Cheeky Cruise-Ready Nails At Christian Siriano’s Spring 2017 Show

Thus far, the vast majority of the nail and makeup looks showcased during New York Fashion Week Spring 2017 have been, to put it politely, minimalist and unremarkable. You’ll hear a lot of terms like “fresh-faced,” “modern simplicity,” “youthful glow,” and “universal neutrals” — all fancy words for what most of us might just classify as boring and drab. Where are the bold lips? The vivid eyeshadows? The blinged-out brows? The color-blocked, bead-encrusted, or lace-adorned nails? Everything is just so beige! Luckily, Christian Siriano rescued me from drowning in a sea of yawn-inducing manicures — all with the help of Gina Edwards for Kiss Products, Inc. Models at the designer’s Spring 2017 show, which was inspired by photos of Jackie Onassis’s luxurious vacations on the Isle of Capri, flaunted color-blocked nail designs that fused together solid turquoise and modern black-and-white stripes.

Nail artist Gina Edwards hoped to tap into the aquatic overtones of Siriano’s collection via the vibrant blue shade she chose for her nail design, while adding her own contemporary spin on the orange-and-white beach umbrellas of yore by instead opting for a monochromatic black-and-white striped motif.

Edwards began by using the imPRESS Manicure press-on nails in Big Flirt, a vivid aqua hue, as her canvas, working laboriously on each nail. Next, she used the chevron-shaped Kiss Design Perfection chevron-shaped nail design guides, applying only half of the “V-shaped sticker to create a diagonal stripe running across each nail. She then painted a thin black line over the  diagonal stripe using the Kiss Nail Artist Paint in Gala.

Above the diagonal line, Edwards painted thin vertical stripes, alternating between black and white Artist Paint and using very precise strokes. Below the diagonal stripes, on the tiny inner corners between the nail bed and the lower third of the diagonal stripe, Edwards again painted black-and-white stripes, this time making them horizontal for a more dynamic and whimsical effect. To seal the look and give it some shine, she then brushed 1-2 coats of the Kiss Gel Strong Nail Polish.

Gorgeous, right? It’s a easy look to recreate at home, and one which will have everyone admiring your handiwork.