Logistics Coordinator, 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 slot on our blog to wax poetic about all things manicure (and pedicure!) related.
Hello, spring! The mood-lifting effects of longer days and warmer weather have put a bounce in everyone’s step here at Birchbox HQ. The skirts are flowing, the shoulders are bare, and the polishes are vibrant—which of course means that our Operations Team (@BirchboxOps), a.k.a. Special Ops, has started rocking the bright mani trend. Here are a few of the springtime lacquer looks that have made a star appearance in the office:
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As much as we love nail art, we’re better at admiring designs than coming up with them ourselves. That’s why we’ve enlisted Anna Norman, the smarty pants behind Glitter, She Wrote, to be a regular contributor. Every Monday, she’ll be sharing her latest lacquer inspiration—you won’t be satisfied with plain ol’ polish again.
Sorbet shades, greens, and pale neutrals are at the top of the list this spring, but if you’re looking for something a little different, you’re in luck. Almost every nail polish line is featuring textured or special-effect lacquers this season, and they are seriously fun. Here are my four top picks.
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As much as we love nail art, we’re better at admiring designs than coming up with them ourselves. That’s why we’ve enlisted Anna Norman, the smarty pants behind Glitter, She Wrote, to be a regular contributor. Every Monday, she’ll be sharing her latest lacquer inspiration—you won’t be satisfied with plain ol’ polish again.
Of all of the current trends in nail polish (holographics, Pantone-approved greens, “liquid sand”), I have to admit: I’m crazy about chrome. These polishes aren’t just ordinary metallic foils. With a glossy, mirror-like finish, a chrome manicure is like coating each nail with liquid silver. Here’s one of my favorite ways to wear the trend for spring in four super-simple steps.
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The 3 Coolest New Nail Trends from Fashion Week
Over the last few fashion weeks, nails have become just as important as the hair and makeup. This past season was no exception and we were delighted by all the bold colors and creative designs that we spied. After taking it all in, we’ve narrowed down all the incredible looks to our top three favorites. Will you be trying any of these trends?
1) Studs: Deborah Lippmann for Kate Spade NY
The bright pink talons at Kate Spade NY perfectly matched the Pop Art-and NYC-inspired fall collection. We’re definitely picking up some metallic pyramids to affix to our nails ASAP. Plus, we can almost guarantee we’ll be seeing more almond-shaped nails on celebrities and trendsetters this fall. In fact, Deborah Lippmann called it the “nail shape of the season.”
2) Oil Slick Motif: Essie for Rebecca Minkoff
These multi-tonal oil slick nails were not only pretty—according to the lead manicurist Michelle Saunders they were so easy to do that one of the models did her own nails. Click through to see how to get the look yourself.
3) Picture Framing: Color Club for Charlotte Ronson
The nails at Charlotte Ronson’s show are always inspiring. Remember last season’s wave nails? This season, nail artist Simcha Whitehill (aka Miss Pop) created picture frame nails that really stood out. Whitehill gave us the deets on creating the look ourselves and having tried it with some success, we feel confident that with a little practice, this style isn’t too hard to do.
—Lorelei
Want to get inspired for spring nail looks? Take a look at our 10 favorite designs from the spring 2013 shows.
Miss Ladyfinger at Milly
For New York Fashion Week Fall 2013, we couldn’t have landed a better nail correspondent (put that title on a business card!). Taryn Multack, the genius behind Miss Ladyfinger, initially started her blog as a way to translate fashion trends to manicures. Since those early days, she’s partnered with top designers and brands. She’ll be reporting all of next season’s must-try hues and designs.
Walking into the backstage area before the Milly show, anyone else might have noticed the models. Not me. I spied the holographic pieces of the collection from across the room and immediately started salivating. I went closer for a better look, and there was so much to see. Digitized prints, new fabrications, and the aforementioned holographic items were to die for, so it was no surprise the nail look was a little more subdued.
Michelle Saunders, lead manicurist for Essie, smiled at me as I was envisioning all the nail art I could make from the show. “I know there’s a lot we could have done in the way of nail art for this collection, but we wanted something that would help make the collection shine,” she admitted. The result was Power Clutch by Essie—a dark neutral gray with green undertones—inspired by menswear.
According to Michelle, picking the right gray is less about skin tone and more about the season. “For spring, you can play with lighter grays, like dove and French grays, but for fall, pick darker ones.” To get the look, apply two coats of Power Clutch and top it with Good to Go by Essie.
—Taryn
For more Fashion Week 2013 behind-the-scene pics, check out our photo stream.
Miss Ladyfinger at Reem Acra
For New York Fashion Week Fall 2013, we couldn’t have landed a better nail correspondent (put that title on a business card!). Taryn Multack, the genius behind Miss Ladyfinger, initially started her blog as a way to translate fashion trends to manicures. Since those early days, she’s partnered with top designers and brands. She’ll be reporting all next season’s must-try hues and designs.
If you’re craving a new nail look but can’t bring yourself to give up your go-to products (trust me, I can’t!), New York Fashion Week unveiled a way to get a brand-new look using your favorite polishes.
Backstage at Reem Acra, two iconic Essie polishes combined and layered to create a manicure that matched the dark red lips the models were sporting. One of Essie’s lead manicurists, Gina Edwards, created the look using
Bordeaux and
Sole Mate. “Start with two coats of Bordeaux, followed by two coats of Sole Mate and you’re good to go,” she explained. “The red comes through the deep purple, creating a powerful statement.”
Takeaway: Customize your own shades using polishes you already own. The effect is subtle, dimensional, and a great way to amp up your favorite colors.
—Taryn
BURGUNDY HUES TAKE CENTERSTAGE AT ZAC POSEN
If designer Zac Posen’s Fall 2013 collection is any indicator of beauty trends to come, burgundy is about to have a major moment. Backstage models were sporting glossy, port-wine manis and deep plum lips. Essie’s lead manicurist Michelle Saunders told us that the lacquer hue was chosen to match several evening dresses in the designer’s collection.
To create the look, Saunders and her crew applied two coats of essie’s Carry On. The crimson shade looked smashing, and its very apt name appropriately described the post-Nemo mood backstage.
MAC’s key makeup artist Kabuki contrasted ethereal white eye shadow with a wow-factor pout to build on the collection’s rich color story, outlining lips with the Pencil NC15 in Vino Lip Liner to keep lipstick smudge- and crease-free. Next, he applied MAC’s Lip Mix in Burgundy with a slim makeup brush.
Elaborating on the color, Kabuki explained, “I had Tilda Swinton in the back of my mind.” The finished look definitely evoked the regal actress’s elegance and boldness.
—Ally
Find more exclusive behind the scenes images from NYFW on Birchbox’s NYFW page.
Oil slicks are typically avoided at all cost. But we spotted some psychedelic nail art backstage at Rebecca Minkoff that we’ll definitely be copying. Essie’s lead manicurist, Michelle Saunders, created the swirly effect and explained that it “was inspired by her handbags in the collection.”
To get the look, Essie’s team of pros used five different shades with blue and metallic finishes: Aruba Blue, Go Overboard, Penny Talk, As Gold As It Gets, and Blue Rhapsody. Starting with the darkest shade, they placed a few drops of polish on the nail, then followed with a few drops of each of the remaining hues. Then, they used a slim detailing tool to carefully swirl each shade together. While the result looks elaborate, Saunders swears it’s incredibly easy—one of the models even tackled her own mani!
—Ally
Check out more exclusive backstage pics on the Birchbox NYFW site.
How To: Do the Color-Blocked Nails from the Veronica Beard Show
One of my favorite aspects of attending fashion shows in February is that many of the upcoming cold-weather beauty looks on display for fall are totally wearable right now. Perfect example: Thursday’s Veronica Beard show, where lead manicurist Michelle Saunders used a trio of ruddy Essie polishes to create a very cool color-blocking effect. More specifically, Saunders and her team showcased All Tied Up for the moon, Berry Hard on the tips (check out our video on how to get a moon and colored French mani), and Brownie Points in the middle. “I always suggest you use the lightest color at the moon, because it will really pop,” says Saunders. “And the darkest color at the tip because it gives a really a nice elongation at the nail.”
—Meredith
Check out more exclusive backstage pics on the Birchbox NYFW site.
![Margaret Thatcher’s Legacy, Essie and Ralph Lauren, And More
Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Britain and well known as the “Iron Lady,” passed away earlier today. She was 87. [New York Times]
Essie has created four exclusive polishes to match Ralph Lauren’s new spring lineup of pony perfumes. [SheFinds]
A graphic designer has altered Barbie’s image to see what she looks like sans makeup—and we’re having a hard time looking away. [Huffington Post]
Lilly Pulitzer, the socialite-turned-designer known for her bright and colorful prints, died yesterday at the age of 81. [WWD]
Refinery29 test drives CKone’s new perfume-scented nail polish and gives it two thumbs up. [Refinery29]
—Charisse
See what could be inside your April Birchbox in this months Sneak Peek!
(Photo: New York Times)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/909e19b369f0508f1dbeb310ae5b1f02/tumblr_mkwyj4ioWC1qbz3xno1_r2_1280.jpg)
