That “red lip classic thing” has become synonymous with Taylor Swift over the years, but that wasn’t always the case. Every iconic feature has to have an origin, and we finally know the story of this one!

In the earliest era of her career, Swift tended to favor a nude lip and smokey eye, rarely experimenting in more adventurous makeup territory, but these things changed when she met Gucci Westman, the founder of clean beauty brand Westman Atelier.

The makeup artist sat down recently with Elle Australia, where she reflected on her work with the megastar. Though she hasn’t done Swift’s makeup in a number of years, Westman recalls their past experiences all too well, including the fact that she was the first one to ever put red on her lips, all the way back in 2009 for her cover of Allure.

But it was no easy feat, as Westman had to jump through a few hoops for approval.

“She’d never worn a red lip,” Westman said, and she’d been told by Swift’s team that “Taylor doesn’t do red.”

She pushed for it, though, telling them, “Well, Taylor needs to try red,” before seeking permission from Swift’s mother, Andrea.

Ultimately, Swift loved the color so much that Westman gave her a tube of it to keep, though these days she can’t remember exactly what color it was.

If you’re looking to recreate the signature look for yourself, Mac’s Ruby Woo and Nars’ Dragon Girl are excellent go-to’s. Westman also recommends “a combination of Brick and Tomato from Lip Suede in Les Rouges,” from her own collection. Trust us, there’s no way you won’t fall into a love spiral with these shades.

Src: parade.com