Picking a lipstick color

[Pie]

I wasn't allowed to wear makeup when I was in highschool. In college, I never had the time. As a young engineer, nobody wore makeup...

So I never learned. I wear chapstick on most days. Sometimes, I break out the Burt's Bees. But I never figured out how to pick a good lipstick color. Occasionally, I'll go out and buy something, but I invariably end up hating it. Too orange. Too purple. Too red. Too blah.

So to all the beauties out there, how do you go about picking a color that'll work with your coloration, style and clothing? I have medium-brown skin, slightly more towards the yellow than the red. Black hair (with a few greys!) I usually wear solids, not patterns, in deeper colors.

Then, how do you apply it? Keep it from becoming all pucker-y? How do you keep it from disappearing as soon as you have your first sip or bite of food? And what can you do to mask that gawdawful 'lipstick' smell?

I know, I'm pathetic.