How to Create a Chanel-Inspired Manicure
To translate the catwalk to the classroom, sometimes all it takes is a little polish. Manicure maven Elizabeth Monson takes that literally: Here, she's created a play on the half moon manicure trend, but with a sense of the glamourous fabrics from Chanel's fall 2013 fashion show in Paris. "Intricate designs can be hard to transform into nail polish," says Monson. "This look is simple and easy to replicate yet has the detail that Chanel is known for."
Follow along as Monson paints her way to chic Chanel perfection!
Photo: Fairchild Archive, Mark Iantosca1/8Wear the latest runway show right on your fingertips.
3/8Begin With Blue
"Take a really really thin nail art brush to paint single strokes in blue all along the base of your nail. They should be pretty much the same length."
Monson used Essie Nail Polish in Mesmerize.
4/8Layer on Your Base Color
"Start with a black base. You want it to be pretty solid—that may be one coat or two coats depending on your polish."
Monson used CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Black Diamond.
6/8Add White
"Now, take your white polish onto the skinny brush and, just overlapping the tips of the blue, add lines of the same thickness. You want them to be thin but separated, so you do see some black between strokes. Start with shorter length strokes on the side that turn into longer lengths at the center of your nail, so you’ll begin to create a V shape."
Monson used OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow.
7/8Complete the V With Pink
"The pink overlaps a bit with the tip of the blue and should follow that V shape. When I was doing it, I had to go over it a few times to build up the color."
Monson used Essie Nail Polish in Big Spender.
8/8The Finished Look
This chic Chanel manicure is understated glam at its most elegant.
