Lip Shapes Over the Last Century (1948–2012)

The aim of this study was to analyze lip shapes as represented in the British edition of Vogue over the last century (1916-2015). Photographs containing distinguishable lips were selected from a book entitled Vogue 100: A Century of Style. A total of 98 frontal pictures (20 males, 78 females) in which the lips and mouth were identifiable were included and analyzed in terms of 4 lip-related ratios (lip thickness-to-width ratio [LTW]; upper-to-lower vermillion ratio [ULR]; upper vermillion thickness-to-upper lip height ratio [VUL]; and lip-to-nose width ratio [LNW]). The LTW was 0.39 ± 0.07, and did not vary significantly over time (P = 0.261 [linear regression analysis]). The LTW of women (0.41 ± 0.07) was significantly greater than that of men (0.34 ± 0.05) (P < 0.001 [independent 2-samples t-test]). The ULR was 0.74 ± 0.16, and did not vary significantly over time (P = 0.647). There was no significant difference in the ULR between men (0.75 ± 0.10) and women (0.74 ± 0.17) (P = 0.769). The VUL was 0.43 ± 0.09, and did not vary significantly over time (P = 0.550). The VUL of women (0.44 ± 0.09) was significantly greater than that of men (0.37 ± 0.06) (P = 0.001). The LNW was 1.49 ± 0.19, and did not vary significantly over time (P = 0.619). There was no significant difference in the LNW between men (1.43 ± 0.16) and women (1.51 ± 0.19) (P = 0.082). The results of this study may be useful for planning facial rejuvenation operations, as well as for clinical practitioners dealing with brow esthetics or lip tattooing.