Kiss those corals goodbye and tuck away that bottle of tangerine—until next summer, that is. To help you give your manicure a fall makeover, I asked Eleanor Langston, former beauty editor and founder of Paintbox, a new boutique nail salon in New York City, for her best polish picks for the season.
Owner Eleanor Langston (@EleanorLangston), left, with Creative Director Julie Kandalec (@Julieknailsnyc) at Paintbox (@paintboxnails) in New York City
Q: Facing that wall of nail polishes in the nail salon is always so overwhelming. Help us out: What color trends are you seeing for fall?
A: Think smoky neutrals, colored metallics, and strong, saturated jewel tones like amber, ruby, and dark teal. Some of my favorites: Essie Take It Outside (smoky neutral with gray undertones), Zoya Flynn (amber-based tan), 3.1 Phillip Lim for NARS in Hell-Bent (a dark ruby with subtle burnt orange tones), Estée Lauder in Arm Candy (a gorgeous matte metallic), Dior Carre Bleu (dark teal), Chanel Orage (a sandy navy), and Deborah Lippmann Harlem Nocturne (a periwinkle matte metallic).
Q: Nail art’s been around for a while. Why is it still in for fall? And, how the heck do you decide what design to get?
A: Nail art can reflect your mood, express your individuality, give you a sense of style, and become a true accessory. At Paintbox, we create seasonal look books we use to showcase my favorite brands and colors, as well as mild-to-wild design options. There’s no suffering from decision fatigue—we’ve done the homework for you by selecting of-the-moment designs, trends, and colors that suit every style and personality. Here’s a sneak peek at our fall/winter looks:
Q: So what do you do if you’re still not sure about this whole nail art thing? How do you dip your toe into the trend?
A: For nail art newbies, I’d suggest an accent nail with some adornment with a nail stud (we source ours on special buying trips to Japan) or a touch of metallic foil or glitter—simultaneously chic but statement-making. Negative space nail art—when a bit of your bare nail peeks through—is also a very chic way to step into the nail art space. When you wear negative space at the bottom with a design on the top part of the nail, the bonus is that it also helps disguise any regrowth.
The full fall/winter look book will debut at Paintbox on September 13th. Not heading to NYC anytime soon? Show us how you’ve incorporated Eleanor’s advice into your fall manicure by tweeting me a pic @EllenMillerBty with the hashtag #BHGBeauty.
