It took five and half hours for Miss Frou Frou nail stylist Elise Archer to do a feather nail encapsulation complete with Swarovski crystals.
Nails. Sure, we love ogling celebrity bling, massive manes and fabulous frocks, but when it comes to award shows, all that glitters now are some fairly magical manicures.
“People may not notice if you have bad nails but they will definitely notice if you have great nails,’’ says leading nail stylist, Elise Archer.
“Having good-looking nails is like having a great haircut or blow dry, it just makes you feel good.”
From dramatic, subdued shades to sheer and more classic hues, there are some seriously dramatic talons out there and in the huge scheme of beauty releases, choices of nail polish and intricate nail ‘art’ works are at an all-time high.
All that glitters: Taylor Swift at the 58th Grammy Awards in LA earlier this year (Pic: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images
When The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the theme for this year’s Costume Institute exhibition, ‘Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology’, the minds of creative nail artists will have gone into overdrive.
The upcoming exhibition, which kicks off with the Met Ball on May 2 and is hosted by fashion queen Anna Wintour, the examples of OTT nail art as an accessory will be endless.
“Traditionally, the distinction between the haute couture and prêt-à-porter was based on the handmade and the machine-made,” says Andrew Bolton, who is the curator of the Costume Institute.
“But recently this distinction has become increasingly blurred as both disciplines have embraced the practices and techniques of the other.”
Jennifer Lopez loves a talon, as seen at the Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles this year. Pic: Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
That said, couture nail art is a serious thing and according to Elise Archer, from cult Australian salon Miss Frou Frou, nail adornment has become a huge accessory and talons are just as talked about on every red carpet as shoes and frocks.
“When it comes to everyday trends, it’s all about navy blue but particularly with a bit of sparkle or a bit of glitter, but those kinds of deep, intense colours are best worn on short, square nails,” says Elise.
“Sure, we are still seeing classic, shorter, buff nails but we are seeing that long nails are definitely back in vogue.
“We are seeing so any celebrities wearing ‘nail art’ so lots of people are a lot more happy to experiment nowadays with more ornate and wild designs,” adds Elise.
Elise worked with Jessica Mauboy and gold embellishments for Jess’s Melbourne Cup day nails. Pic: SuppliedSource:Supplied
“We are definitely seeing a real rise of the longer nail, or the ‘stiletto’ but now, it’s actually all about the ‘ballerina’ or the ‘coffin’ nail.”
The whaaat?
“It is a long tapered nail with a square tip, just like a block of a ballet shoe, or just like the end of a coffin,” adds Elise.
Elise says that like rainbow or pastel hair trends, as far as nails are concerned there are just as many nail trends that get people excited.
“People are very much into textures and effects so things like a shattered glass look, the marbling effect, holographic effects and metallics and chrome looks are all incredibly popular.
“The shattered glass look is made using little pieces of cellophane on an acyclic and under a nail colour.
“I’ve also seen examples of people using small pieces of marijuana encapsulated under their polish,’ smiles Elise.
“And no, and I wouldn’t imagine nail artists would be supplying it!”
Elise took five hours to intricately encapsulate fine feathers on acrylic nails before using polish and Swarovski crystals to complete the lookSource:Supplied
Katy Perry: At last year’s ‘China: Through The Looking Glass’ Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC Picture by: Thelonius Splash NewsSource:Getty Images
Elise says that one look that has been horrifying people has been the ‘fur’ nail, “but they are purely for the runway certainly not practical in any way,’’ adds Elise.
The nail guru says the once incredibly popular French manicure seems to be in a slow lane but there is an alternative.
“When we are doing a French Tip we are often using differing colours just to give it a new kind of feel.”
Olivia Munn went the double colour nail at the Met Ball last year Picture: Rex Features/Splash NewsSource:Getty Images
After eyeing some pretty OTT creations on the international runways at the last round of international fashion shows as well as upcoming events like the Met Ball, the Logie Awards and Mercedes Australian Fashion Week over the next few weeks, beware of an onslaught of tough-talking talons.
Celebs will be well and truly nailing it.
Heidi Klum at the Weinstein Company and Netflix Golden Globes afterparty in Los Angeles earlier this year. Picture: Michael Tran/FilmMagicSource:Getty Images
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