Ancient China
For VIPs Only
Nail varnish originated in China; some dynasties reserved black and red for royalty.

(Photo: Courtesy of Biba)

1967
Trippy Chic
Moody London boutique Biba makes black nail varnish for its groovy clientele.

1974
Bohemian Crossover
Flouting several conventions in one go, glam kingpin Freddie Mercury wears black varnish, but only on one hand; Marc Bolan, David Bowie, and other rock-star gender benders also polish.

1979
Ominous Glamorous
Bauhaus releases “Bela Lugosi’s Dead,” a throbbing goth anthem; their fans incorporate lots of black everything for both genders.

1996
Comfort Goth
White contacts and black nails: the basis of Marilyn Manson’s safe-for-the-mainstream wardrobe.

1998
The Drugstore Version
Urban Decay releases Perversion, a vinyl black polish with purple highlights named after a Gravity Kills album.

1999
High Fashion, Part I
The models in Gucci ads sport immaculately manicured black nails.

2003
Still Rock and Roll
Despite cropping up on fashion models, black nail polish still says “rebellious rock,” as evidenced by indie band the Deathray Davies’ album, titled Midnight at the Black Nail Polish Factory.

July 2003
A Manly Manicure
Football superstar/dandy David Beckham is photographed for L’Uomo Vogue with black nails.

(Photo: RJ Capak/Wireimage)

2005
Red Carpet Accessory
Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie keep their bad-girl images by mixing black nails with couture outfits.

Summer 2006
High Fashion, Part II
Chanel introduces Black Satin ($18), whose limited-edition status virtually ensures the kind of waiting-list frenzy that greeted its legendary 1994 Vamp.

Related:

• Articles by Doria Santlofer
• Table of Contents: Jul 24, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!