New York Fashion Week might have come to an end, but we’re still gushing over our favorite manicures from the fall 2012 shows. We wanted to round up the highlights, so we came up with the five standouts that have inspired us to test out new designs.
Show: threeASFOUR
The Look: Gorgeous lacey, spider web nails by Color Club that were created to match the laser-cut pieces. Lead manicurist Alicia Torello used a specially made dove gray nail art pen to draw tiny stripes back and forth free-hand over the nail, mimicking the unique, romantic feel of lace.
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As you probably know, the Birchbox editors have been hopping all over Manhattan for NYFW this week, and some of our favorite backstage looks have been all about the nails. We know you’re obsessed with nails too, which is why we’re happy to present this amazing infographic from CND, a.k.a. Creative Nail Design, all about polishes and fashion week. Take a look below to learn some fun facts!
Image: CND
Catch up on all our nyfw coverage here!
Photos: Courtesy of Kérastase
The Show: Monique Lhuillier
The Makeup: Val Garland for M.A.C.
The Hair: Odile Gilbert for Kérastase
The Nails: Wanda Ruiz for CND
The Vibe: Modern glamor. Don’t let lead stylist Odlie Gilbert for Kérastase catch you calling the hair at Monique Lhuillier retro. “It’s anything but,” said Gilbert at yesterday’s show. That’s not to say that the style—slicked back on top and falling into classic waves—doesn’t have “a touch of Hollywood.” Gilbert achieved the look by curling the length of models’ hair with a curling iron and then brushing it out to create a soft wave. To achieve the sleek finish up top, stylists alternated spraying two hairsprays, Double Force for build-able hold and Double Force Controle Ultime for extra-strength hold, on sections and then brushing down.
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The show: Rachel Antonoff
Makeup: Keri Blair for M.A.C. Cosmetics
Hair: Jenny Balding for Cutler Salon
Nails: Candice Manacchio for CND
The vibe: Dreamy moon maiden. Rachel Antonoff is known for her hyper-cute aesthetic, but her latest collection is a foray into more grown-up territory. The nocturnal vibe of her presentation (the setting was a pier at night) translated into the models’ sophisticated eye makeup. Layers of overlapping brown and gold shadows created a multi-dimensional effect that mimicked light reflecting on water. “I wanted to build a transparent look with sheer layers of color,” lead makeup artist Keri Blair explained.
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The show: Wes Gordon
Hair: Bumble and bumble
Makeup: Charlotte Willer for Maybelline
Nails: CND
The Vibe: Strong, defined brows and provocative red lips competed for the spotlight at the Wes Gordon show this afternoon. “We’re going for a youthful, feminine look that reflects the tailored collection,” lead makeup artist Charlotte Willer said. Willer and her crew filled in models’ brows with Maybelline’s Master Shape Brow Pencil and saturated their lips with Very Cherry No. 635. Eyes were left intentionally bare with nary a trace of shadow, liner, or mascara, while the subtly contoured cheeks came courtesy of two different shades of blush: Dream Bouncy Blush in No. 60 and No. 5.
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Operations associate, Loren, has a thing for nails — and we can’t blame her. We love reading about new finishes and fun techniques, so we thought we’d give her a weekly slot on our blog to wax poetic about all things manicure (and pedicure!) related. Check back every week for Nailing It, Birchbox’s dedicated polish series.
Last week while reading All Lacquered Up, I came across a post on a cool new technique that the nail geniuses at CND developed called River Rocks Decals. Given that I love trying new trends, I decided to give this method a go. Surprisingly, even though it looks rather complicated, it’s actually pretty easy. Here’s how you do it:
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The just-opened Nail Bar at the Beverly Wilshire. Photo courtesy of Four Seasons.
I’ve been to Los Angeles plenty of times, but it wasn’t until this last trip that I finally visited The Beverly Wilshire. Considering just how many times I’ve seen Pretty Woman, the field trip seemed long overdue. The hotel, where much of the movie was filmed, is as grand as ever — with a few modern updates. My favorite addition? The brand-new Nail Bar, which opened just last week. The small salon, right off the hotel’s spa, is a far cry from your usual in-and-out mani/pedi spot. From the comfy pedicure chairs (dare you not to fall asleep) to the glassed-in lounge area, it’s glam all the way. Is it any wonder that they stock Chanel’s latest shades? There’s also a huge selection of Butter London polishes, plus on-trend CND Shellac and Essie hues. One guess as to what was playing on the massive flat screen while I was there — yep, Pretty Woman.
—Mollie
Give yourself an at-home mani with our nail essentials.
Left: Jason Wu spring 2011 (photo: style.com); Right: Jason Wu CND collection (photo: CND.com)
We’ve been excited for Jason Wu’s limited edition nail polish collection for CND since it was announced last fall, and now the $47 set is finally available for pre-order. “Every season I play with different ways of using color in my collection, so it was a natural choice to collaborate with CND on a capsule of nail colors that reflects my aesthetics,” says Wu.
Limited quantities are available, so act fast. Orders placed now will ship on May 1. We are most excited about by Veronica, described as a “sexy, beet red” (can sexy and beet go in the same sentence?), and Sophia, which is a lovely mushroom color. That said, Miss Wu, the oh-so-light gray, and Brigitte, a pretty rose, are in contention for the most wearable shades of the season. Particularly intriguing is the top coat, named Anna, which contains silk fragments to create a tweed material-like finish. Not sure how that would look, but given how much we love to experiment with our manis, this is a trend we’re sure to try.
—Meredith
For other spectacular spring polish ideas, visit our Birchbox Shop.
