Fashion Alert: North Korea Implements Ban on Red Lipstick

Political life and fashion are strictly regulated in North Korea under Kim Jong Un. The dictatorship just outlawed red lipstick, which was a surprise. North Korea’s leadership considers red lipstick as a symbol of capitalism, despite its Communist past. The ban on red lipstick shows the government’s preference for modesty in a society that discourages excessive makeup as Western.

However, the ban has two purposes. The dictatorship worries that crimson lipstick may make women too appealing, contradicting their modesty. Therefore, ladies can only wear minimal makeup legally. Controlling appearance goes beyond lipstick. The Kim Jong Un dictatorship has outlawed tight jeans, body piercings, and certain hairstyles in recent years.

A few bans appear more personal than ideological. Kim Jong Un doesn’t want to be copied, so black trench coats and his swept-back haircut are banned. The “Gyuchaldae,” or fashion police of North Korea monitor citizens’ appearances to enforce these rules. Those who break the regulations may be fined, humiliated, or have their garments taken. The regime’s stringent execution of these restrictions shows its control over its residents’ life, even their clothing.