Matching your nails to your outfit isn’t revolutionary - but Duchess Sophie’s birthday nails prove it’s so sophisticated
Duchess Sophie's nails were a deep chocolate-burgundy shade in her birthday portrait and they tied in with her outfit perfectly


Duchess Sophie’s birthday nails prove why we should never underestimate the power of coordinating our polish to our outfit.
Gone are the days when the Royal Family used to only be seen wearing pale pink or beige nail polishes and Duchess Sophie has been embracing different tones. No matter the outfit, she knows exactly what shade will enhance it and her nail polishes always work effortlessly with her clothes. All-too-often we forget how much of an impact our nails can have on our overall look and in the Duchess’s official 60th birthday portraits we saw her go for a dark polish that coordinated with her clothes.
Taken by the brilliant Christina Ebenezer at Bagshot Park where Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward live, the second photo gives us a glimpse at the senior royal wearing a deep brown-red colour on her nails. She tends to keep them short, which is not only practical but ties into the current trend for short winter nails.
A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)
A photo posted by on
Shop Polishes Like Duchess Sophie's
Not only is burgundy nail polish a sophisticated hue that's surprisingly versatile, but it's also very on-trend. Wear with confidence with your go-to neutral or jewel-toned outfits and put your own twist on Duchess Sophie's birthday nails.
As much as we love a long manicure, shorter nails are so easy and are great if you want to prioritise nail health and focus on styles with a smaller risk of breakage. Darker colours look especially classy and elegant on shorter nails and a brown-red tone like Duchess Sophie’s birthday nails couldn’t be more perfect for January.
The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a tan-coloured roll neck jumper in her second birthday portrait, paired with green wide-leg trousers and a longline coat. Sadly, we can’t see too much of her boots in the celebratory snaps but it looks like they are a reddish brown.
Whatever the exact shade of her nails, the warm undertones work so beautifully with the colours of both her knitwear and her shoes. The brown-burgundy polish adds a subtle amount of contrast whilst still being quite neutral and so is a brilliant colour choice if you want your manicure to work seamlessly with a variety of different staple outfits.
She appeared to have the same nail polish on when she visited The Company Shop - Community Hub on 15th January. On this occasion she wore a dark purple jumper which coordinated sensationally with her nails.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Shop More of Duchess Sophie's Favourite Colours
Grey-taupe might sound like a boring nail colour to choose, but Duchess Sophie has shown how understated and beautiful it can be. It's also neutral, meaning you can easily wear a tone like this Nails Inc polish with so many of your favourite outfits.
In the spring and summer months there's no colour Duchess Sophie loves more than pink and she often matches her nails to her clothes. This Infinite Shine polish from O.P.I is great for giving a similar colour and is designed to be long-wearing, with a gel-like finish.
If you want to add a fun pop of colour to an outfit no matter the time of year then your nail polish is such a simple way to do it and the Duchess of Edinburgh enjoys wearing coral tones too. This Essie polish is affordable and easy to apply with your chosen base coat and top coat.
Picking a nail polish that ties in tonally with your outfit is such a simple way to elevate a look and make it feel more put-together. Although even the Duchess of Edinburgh doesn't do this all the time, when she does, it is noticeable, as woman&home’s Digital Beauty Writer Naomi Jamieson explains.
"Like with a pair of earrings or a watch, our nails can be a small but mighty detail when it comes to elevating an outfit. A point Duchess Sophie can attest to, as she often coordinates her manicure to an element of her look - be it matching the most predominant shade exactly or just the overall colour palette,” she says.
Naomi adds, “Her 60th birthday nails are a prime example of this stylish trick at play, as she opted for a dark brown nail colour to complement both her blackberry-purple turtleneck and the more earthy tones of her green trousers and brown top pairing. In doing so, it creates a sense of cohesion and timelessness, whilst remaining very subtle.”
In the past we’ve also seen the Duchess of Edinburgh wearing dove grey polish to tie in with her grey trousers suit, or opting for a fun candy pink to match a floral dress. Whilst it can be tempting to go for a simple French Manicure for versatility, if you select a shade that works with plenty of your wardrobe staples, your polish can really enhance your outfits and might even become your new favourite January nail design.
Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. She specialises in the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the latest royal outing or unmissable show to add to your to-watch list, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!
-
Missed out the first time around? Fashion editor favourite A.W.A.K.E. Mode is back with another John Lewis collection
Shop this collection online & in-store now
By Molly Smith Published
-
Maxi skirts are the new midi dresses and Queen Mary’s floral design is utterly eye-catching
Queen Mary’s floral skirt has convinced us that maxi skirts are a brilliant alternative to midi dresses for spring and summer.
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Maxi skirts are the new midi dresses and Queen Mary’s floral design is utterly eye-catching
Queen Mary’s floral skirt has convinced us that maxi skirts are a brilliant alternative to midi dresses for spring and summer.
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Should Adolescence be shown in schools? Yes, but 'parents need to get involved', expert says
Parenting expert Tanith Carey believes Adolescence being shown in schools is a good thing - but parents should have their say too
By Lucy Wigley Published
-
Zara Tindall's clever heel trick is an affordable wedding season saviour
Wearing high heels isn’t for the faint hearted but Zara Tindall’s clever trick is an inexpensive way to make wedding season that bit easier.
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
These high street espadrilles will add some Kate Middleton-inspired glam to your spring wardrobe
Versatile and easy to wear on repeat.
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Kate Middleton and Duchess Sophie prove that buying items you love in multiple colours can really pay off
They've shown that having your favourite pieces in several shades can be so handy if they're true to your signature style
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
'I forgive the children who took Brianna's life' - Esther Ghey's remarkable empathy is an example to us all
In the wake of her daughter's murder, Esther Ghey offers extraordinary forgiveness and calls for change
By Lucy Wigley Published
-
Duchess Sophie means business in powder blue power suit and reminds us tailoring can be fun as well as sophisticated
If you always thought tailoring was a little too corporate you might re-consider after seeing Duchess Sophie's fabulous pastel co-ord
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Queen Letizia's trending pinstripe co-ord and lavender blouse shows us how tailoring and pastels should be styled
The Queen of Spain wore a structured suit with a flowing pussybow shirt and we're feeling inspired by the combination
By Emma Shacklock Published