Red Lipstick Held a Different Significance
In ancient Greece, red lipstick, often made from red pigments and, intriguingly, crocodile excrement, was reserved for a specific category of women. Only escorts were legally permitted to wear this shade. Eventually, this hue became closely associated with the world of the sex trade.
According to Greek law, any woman who was not an escort could face penalties for wearing red lipstick in public, as it was deemed indecent. Conversely, sex workers could be arrested for not donning their designated shade for the profession.
