They go together like maribou and satin. Like leather and motorbikes. Like Wintour and Coddington. They are greater than the sum of their parts. A two-part graphic subversion of how a face is supposed to look. 

Yes, sunglasses and a corresponding stamp of lipstick are the perfect marriage of beauty and fashion; facial affectations with a force field of power. Under a set of cat's-eye sunglasses and a red velveteen lip, the wearer instantly becomes the female version of James Dean: utterly timeless, devil-may-care cool. Generously, this unison defies trends too, they are a timeless addition to a face, instantly heightening the bold appeal of a simple white dress and can turn overalls into a deftly chic Sunday look. 

Madonna has always know the power of a killer pair of sunglasses and a bit of lipstick, as has Sharon Stone and Dita Von Teese - ludicrously famous women who have managed to retain an air of mystique about themselves. Coincidence? Probably not. Deliberately dressing your face in two accessories at once isn't a tool in every woman's armoury, some hate it, some fear it. But it should be.

Of course, there are conflicting views when it comes to styling and application; should sunglasses ever be worn into the night? Should you consider - however remotely - your face shape in purchasing a fabulous new pair? Should the lipstick match the shade, style or era of the sunglasses in question?

None of this matters of course. Only that they make everyone - bar none - look better.

Click the gallery above for the most astounding and adept at the art of the sunglasses and lipstick coalescence.