News feed
Women to the front, in red lipstick.
In 1912, when Elizabeth Arden marched down Fifth Avenue handing out little wands of red lipstick to fighting suffragettes, it was momentous – for both women and beauty. Marching through New York, lips lacquered in red paint, they were fearless, trailblazing and burning for change, and most importantly, a voice. Red lipstick soon became a symbol of solidarity, a symbol of the women’s movement, a symbol which has remained a conduit of female power to this day. And it has never been more important.
In this new chapter of gender inequality, we stand side-by-side, and today, on International Women’s Day, we stand with Elizabeth Arden and another strong woman, Reese Witherspoon. Enter the March On campaign – a campaign which honours Arden’s legacy to female force, and features a limited edition lipstick in the brand’s signature Red Door Red shade, signed by Reese Witherspoon. The lipstick – in that iconic fire-engine red – is more than just a little bullet of lip colour; it has a backbone, with 100% of the proceeds donated to UN Women – an UN organisation dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The program, in partnership with Witherspoon – the brand’s Storyteller-in-Chief and female advocate – is designed to celebrate women’s achievements, encourage women to support other women and includes a pledge to donate $1 million to UN Women in support of their work to advance women’s issues worldwide. The limited edition March On red lipstick serves as a powerful symbol of unity and advocacy and invites women around the world, to signal their support for one another.
“There is real strength and camaraderie in March On and the feeling that we are in this together. By bringing UN Women, Elizabeth Arden and women everywhere together we can help change women’s lives around the world for the better,” explains Witherspoon. “I have the unique privilege to not only tell these women’s stories through my production company as well as my relationship with Elizabeth Arden, but I also get to encourage them to share their own stories through March On.”
Whilst red lipstick is no longer a taboo social practise, it will forever be a badge of female empowerment to be worn with pride, temerity and confidence. Locally, Arden is celebrating Australian women who are successful in their own industry and passionate about women’s rights with a campaign featuring stars like Anna Heinrich, Fiona Falkiner, Justine Schofield, Erika Heynatz and Julie Stevanja. All wearing that iconic red, the entire shoot was produced by an all-female team – from photographer to stylist – testament to the power of women.
Now March On with strength, softness and red lipstick.
HOW YOU CAN JOIN THE MOVEMENT?
To mark International Women’s Day (or anytime during March) Elizabeth Arden would love to see you share your support on social – this could be wearing a red lip, or a shot of the product – whatever you desire.
