images: Istock, Revlon and Anna Sui
Article by BR Nat
Back in 1952 Dorian Leigh modelled for Revlon's Fire and Ice campaign. The tag line was "For you who love to flirt with fire...who dare to skate on thin ice". And so began the trend for matching lips and tips.
The trend oozed sex appeal and cosmetics companies followed Revlon's lead and bought out complimenting shades. Soon any 50s fashionista worth her powder puff was matching her lips and nails.
Like a lot of trends, what started as a statement became mainstream. And when mainstream became synonimis with boring people began to rebel.
By the early 80s only the prim and proper would always coordinate her lips and her nails, but for the fashion-foward the trend fell out of favour.
The trend for matching nails and lips may have ebbed and flowed but it is a trend that for 'occassions' never really goes away and for 'everyday' wear sees a revival every few years.
Perfectly Matched Tips and Lips.
Pale pink nail polish and lipstick will subtly turn you in to a demure lady - perfect for a wedding or an afternoon date.
Matching bright and bold colours will pack a power punch and are a great way to add a splash of colour to your LBD.
Brands are once again selling perfect matches. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) sell Lip Tar and Nail Lacquer sets and Anna Sui not only sells shades of lipstick and nail polish that compliment each other, they also win the prize for creating cosmetic packaging that makes Boudoir-Gothic just so darn cute.
And, in case you were wondering - it is still possible to buy the Revlon Fire and Ice Lipstick and Nail Polish!
Match your lip OR nails.
If you're struggling with the perfect hand and mouth match why not try keeping one neutral and matching the other to your outfit. Maybe team your pink outfit with a pink lip and a simple French manicure.
You could even try complimenting your eyes and your nails. Match your classic smokey eye with a deep gun metal grey nail polish and keep your lips muted with the perfect nude.
Whatever the match...
Always choose shades that work for your skin tone - don't try to force a red lipstick to match your nails if it's the wrong shade of red for your face. If you have fair skin you'll find matching nudes, pinks, sheers and pastels easiest. If you've got a medium or olive skintone, try playing with lacquers and lipsticks in shades of gold, orange or red. Avoid blue tones. For dark skin you can make a gorgeous statement with deep shades of wine, chocolate and berries.
I really struggling with nail polish selection as I like to be quite colour coordinated, so anything other than neutral colours will eventually clash with an outfit I want to wear.