Thakoon for NARS
From left to right: Lal Mirchi, Anardana, Ratin Jot, Amchoor, Kutki, Koliary
I have been counting down the days and finally the Thakoon for NARS nail polish collection is available at www.narscosmetics.com. The colors, inspired by the Thakoon Spring 2012 collection, are bright summery perfection and I have a feeling that these are going to sell like hot cakes…so get them while they’re hot!
If you ordered any let me know in the comments below and stay tuned for my picks.
My favorite nail colors from the past couple of weeks (clockwise from top-left): If You’ve Got It, Haunt It by Sephora by OPI; Hold the Drama by Ginger + Liz; Porchester Square by nails inc; Viridian by Illamasqua.
What colors are you loving this season?
I was so excited when pictures of OPI’s Nicki Minaj collection popped up on my Twitter timeline. Nicki had already clued us in on the line on her verse in Drake’s new single Make Me Proud:
I’m the realest deal
The best legal team so the deals is ill
It’s Mac, OPI and a fragrance too
Apparel, I’m dominating every avenue
Polish names: Super Bass Shatter, Metallic 4 Life, Save Me, Fly, Did It On ‘Em and Pink Friday
From the picture of the nail polishes I can already tell that I want them all. My favorites are Metallic 4 Life, Did It On ‘Em and Pink Friday. The collection is dropping in January and I will be stalking the internet for these items like I stalked MAC’s website for the Pink Friday lipstick.
Does the collection have your “heartbeat running away?” Share in a comment below.
@ The Blonds – Spring 2012
The Blonds is always the pièce de résistance of over the top blinged-out glamour during New York Fashion Week. CND pulled out all of the stops as usual and created several custom looks for the Spring 2012 show:
At The Blonds, Kristina Estabrooks created “Glitz & Glam” manicures for a collection inspired by 60’s Playboy glamour infused with razzle dazzle spectacle we all know and love. The 20 sets of nail tips took over 100 hours of manual labor to hand detail, and included a “Stockings Series” of manicures portraying fishnets, lacy tights and sexy seams. Vintage cosmic-shaped glass was imported from Germany to shape diamond-decadent nails that shined out loud in the spotlight.
You can check out pictures of the collection here. It is so Katy Perry! Katy has worn some of their pieces in the past and I could totally see her performing in some of the spring looks.
-DRB
Info and Image Source: c/o PR
CND Harlequin Hardware Manicure
@ Diego Binetti – Spring 2012
Another ombré manicure appeared at Diego Binetti by CND. The pink and cream color combination on the nails made them seem as if they were blushing. Gold and silver tips add it to the list of quirky french manicures seen this season.
For Diego Binetti, Candice Manacchio delivered drama for digits, crafting “Harlequin Hardware” manicures stained in CND Colour in Raspberry Parfait and Frosting Cream, capped in gold and silver metal for an artisanal finish. Toes were polished in Raspberry Parfait. Makeup embraced “mask as part of the model,” and hair was crimped and elaborately wrapped for a nighttime beauty look to remember.
-DRB
Info and Image Source: c/o PR
@ Norman Ambrose – Spring 2012
As you can tell I am pretty much obsessed with almond/oval shaped nails. It is probably because it is very unlikely that I would be able to achieve the desired length since my nails do not have the decency to at least wait until they grow past my fingertips to break. Therefore, I am living vicariously through CND’s creations. I mean how glorious is the manicure pictured above that was developed by Candice Manacchio for Norman Ambrose? It was one out of the six looks created for Ambrose’s collection that, according to CND, looks like “high glam 1960’s pieces straight out of vintage Vogue – for the sexy, exotic woman who swims in her diamonds.” With a description like that you know the nails had to be hot. The gilded look can be recreated at home with CND Colour in Gold Chrome paired with CND Colour in Blackjack on the tips and gold leafing. CND also shared the components of the other manicures:
- CND Colour in Flashpoint iced with Sheer 24K Sparkle Effect for a funky French tip
- Flashpoint topped with CND Colour in Poppyfield, acid washed with a sweep of acetone for texture
- CND Colour in Gold Chrome topped with CND Colour in Copper Chrome, finished with acetone wash
- CND Colour in Desert Suede topped with Ice Blue Shimmer Effect, edged with CND Colour in Silver Chrome
- CND Colour in Putty topped with CND Colour in Creamy Cameo and Ice Blue Shimmer, and edged with CND Colour in Silver Chrome
-DRB
Info and Image Source: c/o PR
@ Jen Kao – Spring 2012
When it comes to beauty, the ombré trend does not have to stop at our hair. CND shows us how to wear it in a striking way on our nails at Jen Kao:
Look, but don’t touch! For Jen Kao, Wanda Ruiz created “Lethal Love” diffused, gradation manicures that attract the eye with bold shades, but like a poisonous frog, have dangerous undertones. These four uniquely artful manicures were shaded using an airbrush tool, but can be re-created at home using CND Colours in Midnight Sapphire, Anchor Blue, Rouge Red, and Green Scene each combined with Inkwell and topped with Air Dry Top Coat while wet for an ombre finish.
-DRB
Info and Image Source: c/o PR
Makeup
Val Garland, for MAC Cosmetics,created “fast, urban graphic liner” to fit with Monique Lhuillier’s athletic and graphic collection. The skin’s dewey look was achieved by using MAC’s Face & Body Foundation (applied with a 187 Brush). The face was slightly contoured under the cheekbone with Sand Brown and Malaysia Contour Creme. Lips were kept natural with Lip Conditioner and the brows were groomed with Brow Gel. The “double color liner” was created with Pro Black Creme Liner applied in a “very straight and aerodynamic way” followed by a thin line of Chromacake in Marine Ultra that was taken back into the crease in a straight line for a “sporty Nike let’s do it kind of a thing” vibe. To recreate the look at home, Garland suggested using a black and a blue eye pencil. Start off with the black, then have the black bleed into the blue liner. Use a q-tip to clean up the lines.
Nails
Wanda Ruiz, for CND, created an “athletic and elegant” look for the nails using different colors on the hands and feet:
For Monique Lhuillier, Wanda Ruiz designed “Soy Milk” manicures on active, oval shaped nails using semi-sheer CND Colour in Cream Washed topped with CND Super Shiney Top Coat for a glossy finish. Pedicures were reminiscent of a cloudy night sky using custom blended blue (which can be duped at home using limited edition CND Violet Shimmer Effect layered on top of CND Colour in Midnight Sapphire). Sporty eveningwear pieces (ie: Anna Kournikova from gym to gala) in pops of cobalt, black and yellow were complemented by slicked back ponytails, and matching dreamy blue eyeliner and toes.
It was very cool to see how much the Violet Shimmer Effect transforms a color by adding a very pretty purple glow to the polish.
Hair
Odile Gilbert for Kérastase created a pony at the crown to show off the models’ shoulders in Lhuillier’s coktail dresses. Hair was prepped with Kérastase’s Fiber Architect, which seals split ends and is coming out this fall, to both treat and style before blow drying and straightening with a flat iron. The pony was secured tightly with a hook elastic then teased to create volume. Double Force Hairspray was used to finish off the look.
View more of my behind the scenes pictures after the jump:
CND “Lucite Lace” Manicures
@ Joy Cioci
There are no words other than perfection for the lace nails designed by Candice Manacchio for Joy Cioci. The lace details and the clear tips are such a fun twist on a french manicure and I pretty much need this on my nails now:
At Joy Cioci, Candice Manacchio designed “Lucite Lace” manicures using clear tips with hand-detailed lattice work. These see-through nails provided energy and attitude when paired with a fiery orange lip and frantic, whimsical curls.
And did you notice their shape? The almond tips are inspiring me to do switch up from my usual square shaped nails.
-DRB
Info and Image Source: c/o PR
CND Colour in Poppyfield
@ Wes Gordon – Spring 2012
CND served up almond shaped nails in a brilliant coral color at Wes Gordon. I love a strong nail as much as I love a strong lip and these nails are giving off the fierceness desired:
At Wes Gordon, Kristina Estabrooks crafted soft almond, nearly neon, coral “Power Nails” with two coats of CND Colour in Poppyfield to complement wispy teased ponytails and fresh faces to embody the height of ’60s SoHo sophistication. Toes were clean and neutral with CND Colour in Desert Suede. The namesake designer loved the edgy length of the nails and remarked that his vision’s muse was “sleek and civilized, but she might scratch your eyes out.”
-DRB
Info and Image Source: c/o PR
Musings of a City Girl 