Lip Shtick

Interviews · May 2, 2007

Poppy King makes heads turn from Melbourne to Manhattan thanks to her uncharacteristically cool twist on the tube. Known as the “Queen of the lipstick scene,” this Aussie-born entrepreneur launched one of the first indie beauty brands on the market back in ‘92 when she was barely out of high school. Fast-forward twelve years: cosmetics giant Prescriptives came calling with an unbelievable job offer, so King closed-up shop and moved to their NYC headquarters to fulfill the roll of Creative Director. But those solo-preneur pangs refused to subside and eventually, King left the corporate world to launch “Lipstick Queen” - a coveted 20-piece collection of sultry red, burgundy and barely-there sheers (Saints) and bolder, movie-starlet-inspired mattes (Sinners). As if that’s not enough to make you smile, King just added “Oxymoron” to the mix - 4 subtle shades of must-have matte gloss, packaged into chic, clear cases that work wonders for lips and cheeks.

After barely four months since debuting the line exclusively at Barney’s New York and select grass-roots retailers, King is once again making a comeback. Known for her signature fire engine red smackers, edgy downtown style and spunky demeanor, FashionJunkie (FJ) dished with the makeup maven herself about life, leopard-prints, and of course… lipstick!

FJ: Now that you’ve left the corporate world behind to create Lipstick Queen, how do you feel?

PK: Like myself again! The corporate world was interesting and I learned a lot but it wasn’t my natural habitat.

FJ: What are the major hurdles you’ve encountered since launching your business?

PK: Catching up to the momentum!! Since launching there has been so much buzz… I had to speed up from behind the scenes.

FJ: What are you doing to differentiate yourself from the competition? There are so many indie brands out there…. what’s the secret to your success?

PK: That I do just one thing….lips! Everything to do with making the lips look as glam and amazing as possible. Because I am only obsessed with one category the attention to detail is unsurpassed!

FJ: When did you first develop your obsession for lipstick… and why red?

PK: You could say that I have “arrested development” because my obsession with red lipstick started when I was about five or six and playing dress up with my mums lipstick. I thought red lipstick was the height of glamour and still do!

FJ: Is Poppy your real name? It must have made a major impact on who you are today.

PK: It is my real name. I went through a pre-teen phase of hating and wishing I could be called Debbie or Sandy (from Grease) but like many things…I came to terms with it as I got older. It has had a lot of impact on my aesthetic… that is I love art nouveau, the color red and other things associated with the Poppy flower.

FJ: As a bonafide beauty junkie, I’ve been a loyal fan of your lipsticks and glosses since you launched your first line, Poppy, back in 1992.  How does your new brand, “Lipstick Queen” differ from the original formula?

PK: Well…thank you! Lipstick Queen formula is pigment packed but nowhere near as chalky. When I first launched in ’92, technology and production of lipsticks was very different. Now you can get pigments that are not in powder form and therefore less drying.

FJ: What was your inspiration behind the “Saints” vs. “Sinners” theme… it’s brilliant!

PK: A Rolling Stones song Sympathy for the Devil, which has a line in it “just as every cop is a criminal and all the sinners saints.” I love the duality of saint and sinner. They’re opposite, yet also subjective.

FJ: I have to ask… are you a Saint or a Sinner?

PK: Like most of us, a combination although I try to stay as much as possible on my better side.

FJ: I adore the personalization you’ve put into this brand – from the website design and content to the retro packaging. How long did it take you to come up with these ideas… and did anyone help you develop the concepts?

PK: It takes me a while of sitting with some thoughts and then bang - the direction becomes clear. Usually it is about 3 weeks of pondering before I know exactly where I am going with something. I come up with everything by myself and then I enlist the help of my wonderful designer who distills all my crazy thoughts into what you see.

FJ: Do you plan on expanding the Lipstick Queen line and if so, what will it consist of?

PK: Yes I am expanding and it will consist of one thing and one thing only…..lip products by way of glosses, treatments, shades, pencils and everything to do with the lips!! So stay tuned.

FJ: What’s the biggest faux pas you’ve noticed when people wear red lipstick and how can they be avoided?

PK: Too much eye make up with red lipstick is a faux pas. It makes you look overdone so to avoid it, wear the least amount of eye make up (particularly eye shadow) when wearing red lipstick.

FJ: Is there a universal shade of lipstick that flatters everyone? Which one would you recommend from your collection?

PK: Pinky brown tones are the safest choice because they are really just an extension of your natural lip color but intensified. Saint Natural in my line suits absolutely everyone!!

FJ: What’s your favorite place to shop for clothing and cosmetics in New York?

PK: Flea Markets!!! I love shopping for vintage cosmetics (not to use but to display and admire) and vintage clothes. One of my fave flea markets is called the Annex and is on 26th street between 6th and 7th Avenue (I think!)

FJ: What’s your favorite international shopping spot?

PK: The flea markets in Paris at Porte da Clingnancourt (I am a real vintage freak!!)

FJ: What fashion and beauty items are on your “It-List” for spring/summer ‘07?

PK: Everything at the store Lyell in New York! I just love the clothes there. I also have a hankering for a really traditional Burberry trench this Spring. As for beauty….all I need is my lipsticks!

FJ: What’s the biggest fashion faux pas you’ve ever made and how old were you?

PK: When I was 13 and went on my first date. I wore stirrup pants, a paisley shirt, an oversize electric blue ribbed sweater and pointy shoes. It was the 80’s so it the entire era was a fashion faux pas of sorts.

FJ: Biggest beauty blunder?

PK: When I was about 15 trying to get into nightclubs I used to wear eye shadow all the way from my lashes right up to my brows. I thought that was how you do it.

FJ: What motivates you to get out of bed every morning?

PK: New York City!!

FJ: What keeps you up at night?

PK: New York City (ha ha!!)

FJ: What do you do during your downtime?

PK: Knit!!! I adore knitting. I am a granny at heart.

FJ: Can you tell us more about your upcoming book, “Lessons of a Lipstick Queen”?

PK: It is a guide to taking an idea right through from a thought to a reality and how you do that. It also has plenty of personal anecdotes about my experiences.

FJ: What’s your advice for someone who wants to become a “solo-preneur” like yourself and break into the beauty biz?

PK: Make sure you have something genuine to say or add to the beauty biz. Contrary to popular belief, beauty consumers know the difference.

FJ: What do you think about the proliferation of fashion and beauty blogs? Which reminds me… when is your blog launching?

PK: I encourage every form of freedom of expression and blogging is a great medium for that. My blog should be up and running later in the year… for the two people (my mum and grandpa who would like to read it!!)

FJ: What’s next for Poppy King?

PK: The same that has been on my agenda since I was 18… bringing ideas in lip products to life!

Lipstick Queen retails for $18 a tube and can be purchased online at Barneys. Visit Lipstick Queen for additional retailers that carry the line.