Lipstick Bandits Fall Favorites: Gloss d'Armani Plum #604

Since announcing that we were, ahem, out to take over the world, we decided total domination might be a little too jarring for you, so... baby steps! Us bandits are taking over your lips this Fall (or is it winter already?) with some of our favorite lip colors. At this point of writing, I don't know what my fellow bandits have in store but I'm already clutching my pursestrings in fear (if my purse had strings or if I had a purse. My wallet is gigantic). I envision ten new lipsticks in my near future!

I approached this assignment with an ultimatum: If I had to choose only one lipstick this fall, what would I wear? I rummaged through my stash and visited counters and online shopped, and while I bought new glosses and eyeshadows galore I didn't end up with a satisfying lipstick.

I did, however, end up with one lipgloss that I would wear for the entirety of fall, and though I suffer Rae's admonishment (after all, we're supposed to be Lipstick Bandits), I couldn't resist. This gloss and a backup is going with me to whatever desert island she banishes me to!

The lipgloss in question is Gloss d'Armani Plum #604 from the Giorgio Armani Holiday 2011 Collection. I wore it for three days this week. Three days! Please tell me you understand the significance of that statement!

L-R: Gloss d'Armani Plum #604, Eyes To Kill Intense #19

This gloss came to my attention weeks before, when photos of the Armani Holiday collection was making its way through the blogs. I spotted a photo of the gloss and all but frothed in my mouth. Such a different color! I must have it.

Fast forward about a week ago, I purchased my Armani goodies through the phone with the fantastic Kathy Shoreman, whose customer service is legendary in the beauty blogging circuit. The woman has a Twitter account filled with up to date announcements and sneak peeks of new products as soon as they arrive! Anyway, I saw her twitpic of this gloss and called her up to ask about it. Her description was spot on (the words she used were blue grape, if memory serves me) and made me even more excited about it, but honestly I would have ordered this on principle alone. I can't resist a unique item.

While the grape-y goodness might look intimidatingly purple on my hand swatch, the gloss itself is sheer, so it takes on the wearer's lip color. My lips are naturally very pink, so on me the purple pulls pink. Another thing you should know is the Gloss d'Armani formula is such a dream! It is lightweight but lasts up to six hours on me. Do note that the gloss does become slightly tacky as you wear it throughout the day. It doesn't feel sticky icky (I'm sorry. I couldn't resist), but it's there when you smack your lips together.

Gloss d'Armani Plum #604 retails for $28 and should be available at major department stores as well as giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com. Unfortunately, they seem to be really slow in updating their website with new collections, so my best advice is to give Kathy Shoreman of Neiman Marcus Tyson's Galleria a call at 571-533-4972. Tell her I sent you!

Before you pick up that phone, you hasty person you, first browse through these delectable temptations from my fellow Lipstick Bandits and save yourself the repeat calls:

• Tracy at Beauty Reflections
• Danielle at Bloomin' Beauty Blog
• Dani at Call It Beauty
• Larie at Eye Heart It
• Arianne at Glitter Geek
• Makeup Morsels
• Jen at My Funny Valentine
• Paris at My Women Stuff
• Rocaille at Rocaille Writes
• Rae at theNotice: a beauty blog