Lipstick what is the reason that women (the old fashioned type) wear it.

[Karensalright]

Just that really

You don't seem to understand Old Crone intellectual history, the power of societal attitudes and conformism.

Supposedly this was a European wide phenomenon arising out of the French Revolution and the Enlightenment. Men wore utilitarian clothes and were practical and useful, women were frivolous adornments and so fashionable.

This remained the ongoing socially acceptable view of the sexes and dressing until the culturally revolutionary 1960s when men shockingly grew their hair long.
This continued until the end of The New Romantics (thank you) and with the 90s and powerful marketing we have regressed. I don't find it strange at all that societally men are beard and mustache-wearing like the Victorians and trying to end women' rights.

You don't seem to understand Old Crone intellectual history, the power of societal attitudes and conformism.

What makes you think that?

Because you said this: if men want to dress flamboyantly they can (and a few do).

There are no advertisements, men's magazines, articles showing men in beautiful colorful clothes and praising it. If a man wore an emerald green velvet suit with long hair and heeled boots (very 60s) people would stare. Regular men receive the unstated message that this is not the norm.

The 60s did leave us with the omnipresent validation of youth culture so regular men do dye their hair, lie on tanning beds, have plastic surgery, all very discreetly, to look youthful.

I can't tell you why I like it, I went years without wearing any makeup at all, and then I got into it again, it's like an exercise in art that I can take off and try again the next day. Or not. I don't feel pressured into wearing makeup. It does make me feel different when I wear it. Sometimes I forego lipstick but focus on foundation or base or just primer and powder.

Makeup must be seen as essentially female because men who drag up use it in an exaggerated way

The old fashioned type? What is that all about OP?

Absolutely. This is the historical reason. So mainly worn be prostitutes. Then later by loads of women who wanted to appease men. Then later still (now) by women who pretend to believe that they do it to feel happy themselves. And pretend not to know the historical reason.

It’s sad that expectations of women are so ingrained we cannot differentiate choice from conditioning.
Nobody has a face that looks washed out or wrong without make up. Your face is just how it should be.

I never wear lipstick. I'd rather spend the money on a book* or a cake.

*Ideally one by JK Rowling

You've read rather a lot into that single sentence.

You haven't said anything that contradicts my statement that if men want to dress flamboyantly they can (and a few do).

If a man wore an emerald green velvet suit with long hair and heeled boots (very 60s) people would stare.

That doesn't mean that they couldn't wear such clothes, and some men might like the attention.

Most people conform to the social norms of their time/place. Obviously. Most people don't want to be stared at. Obviously.

My comparison was to different times or places in which people could face real penalties such as being arrested for not conforming. This was in response to another poster suggesting that what people wear now is all due to one person who lived 200 years ago. Times change.

To suggest that my comment indicates that I don't understand "intellectual history, the power of societal attitudes and conformism" is absurd.

@Neverpostagain

Then later still (now) by women who pretend to believe that they do it to feel happy themselves

Please clarify what you are saying, you're saying that women do not wear lipstick just for themselves? They wear it to please men and just pretend it's to make themselves happy? Is that correct?