CND at NYFW – Backstage at Wes Gordon Spring 2012
CND kicked off New York Fashion Week with Wes Gordon’s Spring 2012 collection. Team CND led by Kristina Estabrooks along with Charlotte Willer for Maybelline and Travis Speck for Bumble and bumble created what I dubbed a modern “power bitch” look. The updated version of Dynasty’s Joan Collins. Think of her, with the power suits and red talons and bring it to 2012.
CND’s Kristina Estabrooks described Wes’s woman as a, “Young sophisticated lady. She’s rich, lives in Soho and is a really powerful woman.” Showing that power comes through the nails so Team CND chose CND Poppyfield for the tips and CND Desert Suede for the toes. “[Poppyfield] is energy, it’s excitement. It’s the new modern upbeat red.” Applying the nearly neon to a medium length almond shaped nail creates a look that is soft and feminine but powerful. It says, “I’m a woman but I’m powerful woman.” Kristina notes that Poppyfield is great for any skin tone and it brightens up the skin, giving it a luminosity. Pairing it with Desert Suede toes, which is clean and classic, leaves all the power in your hands.
In speaking with Travis Speck for Bumble and bumble he shared that the designer referenced Carine Roitfeld from French Vogue. He wanted that effortless, chic look when it came to the hair. Natural and soft but with a lot of texture. He said the trick is to get some grip in the hair with product (Bumble + bumble Prep, Thickening Hairspray and Surf Spray before blowdrying, White Hair Powder after) and a light backcomb at the front, lightly pulling it back as though you did it yourself, keeping the pony really low. He noted that the designer, “didn’t want it to be too cutesy. That’s one word he used. Sophisticated but still kind of casual. He didn’t want it to look too done since the clothes are very tailored.”
Charlotte Willer for Maybelline described the look as, “young, fresh, elegant.” Adding that, “It’s a glossy look. Dewy skin. Pink blush. Lip balm on the eyelids. Stain on the lips. No mascara. Strong eyebrows.” Charlotte always gets straight to the point and I love that. Makeup can be intimidating but she makes is sound so easy and attainable. To create the look Charlotte used Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation, Maybelline Define-A-Brow Eyebrow Pencil, Maybelline Fit Me! Blush in Medium Coral, Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Very Cherry as a stain on the lips and Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Quenched on the eye lids.
My take: I love that this is an accessible look. We can all do this at home. You don’t need to be a master at blending shadow or a nail art savant. Even if you don’t rock a longer nail you can still have power nails with a shade like Poppyfield. Just throw your bed head hair in a low pony and call it a day!
What’s your take? Is this a look you would try at home? Does your nail length change with the seasons?
If you want to keep up with my NYFW experience be sure to follow me on Twitter for the latest updates. Also, check out Jan Arnold’s Fashion Week Blog on CND.com and my Tumblr peeps should follow the new CND Fashion Tumblr.
Disclosure: All Lacquered Up’s coverage of CND at Fashion’s Night Out and New York Fashion Week is sponsored by CND. All opinions are my own. For more info, view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
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I am LOVING this look. The only thing I can’t get behind is the low ponytail…it’s always looked odd on me. But the makeup is amazeballs. I really want to try it.
Simple elegance
I LOVE the coral look. The fact that it suits my skin tone doesn’t hurt, either!
How is this nail look created? I see in the one picture which looks like a strip of nails that are being applied to the model. But I can’t tell if those strips are actual fake nails (that will be glued on) or if they are just polish strips & the model already has those shaped natural nails.
I love the shape of the nail. I think it would be cool to wear fake nails this shape but I am not keen on things being glued to my natural nails.
For a lot of shows, nail brands use pre-made tips so they don’t have to worry about polish smudging or getting on the clothes. It’s a lot of prep work but makes it easier to get the models ready come show time. CND uses very thin tips that they polish in advance. When placed on the nail, you can’t even tell that they aren’t real except for the fact that every model has the exact same length and shape and that would be impossible to do with natural nails.
It also make a certain amount of sense because the models often go from one show to another, in the same day, so nail artists and models can more easily deal with polish changes and each show can have a nail shape that works with their collection.
Very nice polish! Looks so vibrant!
My nail length. My nails are strong but not infallable so sometimes the length changes. I don’t always feel comfy wearing something so bright like that on short nails (I used to have SHORT nails due to playing the piano so much) mainly because I have short fingers.
If I had my daughter’s lovely elegant long fingers–who needs to keep her nails short short for judo–I could rock that look! She’s lucky she inherited her dad’s violin playing hands!
Thanks for the great review!!
Love it! Poppyfield is gorgeous–and I am rarely a red-wearer. The look is fun, relaxed, AND somehow still elegant.
I’m not a huge red nail girl but somehow this coral-red is calling my name. I wear short nails year round but recently left the squoval shape behind for a more classic rounded tip. Love the volume and texture in the hair and the bright lips and cheeks! Coveting the clothes too!
I love the nails. I’m never going to get behind the greased eyelid look EVER. Hated when people were doing the greased cheeks also. Though when you are very young you can get away with nearly any look.
I have to say I really resented the idea that the nails were for a young rich woman who lives in Soho. Having grown up in that neighborhood before it was Soho, and then watched it become what it is now that was just out of touch. It’s a post crash NYC but I guess brands want folks to feel the idea of luxury, but Soho is a kind of spent area as far as culture. It’s a place people go to buy expensive things now, and that’s all it is. I guess if you want your customer to be rich you should say that, but it turns me off completely.
I have been seeing the almond shaped nail a lot lately. Is that the new “in” shape?
It seems to be popping up more and more in the fashion and celebrity world. I personally can’t grow my nails long because they break so it’s not a style I can try.
Am loving the color but can’t get this brand. Any clones close?
I’m loving the almond shape nail trend. I have to work on growing mine out again before I can rock it!
Love the look – love the continuation of color blocking which Sarah Jessica Parker clearly showed us last week is still IN despite it’s fall season. And more orange – I loved it all summer and so glad we are seeing oranges and orange/reds on into fall.
My nail length is typically the same- short and sweet with a pop of color. I love Poppyfield! gutsy yet feminine. I would definitely try this look.