To create an ombre manicure like the one we spotted backstage at Erickson Beamon, all you need are two bottles of polish (one color, one black), a makeup sponge, and topcoat. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics created this look for Beauty.com using the colors Vintage (a deep red), Blackboard (a deep green) and Tarred (a pure black). Start by painting two coats of whichever color you choose, and sponge on the black, concentrating the polish towards the tips. Then, before it dries, apply the topcoat and use the brush to pull the colors across the nail, blending them together.
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Cute Polka Dots
Difficulty Level: 3
It's no secret that Kate Spade loves speckled prints, so of course she sent models down the runway with polka-dot nails, which matched some of the looks in the collection. Deborah Lippmann created the adorable mani using Fade to Black as the base and I'm Not Innocent (a pale peach) for the spots. The best part? She painted freehand using a regular nail-polish brush. Each dot was a slightly different size and shape for a whimsical result. "If you want to do nail art, this is the easiest do-it-yourself," says Lippmann.
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Geometric Tips
Difficulty Level: 6
At Badgley Mischka, the designers asked for a geometric yet sophisticated manicure, and Lippmann gave them just that. She started with short nails and applied Dark Side of the Moon, a deep aubergine shade. Then, "to make the look pop," she added a metallic gold tip using Nefertiti. To get this look at home, all you need is two shades of polish and a steady hand. (Tip: If you're having trouble, try using painters tape to mark off the edge.)
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The New Half Moon
Difficulty Level: 7
Last season, we saw half-moon shapes painted at the base of the nail around the cuticle. This season at Phillip Lim, Essie nail artist Elle mixed things up and painted the half moon along the sides of the nails. She started with one coat of black polish, added a thin stripe of gray (called Chinchilly), and then painted a white crescent moon along the length. "This graphic nail design is dramatic, yet incredibly wearable," says Essie founder Essie Weingarten. This look doesn't have to be too perfect, so try painting the shapes freehand with a detailing brush.
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Biker Chick
Difficulty Level: 10
If you want to try something really different, look no further than the custom tips CND created for The Blonds. Kristina Estabrooks and her team spent 130 hours hand-detailing what they called "biker babe" manicures with crystals, glitter, leather, and even crushed glass. While glass definitely falls into the "don't try this at home" category, there are still plenty of great ideas here. Hit up the craft store, break out your nail art kit, and get creative.
It's no secret that over the last few years nail art has gone mainstream. What started as a niche look that most of us couldn't pull off has evolved into something so popular that women of every age -- even dedicated Mademoiselle-wearers -- are giving it a go. And really, what's classier than chic nail designs?
Like so many trends, this one began at Fashion Week, and it continues to gain momentum and evolve backstage. Virtually every polish line (think Essie, Creative Nail Design, and Deborah Lippmann) is now represented on the runway. The artists work with designers to create unique nail styles to complement the collections -- and a lot of the manis receive as much attention as the clothes.
Backstage at the shows, the scene is usually beauty mayhem with hair extensions flying, glitter powder in the air, and row after row of press-on and acrylic nails. But the most recent Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week was a little different: A lot of the nail art was done by hand, and many of the looks were original and attainable.
While we wouldn't call the latest trends easy, they definitely require fewer tools and less time than you might imagine. You just need to stock up on polish, steady your hand, and grab some toothpicks to make a go of it. Whether you're an expert looking for inspiration or a beginner just wanting to mix up your mani, here are 10 nail art ideas you'll want to try now.
