MOMA-APPROVED NAILS
Graphically good manicures straight from the catwalk
1 BACK TO THE EIGHTIES DIFFICULTY SCALE 1/3
Bright shades with a pop of colour à la ’80s New York were all over the Jeremy Scott show. Slick on two coats of Topshop Nails in Buff (£5), then pour a little Nars Nail Polish in Back Room (£15) onto tin foil. Dip the eraser end of a pencil (if you haven’t owned one since school, use the end of a Biro) into the polish and dab on the base of the nail. Add a top coat when dry.
2 LET’S GET GRAPHIC DIFFICULTY SCALE 3/3
Nail artist Alicia Torello wanted “graphic and unique” for the models at Novis, but here’s her tip: use super-sheer polish not regular base coat, as it won’t peel as easily. Use striping tape (or cut down surgical tape) to create ‘square’ stencils – keep size and placement random. Fill each square with dark blue (try OPI Nail Lacquer in Super Trop-i-cal-i-Fiji-istic, £12.50) and light blue polish. A final tip – use a tiny eyeshadow brush for a neat finish. Once dry, peel off the tape – done.
3 THE FRENCH EFFECT DIFFICULTY SCALE 2/3
At Cushnie et Ochs, Alicia Torello used contrasting nudes on sharp stiletto nails to reinvent the classic French manicure. Start by applying a base coat and paint two coats of Christian Louboutin Nail Colour in Just Nothing (£36). Next, use a striping brush (they’re cheap on Ebay) to paint Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Butterscotch Sundae (£3.99) in a diagonal line from the outside of your nail inwards, then fill in the space above. Colour the rest of your nails in the same way, making sure you draw the line slightly higher on each so there’s a graduation of colour. Then, because no mani is complete without it, finish with a glossy topcoat. Nous adorons!