May 16, 2013 11:29
by Sally Creagh
Who doesn’t love nail art? The colours, the creativity and the crazy designs make this one of the most fun parts of the beauty world. This winter, however, we’re toning it right down, and going for designs that express a certain subtlety and refinement, a certain je ne sais quoi... shall we say ‘class’? Ok, let’s just say that. These are our three favourite looks for winter.
1. Pale nails
Seen on the catwalks of Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana & Gucci, the pale nail trend ranges from the faintest of French manicure pinks to matt white. Get the look by using the white or pink from a French Manicure kit, such as the Sally Hansen Diamond Strength French Manicure Pen Kit; or go for a gel polish such as “Shy” from Haute Polish.
2. Partial metallics
This is a new twist on the cool metallics that have been rocking the fingertips of the most stylish nail aficionados over the last few years. Probably the ultimate in this look is the black and gold cross look achieved with the thinnest of strips of Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in 531 Peridot. A simple horizontal or vertical gold or silver stripe either centered on the nail or positioned on the tip, over a red or nude background, is a variation on this incredibly sophisticated look.
3. Geometric two-tone
We’ve seen two tone before, mainly executed with high contrast colours divided horizontally across cuticles and tips, but these geometric designs in both subtle and bold shades are a classy take on an enduring trend. Recent shows by 3.1 Philip Lim featured models with geometric two tone nails to great effect. To achieve this look, use nudes or neutrals divided by only a few shades.
