. I bought Centrifuschia! to try something different! Some of us “Old Dogs” can be taught new tricks… You’ve inspired me
I think is horrible how limited the make-up industry is. Try a different shade and people will say it doesn’t look natural… but make-up is not natural!!!
I think that’s part of the beige thing, the no-make-up makeup look.
By the way, thank you for inspiring me to wear orange lipstick! I think it’s one of the best colors I’ve tried that go with my olive skin.
“That’s right: the industry that makes products for women is dominated by men – and not the fabulous gay variety, either! These male CEOs cannot possibly know what women want, so what business do they have to dictate our beauty trends??”
…so what you’re saying is that only gay men and women have an aesthetic sense?
That is ridiculous, incredibly sexist, and absolutely offensive to gay men. My closest friend is a homossexual and has no interest whatsoever in fashion or beauty. The friend who advises me about shopping and makeup is a straight male. Sexuality is about sex, not style.
Way to perpetuate dumb stereotypes.
CEO’s don’t make makeup. CEO’s don’t make artistic decisions. CEO’s are business people (men AND women), they make company decisions, decide where new factories are built, mind the budget, etc. Then there’s the scientists, the artistic department, marketing department, etc.
You think the perfect makeup company should hire a fashionista as a CEO? Or a flamboyant gay men straight out of Sex and the City, whether or not they’re competent business people? CEO’s don’t have to worry about colors and collections, they have to worry about how to sell those colors and collections. It’s their job. To each his own.
I’m always fascinated by how you make MAC sound like a boring company, when MAC is anything but safe about the products and campaigns it releases.
What’s so wrong about beige and looking natural? I love rich colors, glitter and drama, my sister loves natural looks, and yes, she wears false eyelashes to look natural. And we both manage to find exactly what we want.
I hope this comment goes through. I’m not being rude or insulting. I was just baffled at how you managed to be so offensive and close-minded towards straight men, women *and* gays in the same post.
Your makeup looks really good. Your company has pretty fierce marketing. But it’s not the first time you compare your company to big brands. There’s no comparison. MAC is not an indie business, neither is Lancome. You’re also not changing the world here. You just make nice, colorful makeup, and you’re not the only one.
…the gay thing, I mean, really? So insulting.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 21, 2010 at 9:45 pm
I think you may have misunderstood my point. Kate (comment below) broke it down nicely.
Gender or sexual preference have zero significance when it comes to aesthetics. However, when you don’t walk the walk and don’t talk the talk, it becomes quite clear that you’re only in it for the money (which is the case with most CEOs).
CEOs don’t make artistic decisions. It’s not a question of how artistic their decisions are (designing packaging can be artistic, but what does it matter?) but the fact that they are instrumental in directing trends. Most men that I’ve met in the cosmetics business have never worn lip balm – let alone anything else. And there they are, talking as if they know exactly what women want. And when I try to speak up, they look at me like I’m some little girl who knows nothing. Now, THAT’S insulting. ;)
Regarding MAC – I don’t think they are ‘boring’. It’s a good brand that I use myself. But, ever since the company got bought by Estee Lauder, they lost their ability to make decisions from the heart. If you’ve bought their products years back, you may have noticed they lost a lot of pigmentation and became a lot more safe in general. It’s very profit-driven. But hey, who am I to criticize MAC – they do what they do well, and are very successful at it. I just can’t relate to the way they do things for obvious reasons.
You’re not changing the world here. Maybe not, but Brooklyn wasn’t built in a day. ;)
Leyla Timur Reply:
January 21, 2010 at 9:58 pm
“To me, having men run an industry with products predominantly for women just goes to show that primary concern is on profit, not passion for the product”
Men only care about profit. It’s what’s written here, or am I misunderstanding? Men are rational and think of money and women are passionate and think of authenticity and innovation. This is the information I gather from Kate’s comment. Am I wrong?
So gay men, being males who like other males, are perfect because they think of money *and* are passionate?
It gets more and more generalist and sexist.
I’m going to put the gender and sexuality thing aside because it’s ridiculous to assume people are good at or sensible to certain things depending on their gender or the gender of the people they enjoy to sleep with:
Of course big companies need to concern themselves with profit. They’re not dealing with a few hundred bucks. They have a lot of people depending on them.
And there’s also the image of a company to consider. Yours is colorful, and that’s your choice. Chanel might not release blue lipstick, but MAC has every color of the rainbow. My point is, there are a lot of choices out there, your company included. There is no beige conspiracy by evil straight male CEO’s and people like my sister are not moths.
Mark Reply:
January 21, 2010 at 10:55 pm
I think you really need to re-read the post. Generalizations are not necessarily offensive, the point is not that maleness renders one less fit to weigh in on makeup but that being a man correlates strongly with not wearing makeup or having first hand experience with it. Mind the difference between correlation and causation here. If you take a random sampling of men (at least here in the USA) most will not have worn makeup, let alone appreciate the excitement of finding a new product they love. She is arguing that it is the experience with makeup that lends the passion, not the gender. A woman who never wears it is equally unqualified in her view. Of course you can disagree with this: I heard Leo Fender never played, but he made some of the finest guitars out there. Rock on. But there is no reason to get offended and the intent of this post is not to blast men, or anyone that likes natural shades. She said that they made HER look like a moth, nothing about your sister and millions of other women she has never met who rock the natural shades and do it well.
Shades are like notes, and she wants access to the black keys, it doesn’t mean she never wants to play on the white keys and thinks no one else should either. There are a lot of styles out there. So how about we just jam?
Kate Reply:
January 21, 2010 at 11:03 pm
I wasn’t saying that men are interested only in profits, however, I feel that a man, who does not wear make up, yet runs a make up company, is likely to be more focused on profits than passion for a make up product.
I like to support businesses where the CEO is not only interested in the bottom line but is passionate and deeply involved in all aspects of the business. Just to clarify.
And thank you Doe, glad you found my input useful.
To me, having men run an industry with products predominantly for women just goes to show that primary concern is on profit, not passion for the product. Which is, of course, a shame. It’s okay to want to run a profitable business, but I think that having a genuine interest in what you are promoting is key to authenticity and innovation.
Your gender alone doesn’t automatically mean you’re more qualified to market to women, though. Even discounting the fact that, as an indie brand, the CEO and the people who choose the colours to manufacture are the same people (because as Leyla rightly pointed out, big makeup brands have *lots* of people working for them and the execs aren’t the ones making the products), you don’t automatically know what all women like: you know what you, personally, like. And so you have a niche: people who like what you like. But a big company – with a male CEO, even – has market research. They don’t just assume “women like beige!” They ask. And lots of people DO like natural colours, or at least there’s a consistent demand for them, or else they wouldn’t sell anything and they would go out of business. If women didn’t want beige they WOULDN’T BUY BEIGE.
Sorry if this is rude, I honestly didn’t intend to be mean, I’m just a bit hurt by being called a moth just because my personal aesthetic is not the same as yours.
PS gay men aren’t peacocks and they aren’t all the same. They’re just as diverse as any other demographic. Like, I don’t know, women.
I love bright color- and your colors are so spectacular. But I almost feel that I love color so much that over the years I have grown to appreciate the quiet and intricate beauty in neutral colors..browns, grays and especially nudes. Beautiful creamy tans that remind me of a steaming latte, a deep rich brown that reminds me of the bark of a tree, muted green that echos spongy moss on the floor of a forest, nudes that remind me of my lovers flesh and my own appreciation for the minimal color of my skin.
I also love moths.. have you ever looked at what interesting textures and design is involved? The dust that lies on their wings is just the most subtle difference from the pattern underneath. And with their fuzzy antenna, close up they are as cute as a fuzzy brown bunny!
My applauds to your mission with color, but I myself love both sparkly blue mermaid eyes and exquisitely done nude & neutral make-up and many women like to look natural, just enhanced!
A that being said… now I’m pining for make-up with TEXTURE! hmm…
Ultra glossy nude lips are one of my favorite looks… but beyond that?! what if!
When you eventually meet a man who has taken the time and has a passion for understanding women you’ll wish your statements were not part of your record.
The generalizations (about men) that you have put forth are profoundly insulting and, to a great extent, hurtful.
Mark Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Is that supposed to be a slap at me?
(I’m her husband)
If you find it “hurtful” as a man when someone says sexism exists in the corporate (esp. cosmetics and fashion) world you need to re-examine your male privilege and get real.
Meidhbhin Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 5:06 pm
I really don’t think it was a slap at you Mark, but that he was just unaware of your existence.
A lipstick in the bright yellow-orange family would be AWESOME for summer.
*hint hint nudge nudge* ;)
I can’t understand that men are roaming freely in the make-up business like that. Make-up is a womans world because women know what women want!
I myself hate that you can’t really get eny good vibrant make-up or nailpolish in Denmark because of all those beige colours. Boring. Let there be sparkles and Rainbows :D
I like the fact that you promote a world of colour, but in my opinion some of your statements are a bit too one-sided.
I would like to point out that everyone who starts a business wants to make a profit! (including you)
Also, any company has to do research as to the market it’s aiming at. If it became clear to Mac and the other big companies that the majority of the market wants green lipstick and yellow eyeshadow, they would be all over it!
I think it’s great that you stick to your own personal taste and dress in lots of colours, but I don’t agree with the fact that you label the people who do not do this as “moths”. Everyone is different and has the right to express him/herself according to their own taste and feelings. I’m not a fan of beige and I wish for more people to be a bit more daring in their choice of colour… But in the end it’s a personal choice!
Doe Deere Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 11:46 am
Making a profit is a fantastic thing. I just think that being driven by money only is a bad place to start – in any business.
You may have misunderstood what I said about ‘moths’. I said *I* looked like a month, but didn’t call anybody else moths. I know lots of women who look gorgeous in neutrals – Jennifer Aniston for instance. I don’t have a problem with beiges, I have a problem with oversaturation of beiges.
Louise Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 5:43 am
Thanks for clearing that up! Now I can say that I agree :-)
THIS is what makes me confused and angry about your company in general.
You run an ‘indie’ business catering to a small section of the market looking for bright and different colours. It’s fabulous. Your marketing, image and brand, of which you are is excellent.
However, what gives you the right to be so ambiguous regarding sexuality? You say in numerous posts that a persons sex should not in any way or form matter, that you see people as purely that, a person first and their sex later.
“”That’s right: the industry that makes products for women is dominated by men – and not the fabulous gay variety, either! These male CEOs cannot possibly know what women want, so what business do they have to dictate our beauty trends??”"
CEO by definition run a business, just because they are male has no baring on the company and their artistic direction. I don’t know, and haven’t been able to find a cosmetics company which its board of directors or CEO’s lead the artistic team? That create products? Or who are out there doing the research and finding the trends or developing the prodcuts.
There are teams and teams of people doing this, all who are as passionate about their products as you are.
This blog is possibly one of the most sexist things I have read yet, and it’s quite upsetting to have it coming from you. How can you say the things about such companies, with such arrogance, and then complain when someone says the same about yours? I don’t want to get in to that, as that’s not what this topic is about.
“”Gender or sexual preference have zero significance when it comes to aesthetics. However, when you don’t walk the walk and don’t talk the talk, it becomes quite clear that you’re only in it for the money (which is the case with most CEOs).”"
CEO – Cheif Executive Officer. If the CEO isn’t in the business of profit then how can he or she to keep the business afloat? the prime responsibility of a CEO is to keep the company running, and to ensure that each department is doing their job, not in designing or creating products or in telling women what and how they should be using their products.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 11:41 am
I think you may be underestimating the role CEOs play in a cosmetic company. They absolutely make decisions such as, “No, this color is too bright. It won’t sell, take it off the board.”
Abbii Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 3:44 am
Don’t get me wrong, I understand your point of view, but I think you are overestimating their role to make your point.
And the main thing that peeved me off was your very blatant sexism.
You don’t know any of the CEO’s you speak of so how do you know they don’t know anything about colour and trend?
Mark Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 12:17 pm
So I guess you think record executives have no influence over what music gets released on a label because they have A&R teams? The point she’s making is that a small company where the creative team and the final decision maker(s) are the same, is more flexible to follow outside-the-box ideas.
Abbii Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 3:47 am
Quite possibly, but you don’t have to insult my intelligence to show your opinion.
Yes, small companies do generally have more flexibility to step outside the box, but they also have a smaller more often less conformist market to cater to.
Different strokes for different folks.
Mark Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 9:18 am
Wasn’t trying to insult you, I’m sorry.
I entirely agree with what you said here.
I find it depressing just HOW MUCH beige is out there, I mean, we all need it every now and then but THAT much? there’s like a million different beige shades and it’s silly. But at the same time it makes barry m and LC that little bit more special :-)
Interesting that it’s a male dominated industry!
Now this is not exactly what you asked for, but do you want to know which lipstick color I crave?
Dark, dark, daaark deep purple. I think that color made by the unicorn queen would be the sexiest thing ever worn.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 11:32 am
Working on it! ;)
Zanthia Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Ever since I’ve know what lipstick was, I’ve wanted a bright purple lipstick!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple
Something along the lines of Han Purple or Royal Purple…
I’m sorry but i find this horribly offensive. So by your logic that men shouldn’t run companies making products for women, does that also mean that women shouldn’t run companies for products for men? It’s just plain sexist to say that a man can’t know what a woman wants because he doesn’t wear makeup himself. Why can’t a man possibly know what women want? Do you think men aren’t capable of listening to women, or understanding women? And what was your point about ‘not the fabulous gay variety, either!’ meant to mean? That gay men would be ok because obviously wanting to sleep with men, like most women, equates knowing all about makeup?
I’m bisexual, in a lesbian relationship, does that mean i’m more in touch with what men want than the average straight woman?
Doe Deere Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 11:36 am
I don’t know if they shouldn’t; I just know that I wouldn’t.
My post was meant to be thought-provoking but not controversial. Sure, men can run the cosmetics industry – and have for years – but I question whether someone who’s never worn makeup before can really do it from the heart, and address the needs us women have. It’s like a man designing tampons – sure, go for it, I suppose. :)))
Lillian Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 12:12 pm
For another example, what about men in the fashion industry? Mark Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Michael Korres, Valentino and so on never wore womens clothes (at least never to my knowledge) but they make clothes loved by women all over the world. Because they don’t wear the clothes themselves doesn’t mean they can’t be passionate about them.
tokidoki Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 5:09 pm
What about a man designing women’s fashion. There are many male fashion designers out there (not all are gay either) so can they not design women’s fashion from the heart since they are not a woman and don’t wear women’s clothing? I don’t think so.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 12:54 am
Some of my favorite designers happen to be men. Francois Nars (who started NARS cosmetics) is also amazing.
Gender is irrelevant. However, it’s undeniable that cosmetics industry is extremely sexist, something I’ve experienced it on my own skin. The majority of men are far from Nars’ – they just don’t care about neither women, nor makeup. And that’s wrong.
Anastasia Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 6:20 pm
What I find offensive is your CONTINUED assumption that men don’t wear makeup.
You simply aren’t saying “people who don’t wear makeup shouldn’t run the cosmetics industry” you’re saying MEN shouldn’t BECAUSE they don’t wear makeup. You call makeup a woman’s product.
Whilst it’s true more women than men wear makeup, it ISN’T a woman’s product. Men wear makeup. Gay, straight, whatever. You aren’t making the distinction:
“Sure, men can run the cosmetics industry – and have for years – but I question whether someone who’s never worn makeup before can really do it from the heart, and address the needs us women have. It’s like a man designing tampons.”
Again, you’re saying men when referring to someone who’s “never worn makeup before” and then likening makeup to a tampon, a product biologically designed for a woman?
How is this not sexist?
Mark Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 11:05 pm
As a man who wears makeup I appreciate you getting offended on my behalf. Oh wait, I don’t :)
I don’t have exact stats, but total cosmetic sales to men I would imagine are MAYBE 1% of all sales. It doesn’t mean she’s saying makeup is intrinsically female (she’s married to me, duh) but women are the ones “voting with their dollars” and account for the vast majority of the market. The makeup corps rarely (if ever) use male models to market their products, is that SEXIST of them? Should I be offended? THEY seem to think it’s a “female” product.
Anastasia Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Oh, in addition, the modern tampon was invented by a man, Doctor Earle Haas, in 1929.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 12:48 am
That’s actually pretty awesome. I didn’t know.
See, I don’t have a problem with men being in the makeup business. I’m just shocked how many of them are cynical and couldn’t care less, you know?
Liz Reply:
January 24, 2010 at 6:39 pm
I would like to know where you are getting the impression that they “are cynical and couldn’t care less”. How many of these male CEO’s have you actually met or had a conversation with?
Doe Deere Reply:
January 25, 2010 at 11:22 am
Liz -
I’ve had meetings with several so far. They always assume Mark is in charge of the company even though I’m sitting right there, and when I speak up they act like I’m saying the most nonsensical things (“What do you mean, it creases?” “There is no way anyone would want that much pigment”, etc). I just got fed up, you know?
A lot of what I said had to do with a conversation I had with my friend Poppy, who has been in the business for 20 years, has met many more sexist, cynical men. They know how to MAKE cosmetics, but don’t really care ABOUT cosmetics. Women, who are responsible for 99% of makeup sales, are incredibly poorly represented in the industry. If that doesn’t bother you, that’s fine, but it disturbs me to the bone. And that was the purpose of my post – to express my take on things.
The Canadian cosmetics company Lise Watier is still run by herself and as been quite successful to this date. Though I’m not that keen on her products, reading your post, I realised that she indeed tended to go for bolder and more expressive colours than the other brands that are run by men… And you know, a lot more men than you’d think are colorblind, so many that’s your explanation right there! :P
Ugh everyone is being so boring! I agree, men should NOT be the ones running cosmetics companies because makeup is typically worn by women and NOT the men. It’s like going to a bra shop and finding a man working there. What the hell does he know? I do admit there are a lot of women out there who don’t “get” bright colours and how well they can work as makeup but times are a’changing and I think that old-fashioned perspective that “natural is better” will eventually be done away with.
There’s nothing sexist about wanting a woman to run a company that sells products that are aimed at women. C;mon girls, get off the PC bandwagon! Men now manly things, women know feminine stuff and that’s how it is and really should remain. Too many industries are run by men anyway, time to let women run what they know best!!!
Jessica Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Just curious, how do you feel about genderqueer people marketing products to people, despite not knowing what it’s like to be either a man or a woman?
Doe Deere Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 12:46 am
I feel great about anyone who feels passionate enough about something to start a business.
By the way, I wouldn’t make that assumption about transgender people. It’s incorrect.
Jessica Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 2:58 am
I was actually asking Cara. Hehe sorry Doe. ^^;
However there is a difference between those who are transgendered and those who identify as genderqueer.
Mai Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 8:29 pm
There’s a difference between wanting women to run a makeup company and saying that men shouldn’t. Why shouldn’t men? Is it because our society says women wear makeup and men don’t?
I’m all for women run businesses, but it’s not fair to judge men and say they can’t run a makeup oriented business because of the fact that they’re born male.
Alice Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 10:16 pm
The problem there is this–what ARE “manly things” and “feminine stuff”? Should no man be a fashion designer for women because he might not wear elaborate evening gowns himself? Should no woman ever design a power tool?
As a straight woman, I know my straight male friends have seen and felt many more pairs of breast than I have, and spend much more time looking at them and thinking about them than I do. Plus, some of them are in fields like engineering and design, both of which are useful when designing a bra. Maybe, just maybe, they’d make excellent bra designers because they ARE straight men.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 12:41 am
An inspired person is always worthy of respect, regardless of their gender/sexual preference. However, it’s hard to get inspired over the next mascara when you’re a 40-something guy who doesn’t give a crap about makeup in the first place! Sadly, those seem to be in the majority in cosmetics.
This post is not attacking men. It attacks a very specific kind of a man.
Lillian Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 9:03 pm
I understand your point, but how do you know that these men in charge are don’t care deeply about makeup? Unless you’ve spoken to them all and they’ve told you bluntly ‘i dont care about my products, just the money i make’ you’re just making a generalisation about them based on the fact they are male and so not as likely to wear makeup themselves.
Also i’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that you honestly didn’t mean to be sexist and were just attacking this certain type of man, but you really have worded your post to sound like you don’t believe that any man should be running a company that makes products for women. And you still haven’t said why you put in the comment about why it would be better if the men in charge were gay.
Louise Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 5:52 am
Love the point you made about bras! My favourite brand has a whole research department to create bras that are functional, supportive, yet esthetically pleasing. I’d be suprpised if there weren’t at least a couple of guys in that research department!
Yesterday, when you published that post, I loved it to hell and now I’m thinking ‘Oh Doe, please be careful’ – concerning your man thesis. I totally agree with you though it’d kinda cool that really MEN run some companies, but there are haters out there who might judge you for what you’ve said.
The rainbow saying conquered my heart within a second *-*
im not gonna make a thesis on the subject but i think that the fact that men run many cosmetics industries explains why we are not seeing many bright and “abnormal” colors.
Men tends to like their comfort zone and most men i talked too like girls with natural make up that only accentuated their natural assets or put an accent on something more sexy (darker pink, red lipstick for instance), so men run businesses, girls wear more neutral, “reassuring” colors, so they appeal more to men. Havind said that, i’m saying that girl necessarily put on make up to please men, i’m just saying it might be how it was thought in the first place.there will always have exeption to the rules (men wanting to change things and all).
anyways, that was my 2 cent
(sorry about my english if it’s messy, it’s not my primary language)
korinsama Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 12:46 pm
edit :
“Having said that, i’m not saying”
I think it’s hilarious you are being labeled as sexist for noting that the corporate cosmetics industry is itself sexist.
Apparently these folks think that it is part of a natural order that this industry is male-dominated, and for you to imply that it (as a whole) patronizes and excludes women is just horribly offensive – especially to men!
Stephanie Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 12:56 pm
I totally agree with you Mark, I find it absolutely ridiculous, it seems like most of the readers didn’t even really understand what Doe was trying to say. I thought this was a great piece.
Lillian Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 1:08 pm
I wasn’t saying that at all. I simply think it’s sexist to say that men shouldn’t be allowed to run makeup companies because they don’t understand women, just as it would be sexist to say women shouldn’t run them because *for instance) women don’t understand business.
There are many, many makeup companies run by women, i’m not saying they’re any worse than the ones run by men, just that they’re not any better either!
Mark Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 1:45 pm
She wasn’t saying “men shouldn’t run it” as much as “why aren’t more women involved?, these products are (largely) for us” She herself would not enter a field without a direct interest in it. You can argue with this point as I mentioned: Leo Fender never played, but made great guitars. But I think your taking offense and branding her sexist is due to a misunderstanding.
I agree there’s nothing magical about a woman running a business per se, but a marked paucity of women in an industry that caters to women almost exclusively I think you’d admit is just a tad… odd? I would apply that to the fashion industry as well.
All I’m saying is, why is it so hard to find a good silver lipstick?
Zoe Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 12:51 pm
simply because not a lot of people want one.
ps you can get silver from Morgana Minerals and illamasqua
Lillian Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Try Illamasqua, they’ve got a molten silver lipgloss as well as a silver lipstick :)
Putting everything that was insulting in that post aside, your point is still invalid.
Everyone in business is in it to make money. Now the the bigger companies, like Mac, are trying to sell their products to the most people, so that they can get the most money.
If most people wanted crazy, bright colors, than that is what would be sold.
And it is not that hard to find bright colors. You can find them at the drugstore.
No one is trying to keep the ‘magical gay rainbow’ from us. If more people wanted it, then more people would sell it. Simple as that.
Mark Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 6:08 pm
First I have to give you props for attempting to construct a reasoned argument instead of the “I’m SOOOO offended!” demagoguery your cohorts took up – even if you slipped a little of that in at the beginning and the end for giggles.
Second, so what you’re saying is “Makeup companies deem colors outside this ’safe’ range….UNMARKETABLE.” I.e. they think not enough people want it, so they don’t offer it. Where have I seen that?
Third: I’m a big free market believer and I’m often criticized for having what some consider a doctrinaire faith in the allocative abilities of markets. But even I would not assert that firms have perfect information with which to gauge demand. How do they know if you want silver lipstick if they don’t offer it? They have no sales data to guide their decision, the best they can do is look to a collective of small indie brands (like the brands you are conspicuously promoting for example) who are more nimble and less risk averse and try to ride a bottom-up trend if they see it emerge. More likely they will reason “last time we rolled out a blue lippie, it flopped.” and will be reluctant to risk it again. Also the scale of their operations is such that even if they are aware of demand, they won’t satisfy it unless it yields a much larger expected cash flow than the small players require.
It’s beyond glib to say: “if it’s not on the market, no one wants it”. It’s like saying no one wanted an iPhone in 1999, it just wasn’t available. Consumers also do not have perfect info to try unusual products and determine if they like them if they’re not offered. What might be a potential leg-up in determining what women who wear makeup might want? BEING a woman who wears makeup might be a place to start. That was her point, of course that’s a matter of opinion subject to debate. I’m curious why you believe the cosmetics business is so inordinately comprised of non-makeup wearing males? You’re such a big efficient markets advocate you must think it’s because they’re all the best people for the job and there is no boy’s club to speak of in this business. That seems like a bolder statement than anything my wife said. Especially since I have direct experience that controverts that and have seen the sexism first hand.
I’m not saying there is a massive untapped market for crazy shades- only that there could be, your vision of a perfectly efficient market and a “simple as that” bumper sticker notwithstanding.
Alice Reply:
January 22, 2010 at 10:32 pm
No one is saying there’s no boy’s club or that the industry isn’t sexist. What we’re saying is that it’s sexist to imply that a man can’t know what a woman wants, when makeup companies all have marketing departments specifically to find out what kind of makeup people want, and women are on creative teams to give their input. A CEO could nix a bold color, but the creative teams are the ones that suggest a beige instead.
And yes, catering to the majority means the niche market that wants to wear blue lipstick is sometimes underrepresented–but that’s not sexist or some conspiracy, that’s the voice of the majority.
Your iPhone comment is invalid, because blue lipstick has been available, and for at least a decade. If a large percentage of the population wanted to wear blue lipstick, it would be represented by all the major companies by now.
Look, it’s fine to cater to a niche market. The niche needs people to cater to it. However, it’s not sexist or some beige conspiracy to put out neutral products when it’s what make-up wearers buy–and women do buy them or else the company would lose money and wouldn’t keep putting them out.
Mark Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 1:33 am
I believe the iPhone comment is very much valid in so far as which products get marketed, or developed at all, is reliant on forecasting demand. At some point a product is new and is a dark horse. Sure, the marketing team does their homework but there’s no such thing as a guaranteed hit. Big corps make marketing missteps all the time in spite of their best efforts (remember New Coke?). They don’t know for sure what’s a hit until they get the price signal: you and I start buying it.
As I said I’m very pro-market and I tend to agree with you: I tend to think it’s largely market-driven. I’m very heartened in fact to see so many pro-market folks here! But having met some of the men in the biz at trade shows,meetings,and the like there is an undercurrent of sexism and paternalism that I’ve personally noted. Is that what’s limiting the color spectrum? Maybe, Maybe not. Is that why we see fewer women than we might expect in the industry? I think it plays a role. It’s just food for thought.
I think this is a great dialogue that is worth having and shouldn’t be stifled because of sensationalized outrage – not that I’m accusing you of that. :)
Louise Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 6:10 am
I’s good that you give your view on things Mark. But you might want to be a bit more civil in your response. Zoe made a good point, there’s no need to attack her.
Mark Reply:
January 23, 2010 at 9:29 am
Perhaps you’re right. I detected a great deal of snark in her post, but I may have been mistaken…
I get that what you said can be kind of sexist, but I really think that all the people bitching are just using this as an excuse to give more drama. Or, well, it’s just another reason for them to jump on your back and post about you in hate comms. :P
Pfft. Whatever. :P