I Know You're Elegant If You Wear These 5 Classy Lipstick Colours—and Top MUAs Agree

When I think of elegant and classy makeup, I always envisage lipstick as part of the look. Take a glance at any red carpet makeup looks and you'll often see celebrities wearing it, from luxurious red lipstick shades to understated browns and neutrals.
And it's hardly surprising. After all, lipstick has the power to instantly elevate your look, whether you're going full glam for evening or are wanting to look more polished for day. Even French women are known for wearing zero makeup except a bright red lipstick blotted onto the lips—this is one makeup product that is seriously versatile.
It had me thinking: What are the most elegant lipstick colours that you can wear? There are so many lipstick shades to choose from out there, but I want to know the ones that will never fail to make you look polished, classy and timeless. I spoke to Chanel makeup artist, Anna Payne, who shared the celebrity-loved shades that you'll want to emulate immediately. Scroll ahead for all the inspiration you could need, as well as the best lipsticks to try.
5 Elegant Lipstick Colours to Try
1. Classic Red
We can't not talk about a classic red lip when it comes to elegant lipstick colours. A traditional pillar box red lipstick is timeless for a reason, and there is a shade to suit everyone. "This is a timeless, bold red that exudes sophistication and confidence," says Payne.
Matte shades give petal-like finish while being long-wearing than glossier varieties, whereas satin finishes will give a subtle shine and hydration as you wear it.
Shop Red Lipsticks
2. Berry Wine
If you want a little more drama to your pout, then a deep berry or wine hue is always a sophisticated hue, which brings a moodier vibe compared to classic red lipstick. It makes a great colour for the evening or autumn and winter month. "A deep, rich berry lipstick is an elegant colour that brings warmth and depth and is ideal for evening wear," says Payne.
This type of shade is really pretty as a lip stain (bonus: it won't transfer onto your teeth) or as a liquid lipstick in a matte finish for high-colour payoff.
Shop Berry Lipsticks
The liquid formula makes this a particularly long-lasting lipstick, which dries down to a petal soft finish. The Cerise Désir is exceptionally beautiful.
This genius lip stain applies blue (stay with me) but rubs off to reveal a beautiful berry stain that lasts all day. Read our review of the Wonderskin lip stain here.
3. Mauve
"A soft, muted mauve adds a subtle touch of colour while remaining understated and elegant," says Payne. Think of it as a neutral lipstick colour with a hint of cool-toned pinky-purple, which makes it look luxurious yet not overly 'there' if you don't want to look too done or go down the red lipstick route. You could go all in with a lipstick all over, or use a lip liner to concentrate the hue around the edges before blurring and pairing with a lighter toned lipstick to add definition.
Shop Mauve Lipsticks
4. Neutrals
When in doubt, a soft neutral shade is always a classy choice. Payne recommends looking for warm-toned browns and beiges. "A soft neutral with a hint of warmth offers a polished, effortless finish," she says. Those with fairer skin tones can opt for luxurious beiges, whilst those with medium and deep skin tones look great with deep brown and suede tones.
Shop Neutral Lipsticks
5. Dusty Rose
"A delicate pink with grey undertones is perfect elegant lipstick colour for a refined, natural look," says Payne, and we have to agree. A soft, muted pink is a great way to add a touch of definition to your lips without going OTT, which also makes it a great lipstick colour to wear if you're doing a stronger eye look like a smokey eye to create balance.
Shop Dusty Rose Lipsticks

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman Home and junior beauty editor at Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections.With a degree in fashion journalism from the London College of Fashion, she has 10 years of industry experience and has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is providing readers with honest and helpful beauty content. She has interviewed celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson.
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