The entire StyleList team huddled around a desk this morning, excitedly grabbing at the contents of a white box.

No, it wasn't a box of doughnuts (although that would have been nice).

Said box was filled with twelve luxurious lipsticks, Tom Ford's new Private Blend Lip Color collection.

"There is no more dramatic accessory than a perfect lip," says Ford. "It is the focus of the face and has the power to define a woman's whole look."

And Ford's just-launched lipsticks certainly have the power to draw all eyes to your pout. The twelve shades are modernized classics that range from bare nude to cherry red to rich wine.

But it was my bright coral lips that caused all the hullabaloo.

I wore the aptly named True Coral to the office this morning, and, as someone who usually sticks to barely-there nudes, was surprised by all the attention it got me.

First, from my husband, whose sole interest in my constant influx of beauty products lies in preserving space for his mouthwash in the bathroom.

"Is that the Tom Ford lipstick?," he asked, after noting the ginormous Tom Ford bag I was gifted at the launch cocktail party at Ford's New York flagship store last evening, which no doubt caused him to secretly panic that I had bought something there.

"It looks good."
By the time I reached the office, I had forgotten I was wearing lipstick.

The formulas are highly pigmented and deliver a huge color impact, yet have a whisper light feeling on the lips. The brand chalks that up to exotic ingredients like soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter and chamomilla flower oil, which give the lipsticks a creamy texture, while specially treated pigments deliver pure color balanced with luminosity for a polished finish.

I was reminded by my coworker Dana, who, after taking a moment to compliment my lip color, dove into my Tom Ford shopping bag in a feverish search for the shade that would suit her best (she chose Bruised Plum, pictured right).

So far, I'm happy to report that the lipstick has endured a muffin and a cup of coffee without a hitch.

What's rare about this formula is that it delivers admirable pigment in a lightweight finish that feels natural on the lips, and stays put. Usually, highly pigmented shades either dry up the lips or disappear in five minutes, and Ford's formulas seem to be the answer for women who want great color in a soft, easy formula.

At $45 each, Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color is a serious beauty buy, but one that you're likely to wear daily, as opposed to so many others that end up taking up precious bathroom space.

So while my husband may find it expensive, his mouthwash is all for it.