5 Must-Try Nail Trends

By Betsey McLain

A daring manicure has become just as statement-making as the of-the-moment accessory or the season's most-wanted shoe—it's a dip into the outrageous without being over the top—so we couldn't help zeroing in on New York Fashion Week's hottest spring 2011 nail trends. While nude shades held court at many of the shows, including Marc by Marc, Catherine Malandrino, and Thakoon, we spotted five eye-catching trends that really nailed it.

1. Moon Manicures—These moon manis made for a beguilingly fun, retro feel: Butter London kept the vibe refined with a nude base color while model's at Ruffian sported nails with a rounded, black French tip and monogram, matching the 1940s French Foreign Legion-themed collection.



The Tip: Sometimes you need more than a steady hand to get these moon shapes looking crisp. A nail art pen offers you more control if you can't manage a brush!



The Tools: Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen, $7.48, available at Ulta; Butter London Nail Lacquer in Yummy Mummy, $14, available at Beauty.com; Butter London Nail Lacquer in Union Jack Black, $14, available at Beauty.com; CND Nail Polish in Washed Down White, $9, available at Time To Spa; CND Nail Polish in Putty, $9, available at Time To Spa; CND Nail Polish in Blackjack, $9, available at Beauty Brands. Ruffian photo via CND. Vena Cava photo by Mr. Newton.


2. Metallics & Gold Foil—The flash of metal got an updated, gritty twist for spring 2011: CND manicurists layered an iridescent top coat over a dark gray at 3.1 Phillip Lim, the nails at Gottex also got the CND treatment, with a mix of a Silver Chrome, Putty and Ice Blue Shimmer, while the distressed, gold nails at Cushnie et Ochs topped off the collection's earthy, fairy vibe. Dashing Diva's Patty Yankee used gold foil to achieve the look, but a deliberately chipped gold polish does the trick too.



The Tip: Paint a layer of clear basecoat and messily apply gold foil onto your nail tips with a tweezer. Wait until dry, crumble the excess gold foil off, then secure with a layer of clear topcoat. To rock the look with gold polish, use a small piece of plastic to block the parts of your nail you don't want to paint, and randomly reposition it on your nail as you apply gold polish to the tips with short strokes.



The Tools: Dashing Diva Nail Lacquer in Golden Opportunity, $8, available at Dashing Diva; CND Nail Polish in Copper Shimmer, $11, available at Beauty Brands; Revlon Nail Anamel in Gold Get 'Em, $3.89, available at Target; Charlotte Russe Two-Way Nail Art Brush and Pen, $3.99, available at Charlotte Russe. 3.1 Phillip Lim photo courtesy of CND; Cushnie et Ochs photo courtesy of Dashing Diva/Eric YuSource URL: http://fashionweekspring2012.blogspot.com/2011/10/5-must-try-nail-trends.html
Visit Fashion Week Spring 2012 for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection