Dark and daring nails grab the spotlight at LFW

A first look at this week’s London Fashion Week shows for the autumn/winter 2016 season hints at a dark, egdy atmosphere, if the nail looks are anything to go by. Designers enlisted nail brands and their best session techs to create manicures ranging from moody to daring, with a not-so adventurous but emotive colour palette of black and grey.

The creativity was in the application – CND’s runway team sculpted outrageous 3D black lizards using Vinylux in Black Pool at Vin + Omi, while Stephanie Staunton used Artistic Colour Revolution in neon green Toxic to add a vibrant twist to edgy French tip designs with thick black smile lines at Roberta Einer.

Meanwhile at Christopher Raeburn, Lucy Tucker painted models’ nails with simple cool grey shade Temperamental, also a Colour Revolution polish, on short, neat nails. Reactive Gloss Top Coat gave the simple manicure a glossy shine.

And at the Sophia Webster show, nail technician Rebecca Jade Wilson created a design with a gothic influence – “dry brushed” black lacquer (Ciate Paint Pot in Unrestricted Glam) faded into pale grey down the nail in a cloudy wash for a worn feel, but was kept modern through multiple layers of jelly-like top coat.

"The colour themed concepts pushed for structural, sculpted designs and by allowing each CND stylist to create their designs independently we were able to ensure designs were individually inspired by each of their experiences of the collection and interaction with the designers, resulting in 34 unique yet cross linking nail designs”, said Samantha Sweet, co-founder of Sweet Squared, on CND's collaboration with Vin + Omi. 

Images from top to bottom: CND/Vin +Omi, Artistic/Roberta Einer, Artistic/Christopher Raeburn, Ciate/Sophia Webster