Matching lips and tips back in style

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There was a time when an outfit wasn’t considered finished unless the shoes matched the handbag, the keyring complemented the wallet.

A fashionable lady aspired to accumulating ”sets”: think of the twinset (with diamond brooch that matched engagement ring). Now being ”too matchy-matchy” is arguably fashion’s biggest faux pas and therefore also a beauty no-no.

I’ve heard suburban mums express fear about doing it when choosing clothes for their preschoolers at Country Road.

I’ve heard top makeup artists lecture against shiny eyes with shiny lips.

The current season of Project Runway has designer judge Michael Kors and executive producer Heidi Klum shaking their heads time and again about contestants’ poor accessorising and colour combinations.

”Too matchy-matchy!” they declare at least once an episode. ”Too old!”

But this month a long established American beauty brand of high standing is challenging this new perceived wisdom. It’s taking the matchy-matchy prohibition head-on.

Revlon was a pioneer in the beauty industry with its matching lip and nail shade statements and it is re-introducing its famous ”lips and tips” pairings with a limited edition Fire & Ice collection.

The original Fire & Ice was released in 1952 with what was to become an iconic advertisement featuring one of the world’s first supermodels, Dorian Leigh (then 36!), shot by Richard Avedon.

The raven-haired Leigh appeared in a tight, silver-beaded dress with an enormous red wrap, one red-taloned hand on hip, the other touching her cheek.

Last November, 50 years later, Revlon re-created the magazine ad with actress Jessica Biel and announced it was issuing the limited edition Fire & Ice lipstick and nail colours, dubbing it “lips and tips”.

Are matching lipstick and nail polish a step too far? Are they too retrograde an option for you?

On-trend brands like Mecca Cosmetica advise and offer ”complementary” shades – even going so far as to suggest a different shade for fingernails and toenails (lighter/darker or softer/brighter).

Could you see yourself – bring your fashionable self – to wear matching lips and nails (fingers and toes)? I can.

I can use Mad Men to justify it to Michael Kors if necessary. I like it. Stuff cutting edge. Bring back ladylike polish.

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