CND
NY Fashion Week Nail Watch – Tibi
To accentuate the strong, powerful look of Tibi’s Spring 2009 collection, designer Amy Smilovic called upon CND‘s team of nail artists to give her models fiery red tips and toes. In a recent Fanatic Feedback discussion I brought up the theory of red nails exuding confidence. This look certainly propagates that idea. Pairing vibrant red lips with CND Wildfire makes quite a statement.
To make sure that each model’s nails are flawless while stomping down the catwalk, CND Ridge Out is applied as a base. It provides an even surface for the lacquer while a layer of Speedy quick drying top coat helps prevent smudges as the models rush to get dressed.
Thank you to my friend and fellow blogger Jamie from The Beauty of Life for granting All Lacquered Up exclusive use of her backstage images and info.
The New York Times features CND at NYFW
Well it looks like the Times and I are on the same wavelength today. They have a great video up about CND called The Unsung Heroes of Fashion Week. Included in the slide show is a pic of Selena Robinson and Kristina Baume in the production suite and a voiceover by NYT journalist Natasha Singer, working undercover as a nail artist. Check out the nail art boards and behind the scenes footage. Definitely a must see!
image: The New York Times
The Nail Files – Behind the Scenes at NYFW with CND
In this installment of the Nail Files, I’ll be taking you on a three part journey behind the scenes of the craziness that is New York Fashion Week. Each season CND dominates the backstage nail scene, collaborating with some of the biggest fashion designers in the business to bring their nail vision to the fashion world. Spearheaded by Co-Founder and Style Director Jan Arnold, CND has been a presence at Fashion Week for almost ten years now.
Every season the CND team creates nail concepts for Fashion Weeks across the globe. And with each passing year, their client roster continues to grow. In New York alone, they work on over sixty shows. Can you imagine what goes into planning that kind of operation? Well, last February I was at NWFW and had the chance to find out first hand.
Three days before Fashion Week begins, Shelena and Kristina arrive in New York to begin production, working non-stop throughout the week. Often sleep deprived from all-nighters or eighteen hour workdays, I met them mid-FW insanity and they were so charming and friendly. Though it’s not all work and no play, they do have some downtime to watch a movie and relax. I learned that in the beginning CND did all their production in advance, out of state. But due to a shipping error a few years back, the tips for Baby Phat, Heatherette and L.A.M.B.’s first FW show didn’t arrive. So after scrambling to NYC nail supply stores and pulling an all-nighter to replace the tips, they wisely moved production onsite.
For Fall 2008, Jan Arnold and the CND team dubbed their color concept “Neutrals of the Night†with two sides of the story, Techno Chic and Savage Chic. Techno Chic is futuristic and cool toned. Consisting of gray, black, gunmetal, silver, leather-like texture and stone looking adornments. Savage Chic is warmer and earthier with more natural tones. Gold, copper, feathers and pearls. Texture is a big trend they’re seeing for fall with a lot of designers wanting a matte finish. At the moment, CND doesn’t make a matte top coat but I hear it’s in the works. Tip: use the gray side of their girlfriend buffer on a dry top coat to give a matte look. I had such a great time chatting with Kristina and Shelena. They are artists in the truest sense of the word. And meeting all the backstage team members was fantastic. The entire CND team was so accommodating, making my first FW experience a memorable one. In the next part of The Nail Files series we’ll be looking at the custom tip process and all the amazing concepts Kristina & Shelena come up with.
In addition to going backstage and seeing the artists at work, I had the opportunity to meet with CND Education Ambassadors Kristina Baune and Shelena Robinson. Kristina and Shelena work in the CND production suite at a hotel near Bryant Park where they create all the custom tips and colors used at the shows.
To cover all the shows, CND puts together three or four backstage teams armed with 6 bottles each of their current collection, the “popular†core collection colors, including nude favorites Serenity and Negliee, and their upcoming line in addition to any custom colors the designer may have requested. They have to be prepared for any last minute color changes. And even though there are designers that don’t want any polish on the nails, CND artists are still on the scene providing manicures/pedicures and nail treatments.
Now you all have heard me raving about the amazing dove gray in CND’s fall collection. Let’s get real, I’ve been raving about light gray in general. But what spawned that love was seeing the CND version on a member of their PR team. Unfortunately that collection is one we’ll never see but don’t despair because I will show you how to recreate it yourself so stay tuned.
NY Fashion Week Nail Watch – Rosa Cha
 The look at Rosa Cha, the Brazilian swimwear line, was that of an uber-bronzed beach goddess. To compliment the models’ golden skin CND artists applied Crowned, a muted coppery metallic. It looks like the Fall metallic trend will carry over to Spring. |
Though what really caught my eye is the gorgeous blue shimmer on the CND artist’s nails. Could this be a preview of their Spring line? It’s too light to be Blue Blood and too blue to be Jiggy. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Thank you to my friend and fellow blogger Jamie from The Beauty of Life for granting All Lacquered Up exclusive use of her backstage images and info.
additional images: Elle.com & Coutorture.com
Isn’t Sheeee, Pretty In Pink (Creme)
I’m not a girly pink loving kind of girl. I give that title to my girl Nikki who is pink personified. However, this summer in addition to my major orange fetish, I’m all about a glossy pink nail. But I’m not talking about baby pinks or sheers here. No it’s all about bright, bold, hot pink cremes. Creme finishes give these vibrant hues a chic spin that keeps them from being too garish.
And I’m not the only one feeling this trend. Celebs like Lindsay Lohan, Vanessa Mannillo and Miley Cyrus have all been caught rocking the pink. And even though the hamsters on Big Brother 10 have only been streaming live for a couple days now, one of the contestants, Keesha, has already delved into the nail polish stash to pinkify her nails.
If you want to join the Pretty In Pink-ness here are the shades I recommend. For a slightly softer pink that still makes a splash try: Wet N Wild Dreamy Poppy, Essie Movers & Shakers, OPI Elephantastic Pink, Essie Guilty Pleasures, Orly Butterflies, Nubar Camelot Blossom
And if you want to go for full-on bright, in-your-face fuchsia look for CND Hot Pop Pink, Zoya Jewell, OPI That’s Hot Pink, NARS Schiap, Lippmann Angel Eyes and Nubar Geisha Blaze. (Note: Geisha Blaze & Angel Eyes have extremely subtle shimmer but it doesn’t show on the nail)
Now the trick in pulling this look off is perfect application. Any bubbles, dents or ridges will only be magnified with a creme so prep is the most important step. If you aren’t going to a salon (I don’t) make sure you buff out any flaws and use a great ridge filling base coat, like Seche, to give the lacquer a smooth application surface.
Lisa N.
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