Chances are you’re still in dark winter manicure mode, as most of us are until spring, when we’re naturally drawn to lighter shades again. So if lilac nail polish seems like a surprising trend, we get it: It’s only February, but that hasn’t stopped Jennifer Lopez and Selena Gomez’s go-to manicurist, Tom Bachik, from declaring that “purple is the new black.”
Bachik isn’t talking about a deep shade of indigo or vampy dark purple,. He’s talking soft lilac, a shade typically reserved for the warmer months. But what is life without a little (beauty) rule-breaking on occasion? It’s how some of the most interesting looks come about, and if anyone knows how to instigate a trend, it’s Bachik—who is responsible for some of the most iconic manicures we’ve seen on Gomez, Lopez, and just about every A-lister.
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A video of Gomez at the premiere of Lola (her friend Nicola Peltz Beckham’s directorial debut), captured her powdery purple nails, which were particularly visible set against her silky white corset and black suit. Bachik used the “Promises” shade from Apres Nail’s Strawberry Milk Chocolate palette to achieve the look. Yes, a palette: While most of us are used to polishes stored in little glass bottles, this innovative nail “palette” houses 16 different gel formulas, which stay put because they have a thicker formulation. Cool, right?
But back to the color. Super flattering on every skin tone, lilac nail polish may be an unexpected shade for winter, but it surprisingly complements most looks. The trick is to avoid pairing it with an outfit that’s overly girly or candy colored—think grown-up and cool, rather than twee and sweet.
Here are some of our favorite lilac polishes to try at home, including a shimmery option if you prefer a little extra shine.
This story originally appeared on British Vogue.