A beautifully-manicured hand is the must-have accessory for the season. Fingertips are front and center this Fall and nail polish, while an affordable and accessible little accessory, makes a big statement. I’m watching the Emmy Awards Red Carpet on E as I write this and, for the first time, they’ve instituted a “mani-cam,” a camera that showcases the nail art of the stars. Hosts are asking not only “who are you wearing?” but “what color is on your nails?”
But the red carpet isn’t the only place where the tips of the digits are featured. NY Fashion Week, which highlighted what we’ll be wearing for Spring 2013, wrapped a little over a week ago and, while various trends emerged (black and white, graphic prints, sophisticated dresses) the one consistent trend across the board was the emphasis on manicured fingernails. But you don’t have to wait for spring to get your hands on this nail trend. Last February, when designers showed their creations for Fall 2012, creatively-painted nails were on view then too.
Samira Asemanfar, founder of Bellacures, a high-end nail salon with eight locations throughout SoCal and a devoted clientele that includes some of the biggest names in Hollywood, shares her insights on the hottest nail trends for Fall 2012:
Soft, neutral tones: Keep it simple with a soft gold polish or a hint of cream. For a classic look, Samira suggests neutral tones such as light rose, nude, or beige. Looking to add a bit of edge? Opt for a grey hue. At the Tibi show, hands were manicured in white shades for a clean and classic look while faded terra cotta tips spiced up the Christian Cota runway.
Dark and Earthy: Now’s the time to bring out the deep, rich hues to give your Fall style a strong and sophisticated look. Samira recommends rustic, earthy tones for a modern way to spice up any outfit. Think anything from a warm-wine or burgundy to eggplant. Try a midnight blue or military green for an edgy and dramatic, yet eminently wearable look. At Karen Walker’s nautical-inspired show, hands were polished to look elegant in CND’s Midnight Sapphire.
Bold with Texture: Bring Fall’s leather trend to the tips of your fingers by polishing your nails with bold and intricate prints straight from the runway. Go wild with a crocodile print, or tone it down with a glittery polish. Alice + Olivia teamed up with Sephora by OPI to create a black-and-gold glittery texture that was inspired straight from the collection’s fabrics.
And, you can’t go wrong with red nails. Ever since the invention of nail polish, red has been a favorite shade for many women. I, for one, just love red toenails. While I love dark colors in the winter and lighter shades in the summer, red always looks right. It’s trend-proof and, with all the shades available in the red range, you’re sure to find one that complements your skin tone. Here’s one to know about:
Red Carpet Manicure is unveiling Your Fortune Awaits, a limited edition shade with four carats of genuine ruby dust that is certain to be seen on the red carpet. But, if you’re a mere mortal, like most of us, there’s a consumer version called Draped in Rubies that will be available in ULTA Beauty stores October 1st. And, in case you didn’t know, Red Carpet Manicure is a DIY gel manicure system for manicures and pedicures. It’s available at Ulta, Fred Meyer, Meijer and Duane Reade.
If you happen to have a spare quarter of a million dollars lying around with nothing to spend it on, how about Azature’s Black Diamond nail lacquer which contains 267 carats of, you guessed it, black diamonds. Money socked away in an offshore account? No problem. Azature produced a more reasonably-priced version, complete with a real black diamond in every bottle, that’ll set you back only $25. Here’s where to buy it: http://www.azature.com/
If you prefer your mani/pedis at home versus the salon, you can get salon-worthy treatments with Beauty Chic™, a new line of home spa products for feet, face and skin. The Beauty Chic line consists of an elaborate manicure and pedicure kit, nail dryer, facial sauna, foot bath massager, paraffin bath, bath spa kit and a facial spa kit. Beauty Chic products are priced from $14.99 to $39.99 and can be found at Ulta and other retailers nationwide.
While you’re treating your nails to the newest trends, don’t forget your hands. Pamper them with Melvita‘s new Geranium Argan Roll-On, an aromatherapeutic blended formula of pure, organic argan oil and geranium essential oil. Its intensive softening properties help condition hands, nails and cuticles and the roll-on format allows a precise and targeted application. And, best of all, this sweet smelling roll-on contains no preservatives or colorants. It’s available for $15.00 on the Melvita website: http://usa.melvita.com
Deborah Lippman, the queen of nails, introduced Through the Fire, a rich and delicious shimmery merlot shade for Fall, $18.00. It’s classic and elegant and will compliment so many of Fall’s fashion trends. Or go glam with Cleopatra in New York, a fanciful, gold-studded, glittery black, $18.00. Visit Deborah Lippman’s site to see the newest offerings and her year-round best sellers: http://lippmanncollection.com/2011dl/index_new.php
Want to know what it takes to be a hand model? Read my interview with Ellen Sirot, one of the most successful hand models of all time: http://EverBeautiful.com/?p=8539
