Part-time Telluride local and worldwide brand: Bobbi Brown
Presented by the Telluride Tourism Board and Telluride Inside…and Out
Revolutions make headlines and history. They topple monarchs and influence the future. This one changed an industry.
In 1980, a determined young woman armed only with a degree in theatrical makeup from Emerson College headed for the Big Apple to work as a professional make-up artist. One year later, entrepreneur/philanthropist/part-time Telluride local Bobbi Brown scored her first editorial shoot with Glamour magazine. In 1987, she teamed up with renowned fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier and supermodel Naomi Campbell for her first Vogue cover. In 1990, working with a chemist, Bobbi created 10 super wearable lipstick colors, Salmon, Beige, Raisin, Brown, Rose, Pink, Orange, Blackberry, Burnt Red and Red. When her lipsticks debuted at Bergdorf Goodman, Bobbi expected to sell 100 in the first month. She sold 100 on the first day. Next up Bobbi introduced her unique yellow-toned shades of foundation. With the lipsticks and the foundation, the face of the beauty industry changed forever: inspiration replaced aspiration: the new paradigm emphasized enhanced self confidence rather than trying to look like or be like someone we are not.
To learn more about Bobbi, her life and work and why she loves Telluride, click the play button and listen to her interview.
The desire to be beautiful is as old as the hills. A study by one American scientist registered the mating preferences of more than 10,000 people across 37 countries. A woman’s physical attractiveness ranked at the top or near the top of virtually every man’s wish list. If good looks are a woman’s most fungible asset, we can’t be too surprised by the extremes women have gone to over centuries to achieve that Holy Grail. Swallowing arsenic, dabbing bat’s blood, removing freckles with the warm urine of young boys, removing ribs are on a short list of beauty tips dating back to the Middle Ages. Life is much simpler at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, where it is all about products that are super-wearable, easy to apply and highlight our God-given gifts.
Doris Day was pretty and pert. Garbo was a femme fatale. What differentiates true beauty from mere prettiness, however, 
comes from within. No matter who you are, even those not blessed with the extravagant loveliness of Hollywood stars and models, a certain aloofness, an aura of mystery, a regal posture, a self-assured walk and yes, well-applied makeup tend to enhance natural gifts. In short, beauty will always be part illusion. And a beauty expert like Bobbi is a master illusionist, well versed in the tricks of good grooming, minimizing flaws and maximizing advantages. In the hands of an artist like Bobbi, artifice can trump Mother Nature – although ironically the best results look fairly natural.
Because “natural” is easier said than done, start with a trip to a Bobbi Brown makeup counter for a makeup lesson, never a makeover, because Bobbi is high on education, a cornerstone of self-empowerment. In Telluride, head to Two Skirts, one of our town’s hippest clothing boutiques, where the Bobbi Brown “counter” is housed. There co-owner Kristin Holbrook, a natural beauty, favors the EXTRA line, including EXTRA tinted moisturizer, (spf 25). EXTRA moisturizing balm, EXTRA eye repair cream, lash glamour extreme lengthening mascara, best-selling lipstick colors, concealers and corrector kits for eyes, sheer cheek tints, gel eyeliners, brushes, shimmer brick palettes, rich color lip glosses, lip balm spf 15 and Beach fragrance. Beach fragrance? In the mountains? Really? Guess that’s a bid for having it all.
Now twenty years old, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics is a global brand, having expanded beyond lipstick to a full range of color cosmetics, fragrance and skincare. Today, with a presence in more than 988 doors in 56 countries and 17 free-standing stores, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics is coveted by world-renowned makeup artists, celebrities and style makers who appreciate Bobbi’s unique approach to beauty and her ability to translate the latest trends into wearable, real-life looks. Gilding the lily in Bobbi Brownspeak is the opposite of over-the-top. (Think Norma Desmond or Lady Gaga.)
For years, Bobbi Brown supported the Telluride AIDS Benefit with makeup lessons for Telluride locals and guests. Here’s what she told Telluride Inside… and Out before one such event:
“What sets each one of us apart is a strong personal style. Makeup is part of that style. All it takes to look your best is the right makeup and the know-how to apply it correctly. Women often look better without makeup. I prefer a face that looks like itself to one that is obviously made up. Having said that, less is not necessarily more. I believe in being who you are, not who you were 10 years ago, or who you will never become, but it takes quite a bit of well-applied makeup to look natural. Sometimes more is just right.”
Bobbi knows about “more.” She is the unsinkable, unstoppable Brown, a woman who lives the adage about asking a busy person if you want something done.
In addition to running her company, Bobbi regularly shares her expertise on television, in magazines and newspapers, and online. She is the exclusive beauty editor of NBC’s Today Show and Contributing Beauty and Lifestyle Editor of Health magazine. A sought after lifestyle expert, Bobbi resonates with diverse audiences and has appeared on high profile shows including Oprah, The Martha Stewart Show, and Dr. Oz. Also a New York Times best-selling author, Bobbi has written six instructional and engaging beauty and lifestyle books. She continues to work editorially and is a permanent fixture backstage at New York Fashion Week, having worked with some of the industry’s most influential designers.
Bobbi’s impact extends well beyond the beauty and fashion industries. Committed to empowering women of all ages, Bobbi supports the Jane Addams High School for Academic Careers in Bronx, NY, and Dress for Success by providing generous financial and in-kind support to both on a year-round basis. She currently sits on the boards of Dress for Success and her alma matter Emerson College, where she launched Bobbi Brown University, a series of workshops for aspiring makeup artists. In 2008, she received an honorary doctorate from Montclair State University. Most recently, Bobbi was appointed by President Obama to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, and was invited by Mrs. Obama to participate in the White House’s Leadership & Mentoring Program for young women.
Where does Telluride fit into the picture? Like so many before her, Bobbi Brown came to town to enjoy the snow. She then found a few favorite restaurants, began practicing yoga with Alyssa, skiing with Kim, getting regular massages with Eric. Most of all, she found she could enjoy overdue downtime with her family. Borrowing a page from her own playbook, in Telluride Bobbi gets to be who she is.
And like Bobbi Brown cosmetics, Telluride never goes out of style.
