When it comes to fall fashion, some things just make sense together—pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters, chilly days and chunky scarves, and this season, fall and the stunning hue that is burgundy.

Burgundy is having a major moment in fashion right now, and its presence on the Autumn/Winter 2024 runways has been impossible to miss. From head to toe, this rich, deep color has been spotted everywhere, whether in garments, accessories, beauty products, or handbags. If you’re looking for a color that can elevate your look while exuding elegance and warmth, burgundy is the one for this season.

Burgundy State of Mind

This season’s fashion tour is awash with shades of burgundy. From deep cherry tones to warm, brown-infused reds, it has infused the runway shows from brands like Bottega Veneta, Gucci, and Saint Laurent with an irresistible sense of luxury and richness. You’ll see burgundy gracing everything from headbands and nail polish to stunning shoes and tailored coats. This color serves as the perfect way to add a velvet touch to any outfit, and it’s versatile enough to be both sophisticated and bold.

Whether you’re going for a full burgundy ensemble or simply incorporating burgundy accessories into your look, you’ll be radiating that girl energy all season long.

Nailed It: Burgundy Nails

If you’re not quite ready for head-to-toe burgundy, why not dip your fingers into the trend? Burgundy nails are the season’s hottest manicure choice, adding just the right amount of drama to any outfit.

Celebrities like Kylie Jenner have already made a statement with dark cherry or brown- red hues, bringing a mix of boldness and elegance to their fingertips.

Whether you’re into short, square nails or long, almond-shaped ones, a rich burgundy polish adds a touch of sophistication and attitude. Here are some shades you can try to get that perfect fall manicure:

£ £8.99

Essie nail polish shearling darling

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– Essie “Shearling Darling” – A deep red perfect for fall transitions.

£ £8.99

Mylee Diva Gel Polish 10ml

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– Mylee “Diva Gel Polish” – A bold burgundy shade that adds drama to any outfit.

£ £15.60

OPI We the Female Nail Polish

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– OPI “We the Female” – A rich red that’s a bit brighter but still in the burgundy family.

Fenty’s new glossbomb on the colour palette of burgundy.

£ £23

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick

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Cherry on My Feet: Burgundy Shoes

During Paris Fashion Week 2024, burgundy shoes were on fire!

Cardi B, spotted in Alexander McQueen, and Gwyneth Paltrow, gracing the Yves Saint Laurent show, made it clear that burgundy is the statement color of choice this season. Both stars opted for neutral outfits, allowing their burgundy footwear to take center stage.

For a perfectly coordinated look, pair burgundy heels with neutral tones like cream, beige, or gray. Whether you’re into sleek velvet or glossy patent finishes, burgundy shoes add an unexpected pop to any outfit.

We’ve curated a list of the best burgundy shoes, so you can stay on-trend:

£ £350

Stuart Weitzman LORALEI MARY JANE

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£ £325

Ganni Burgundy Feminine Buckle Ballerinas

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£ £264

New Balance 1906R “Burgundy Black” sneakers

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£ £330

Tory Burch Ballet Loafers

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£ £750

Maison Margiela Tabi new ballerina

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Burgundy Bags: The Must-Have Accessory

Let’s face it—burgundy handbags are this season’s ultimate must-have. From deep reds transitioning into dark burgundy, bags in this color are the perfect way to add both sophistication and edge to your ensemble. Whether you opt for a sleek bucket bag or a structured tote, a burgundy handbag can instantly elevate your entire look.

Check out some of the hottest picks:

£ £3000

Loewe Large Flamenco purse in mellow nappa lambskin

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£ £1350

Saint Laurent Mini LE 5 À 7 in patent leather

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£ £49.99

ZARA METAL DETAIL MINAUDIÈRE

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£ £1590

Jil Sander Goji leather shoulder bag

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Burgundy Outfits: Go All In

If you’re ready to fully embrace the burgundy trend, why not go all in? We’ve seen burgundy outfits dominate the Spring 2025 runway, from Bottega Veneta’s python shirt to Saint Laurent’s head-to-toe burgundy tailoring. So investing in a burgundy coat or matching set means you’ll be ahead of the game next year too.

Image Credits: Vogue Runway

Image Credits: Vogue Runway

Bottega Veneta SS25

Image Credits: Vogue Runway

Yves Saint Laurent SS25

Some of our favorite burgundy pieces include :

£ £29.99

Zara TAILORED WAISTCOAT

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Zara’s Tailored Waistcoat – A chic, structured vest perfect for layering.

£ £330

Gucci Interlocking G sunglasses

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Gucci Interlocking G Sunglasses – Add a touch of burgundy with these stunning frames.

£ £365

Nana Jacqueline Mirabel Faux Leather Jacket

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£ £211

Nana Jacqueline Mirabel Faux Leather Skirt

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Nana Jacqueline Faux Leather Jacket and Skirt Set

£ £561

Nicholas Ascha long-sleeve dress

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Nicholas Long-Sleeved Robe – For those ready to bring the drama.

Burgundy in my plate

Burgundy isn’t just a color to wear—it’s also a color to savor.

This season, we’re loving the inclusion of deep red fruits like mulberries, grapes, and figs in our diets. Rich in antioxidants, these fruits are perfect for keeping your body healthy while giving your skin a natural glow. So while you’re rocking your burgundy outfit, don’t forget to indulge in the health benefits of these gorgeous, seasonal fruits.

Burgundy is more than just a color this season—it’s a vibe. From bold nail polish to head- to-toe outfits, this versatile hue will have you standing out and feeling elegant all autumn long. With its balance of depth, warmth, and richness, burgundy is undeniably the it color of Autumn/Winter 2024. Whether you’re a trendsetter or someone looking to refresh your wardrobe, there’s no doubt that embracing burgundy will keep you on top of the fashion game this season.

Words By:

The post Burgundy Frenzy: Autumn/Winter’s Hottest Colour appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Gems  

Our first nail inspo look is super glam and very eye-catching. These nails rock an illuminating green ombre nail tip with some 3D nail accessories to accompany them. The ombre nail effect is a classic and one that always goes down a treat for its natural but dressy appearance. 

Green is on trend for the season of spring as it resembles the colour of growth that this season manifests. To achieve the 3D effect that these nails style such as the pearls and bow jewels, you can simply use some nail adhesive to stick some glamorous and bold accessories onto your nails. This will help to level up the set and make them look super glam and fancy. These nails are very eye-catching and perfect for the new season.  

£ 32

Mylee Be Jewelled Nail Art Kit

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£ 1

Hobby Craft Assorted Adhesive Pearls

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£ 2.50

Boots Quick Drying Nail Glue

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£ 7

OPI Make Rainbows Nail Lacquer

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Sparkling Flowers 

We couldn’t have a spring nail inspo look book without including some flowery designs within our top picks. This next set is absolutely gorgeous and gives off almost bridal, angelic energy as the manicure includes a white sparkly French tip in an almond-shaped nail with white dainty flowers running down the side.  

This manicure nail art is very advanced so some trial and error may be expected when trying this nail design for the first time. But don’t let that dishearten you, once perfected these nails will look incredible and can be worn in a variety of shades. Feel free to spice it up with some alternative colours if that’s more of your vibe as this nail look is very versatile.  

We recommend using a nail pen for this design as it is very fiddly and precise so a nail pen would be your best bet. Alternatively, a thin nail brush would also do the trick to create the small petals of the flowers. We recommend taking your time with this design as it requires patience and a steady hand.  

£ 10

Nails Inc Mani Marker Nail Art Pen Trio

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£ 5

Mylee dotting tool

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£ 3.99

Barry M Cosmetics Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint

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£ 14

Manucurist Diamant Nail Polish

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Pastel Daisy

If you loved the idea of having some flowers on your spring manicure but our previous look was a little too fiddly and precise for your liking, this next look might suit your taste better. These nails are short and boxed-shaped with a pastel purple tip that has a daisy cartoon on one of the nails on each hand. These nails look really fun and groovy and are a perfect look for our lovers of all things minimal and chic.  

The pastel tip on these nails is super easy to do, all that is needed is a thin nail brush and the nail polish of your choosing. For the daisy, you can buy nail stickers that look like daisies and simply stick them onto your nails. This is a super easy and quick way of achieving the look and doesn’t leave anything up to chance as you are guaranteed to achieve a beautiful manicure set regardless of your artistic abilities.  

£ 6.39

Essie 37 Lilacism Nail Polish

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£ 3.99

Double Ended Nail Art Pens Kit

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£ 1.19

3D Nail Sticker Daisy Flowers Nail Decals

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Purple Ombre 

If you’re a fan of classic nail colour and want to keep your nails looking professional, this purple ombre manicure is perfect for you. This ombre look is super easy to achieve, even though the results look like it requires more effort than is needed.  

All you need for this look are the colours you wish to choose and a sponge. Simply paint your base in your desired colour and then apply the colours you want in the ombre on the back of a sponge. Then simply dab your sponge onto the top of your nails to create the ombre effect. And voila, your ombre nails have been created.  

This manicure set is super pretty and very stylish. It can be worn all year round and would look incredible in the summer too thanks to the bright combination of colours. 

£ 7

OPI Go To Grape Lengths Nail Lacquer

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£ 16

Nail Berry Pink Guava

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£ 5.99

DBOO Nail Art Sponges

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Yellow Butterflies 

We are obsessed with this next manicure set look; it is incredibly cute and oozes spring energy. This pastel yellow manicure with a yellow butterfly on top is undeniably cute for the season of spring. The colour yellow reminds us of easter and easter egg hunts, so having a little butterfly on top ties in that theme nicely and gives off a lovely feel to the manicure set.  

For your yellow tips, simply trace out where you want to apply the coloured tip with a thin nail brush and paint in the colour of your choosing. For the added butterfly accessory, nail glue is all you’ll need. This look is super easy and super adorable, perfect just in time for spring.  

£ 4.59

VEGCOO Gold 3D Butterfly Cupcake Toppers

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£ 1.99

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint Banana Split

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Pastels and Pinks  

The final look that has given us some inspiration for our spring nails is a collection of manicures that are sheer, pink, pastel and accessorised.  

For the nails with the coloured tips, as previously mentioned all you’ll need is a handy nail brush tool that is thin and can cut the tips of your nails nicely with a thin line for the coloured top.  

If the sheer reflective nails caught your eye, then don’t panic, they aren’t as hard as they may appear. All you need is a lovely sheer nail polish that will be able to give you that sheer reflective aesthetic.  

For the starry accessories, you can purchase some stick-on gems or stickers to help create this effect. You can also use a nail pen to doddle the designs that you want on your nails. Using a nail pen will give you the freedom to be creative with your designs and not be dictated to by the stickers or gems that are available.  

£ 4.13

Mavala Pastel Fiesta Mini Collection

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£ 18

Mylee manicure tools kit

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£ 9.99

Passione Nails Fleurs de Madrid

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Words By Sophia-fai Roche

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The post Refresh Those Nails With These Spring Trends appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Gel-X nails have been trending online recently as celebs and beauty enthusiasts style these nails or attempt to create their own Gel-X nails at home with DIY kits. This form of manicure is so popular due to its durability, as it can last up to three weeks and doesn’t take long to be created. So, let’s break it down and see why Gel X nail extensions are starting to dominate the nail industry.  

_{^{Image Credits: @kookiiesangel, @paularigsby4111, @imerikamarie}}

What are Gel-X nail extensions? 

Gel-X nail extensions are an amazing alternative to the hard gel or acrylic nails that up until now have dominated the nail scene. These nails have the texture of a soft gel polish and the length of a press-on nail, so really, it’s the best of both worlds. Gel-X nails do not sit at the top of your nails as acrylics do, but rather they cover the entirety of the nail which reduces the pressure on the tip of your nails. Gel-X can come in any shape and size you want so don’t worry, there is no restriction on the nail art or designs that you may be looking for. Many people favour acrylic due to the lack of restrictions on the length of your nail that you can have, but with Gel-X this isn’t a problem.  

The beauty of these extensions is that they look and feel so natural and are actually a lot healthier for your real nails than other forms of nail extensions. Gel-x is also healthier for you and your manicurist, as it is no surprise that the chemical used is extremely hazardous that can cause skin irritation and respiratory issues among other things. 

How long do Gel-X nails last? 

If Gel-X nails haven’t already won you over, they sure will once you hear about how long they last, as these little gems can last up to 3-4 weeks! Not only that but if you are worried that your lovely new manicure might get chipped or damaged as you partake in daily tasks then fret no more, as these bad boys when installed correctly will not lift, which reduces the likelihood of them chipping. 

Another pro of this style of manicure is that, unlike acrylics, you can remove them and re-paint them as many times as you like, without worrying about having to get them refilled.   

Is the removal easy?  

One of the major unique selling points of this type of manicure is how easy they are to remove. Due to Gel-X nails being made of gel, you can remove this manicure set the same way you would remove gel nails, simply soak them in acetone. This is one of the major pros of the Gel-X extensions as their minimal invasive properties mean that they are much friendlier to your natural nails and are not as aggressive as acrylics can be.  

 DIY  

One of the best things about this type of manicure is that you can also do it yourself! There is an array of Gel-X extension nail kits online to choose from that allow you to create your own Gel-X nails from home. Amazon is inundated with a variety of kits that you can choose from which are perfect for beginners to try, as they teach you how to apply the nails, while also giving you the freedom to customise them however you like.  

The first few attempts may take a while to do as they can be fiddly, but you’ll soon get the hang of it and by doing it yourself it is a more budget-friendly option than going to the salon every month. TikTok, YouTube and Instagram have lots of tutorials that help showcase how to apply these nail sets so don’t feel overwhelmed if you’re not entirely sure what you are doing.

£ 29.99

SXC Cosmetics Gel X Nail Extension Kit

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£ 25.99

Beetles Nail Tips and Glue Gel Kit

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£ 129.99

Mylee Full Works Complete Gel Polish Kit

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It is fair to say that Gel-X nail extensions are an amazing alternative to the acrylic and hard gel manicures that have historically been more popular in salons. The soft nature of these nails and the lack of invasiveness they have mean that they are a more sustainable option both for the health of your nails and regarding how long they last. Gel-X nails are a game changer in the world of nails, and we expect their popularity to continue to rise as more and more people try out this new nail look. 

Words By: Sophia-Fai Roche

^{Image Credits: @kookiiesangel}

The post Gel-X Nails: Are They Worth The Hype? appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Manicurist, Zola Ganzorigt, has created the most gorgeous, glazed doughnut manicure and no one is as obsessed with them as Hailey Bieber. She used them as a prop and theme for her brand Rhode Skin, which is supposed to give you glowy and radiant skin that reminds you of a glazed doughnut. Of course, it has broken the internet and is going viral on TikTok. She wore them to the Met Gala in May; luckily, she is finally showing us how to achieve this gorgeous look. 

The obsession with Zola’s new nail trend is simple – the glazed doughnut nails are the perfect summer nail. With their simple but elegant look, they look amazing with every outfit. Whether going to a wedding, a date or to the beach, this manicure fits every occasion, elevating your outfit or giving you a put-together look. On TikTok, the trend has risen in popularity; the hashtag #glazeddonutnails has been viewed over 5 million times. Even stars like Sydney Sweeney and Vanessa Hudgens are spotted with this look. 

We will show you how to recreate this versatile manicure. Hailey’s manicurist Zola is showing us how she achieved the glazed doughnut look on Instagram. First, she applies OPI Base coat on her nail and cures it under the UV lamp for 30 second. The she applies one coat of a white gel polish, and cures it for 60 seconds. After she cured her top coat for 60 seconds, the magic happens. She wipes her nails with alcohol and with an applicator, Zola rubs loose chromatic powder into her nails, giving her the shiny glazed look. She finishes with another layer of top coat. 

£ 6.95

Halo Gel Nails LED/UV Gel Polish – French White

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£ 4.95

Halo Gel Nails Create Nail Art Chrome Powder

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£ 13.90

Halo Gel Nails LED/UV Gel Polish Treatments – None Wipe Topcoat & Basecoat Duo Set

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On TikTok, Hailey Bieber shows us a different variation for everyone who wants a hint of colour. She mixes her colour of choice, a nude, with clear polish to make the gel polish thinner. The rest of the process is the same. 

Don’t worry if you don’t want to use gel polishes. It is effortless to recreate this look with regular polish. Use one coat of sheer white nail polish and add a topcoat with pearl effect. Or you can even use eyeshadow to create the shimmer effect. Seal it all in with a glossy top coat, and you are ready to show off your glazed doughnut nails. 

£ 14.30

OPI NAIL LACQUER – KYOTO PEARL

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£ 15.95

OPI INFINITE SHINE NAIL POLISH – FUNNY BUNNY

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Words by Maxi Pfeifer

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The post How To Get The Perfect Glazed Doughnut Manicure This Summer With Zola Ganzorigt appeared first on Voir Fashion.

It’s nearing 2 months since the nail salon became a fond, distant memory. With our gel pedicures very much on their last legs (and I’m not even going to get into what’s happening underneath!) our feet have definitely seen better days. It doesn’t look like anything is going to change anytime soon, and seen as the state of most people’s toes right now is verging on offensive (even if we are just sitting in the house), we spoke to celebrity nail technician Pina, the owner of Finesse Nails London, who let us in on how to achieve a salon-worthy pedicure, done by your own fair hands!

What you’ll need:

• Cuticle pusher

• Nail file

• Nail buffer

• Base coat

• White gel polish

• Top coat

• Chrome powder

• Cuticle oil

• Nail lamp

Cuticle pusher

Nail file

Nail buffer

Base coat

White gel polish

Top coat

Chrome powder

Cuticle oil

Nail lamp

Check out Finesse Nails on their Instagram @finessenails_london

Words by Ella Winfield

Graphics by Katie Janes

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The post How to Get the Perfect At Home Pedicure With Finesse Nails London appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Jacqueline Do (known in the business as Jay Deau), is the woman who jets from fashion week to fashion week creating the nail looks with a team we see swishing their way down the runways of the fashion elite talks to us about everything from what the next big nail trend is, to the priciest manicure she’s given.

How many shows have you done so far?

That’s a very good question. I’ve always counted, but I don’t do that anymore because I go to so many that I just don’t know anymore- countless amounts!

What’s been your favourite show so far?

I think the Moschino show, they’re always so amazing and creative. But a personal goal for me was the Chanel show.

Jay’s designs taken from her Instagram @jaydeau

Can you tell us how you got into doing nails in the first place?

I used to always go to Vietnam because my heritage is Vietnamese. When I went, my mum used to always get her nails done in Saigon. I always remember, this lady did my mum’s nails with a toothpick and created flowers with it. Can you imagine, I was four, and this was my first interaction with nail art. I thought it’s really cool that she was making flowers, I was amazed by it! After that, I asked my parents to buy me some of my own Polish so I could do it on myself and that was my first interaction with nails. First I did it on myself over the years, and got myself qualified in gel and acrylics, and then at one point I wasn’t sure if I could make a name for myself, so I switched jobs and got into IT, I used to be a project manager. I was in IT for a very long time, I think around 7 to 8 years and at one point I really miss being creative, and I was only polishing my own nails with normal nail varnish and I didn’t know what to do, I was really missing the creative part of it. I was like I’m qualified, I can just do it on the side. I was always keeping up with trends and I was always looking online and following the fashion like hey what can I do next.

Where do you get your inspiration for your work from?

My inspiration comes from my travels, all the culture, where I come from and what I see. I just went to India for example and it was so colourful. Or if I’m backstage at a show I look at the collection, the colours, what is in that season.

Jay’s designs taken from her Instagram @jaydeau

Where do you think your passion for nails comes from?

The moment I realised people get so happy about their nails. You know the moment where you go to the salon or find the right nail artist and that person really gets you, it’s a good feeling watching them work. I also have admiration for another nail artist. It’s such a good feeling knowing that I can give that feeling to another person.

Who inspired you growing up?

I never had anyone really, as I grew up in the Netherlands in a very very small town. There was nobody who could inspire you, and we didn’t have internet, so I suppose going through Vogue, Elle magazines inspired me.

So far what’s been your favourite nail design to create?

I really really like flames, it’s an all-time classic. There’s also this wavy checkboard pattern that looks so nice on short and long nails. Then the French manicure is also an all-time classic but in loads of different colours.

What’s been your craziest design so far?

One time I was asked to paint the ‘Dragon Ball Z’ characters in a very short period of time. Nowadays though nothing’s that crazy anymore, its more about challenges, but I like challenges! Everything is possible; pearls, long nails, crystals. Something that was cool but also very challenging was what we did for Marc Jacobs where we used the fabric from the collection on the nails.

Jay’s designs taken from her Instagram @jaydeau

What’s the most expensive manicure you’ve ever given or had?

I went to Korea once and I got my nails done and it was 300 euro’s. You would have expected some crazy things, but it wasn’t, it was just painted nails. I got lilac and dark purple and on one finger I had some crystals- my fiancé was really not happy with Me. We once spent Christmas in LA and had an appointment with this celebrity nail artist that I was following for a long time on Instagram. She’s known for crazy nails, so I got them very long with a combination of a lot of gold charms and red. I was so excited that my boyfriend booked a hotel near her spot because I was so hyped up about it. I only paid around $180.00 and I was pretty surprised because I was willing to pay a lot more. The most expensive one I’ve ever given was around 250$- it was all Swarovski crystals.

Would you rather never wear makeup again or never have your nails done for the rest of your life?

Never wear makeup 100%

Long or short nails?

Long

Bright or neutral?

Bright

Pattern or plain nails?

Pattern

What do you predict is the next big nail craze?

The French is already making a comeback. What’s really coming back is the really 90s vibe really long French also those 90s vibe swirly Flowers are making a comeback.

What do you think is next for you?

I’m busy with starting my own business with nail polish, I’m trying to create my own brand.

Jay’s designs taken from her Instagram @jaydeau

Check out Jay’s designs on Instagram ‘@jaydeau’.

Watch Voir x JAYDEAU’s video on ‘How To Remove Gel Nails At Home’

Interview by Ella Winfield

Cover by Katie Janes

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The post Meet Jay Deau: New York, London, Milan, Paris And… Cuticles appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Cardi-B, Rihanna and the Kardashian-Jenner clan have done to nails what the ‘Rachel’ did to 90s hairdressers and what Paris Hilton did for Juicy Couture tracksuits. Fake nails, fashion nails, nail extensions, or whatever you want to call them, are actually no modern revelation. They have been around for millennia, nail art dating as far back as Cleopatra. During the Egyptian period, false nails were worn as a status symbol (much like red lipstick) and made from bones, ivory or gold. Fake nails were also present during the Chinese Ming dynasty, adorned by both men and women, both to illustrate power and that they were not partaking in manual labour. During the 19th century, Greek women used emptied pistachio shells (thrifty) over their natural nails, symbolising opulence and prosperity. Let’s journey back over the past century.

1920s and 30s

The 1920s and 30s brought an upsurge in manicure appreciation; after the stock market crash in 1929, beautifully manicured nails became an easy and cost-effective way of maintaining some sense of luxury, femininity and glamour. Revlon launched their first product in 1932, nail polishes, in natural pinks and scarlet reds which helped curate the ‘half moon’ manicure style. The ‘half moon’ is where a rounded, almond-shaped nail is painted red and the moon (or lunula) and fingertips were left bare, or painted in a clear gloss. Nail appliques were invented

by Earl Tupper, creator of Tupperware, in 1937 – whatta guy.

1940s and 50s

The 1940s and 50s was an exciting and culture-shifting era; whilst the perennial solid red almond shaped nail prevailed, shorter, oval shaped pale pink nails also came to the fore. This was emblematic of a political and social shift because women were now entering the workforce and needed something more practical. The proliferation of glamorised drinking and smoking adverts all espoused gorgeously manicured round nails as an extension of your sexuality and femininity. Acrylic nails came about in 1954 when dentist Fred Slack accidentally invented it after he broke his own nail and attempted to create a false one using dental acrylics as a replacement. From that point on, acrylic, orange-red and squoval shaped nails dominated the manicured housewives of the 50s as nails suddenly became more practical and withstanding.

1960s

The 1960s showed natural and square-shaped nails in pearly pinks and peach shades; Cher inaugurated the square nail when she asked her manicurist for “something different”. Dior became the first couture house to debut nail varnish in 1962. Shade? Red, obviously.

1970s and 80s

During the 1970s and 80s, whilst hippies opted for short, unfinished and natural low maintenance nails, the disco divas loved to show off pastel shades with a pearly sheen on a dramatized long oval shape. Dental supply company Odontorium Products Inc. (sound familiar yet?) started converting its denture acrylics into products for finger nails and shortened its name to OPI, which revolutionised the nail extension technique by providing a larger, more stable and smoother nail canvas for detailed and intricate nail art. The 1980s saw long, squoval neon-coloured nails, pioneered by Madonna herself, poking out of those lace gloves.

1990s and early 2000s

The square and squoval-shaped nail remained dominant in the 1990s and early 2000s. Short, chipped, bitten nails suited the emo-chick and raver, and both men and women alike started painting their nails in darker hues of purple, navy and black. Chanel’s Rouge Noir/Vamp characterised the 90s thanks to their appearance on Uma Thurman’s fingernails in Pulp Fiction, and the fact the shade emulated dried blood. Nail art became increasingly popular thanks to the rise of hip-hop artists like Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim and since then has been the source of contention. Often sported by black women, long, acrylic nails proved to be politically and socially potent and controversial. It was seen as tantamount to low-income, ‘trashiness’ and ‘tackyness’ – until white people started doing it. Nail art, however, does not have one solid culture that it can lay claim to, so it’s difficult to subject it to appropriation, although it’s important to recognise and examine its evolution in mainstream media and conversation.

In recent years, there has been the rising popularity of the ‘accent nail’, where one nail is painted or bedazzled differently. This may have been born out of economic austerity; individual nail sets can cost between $5/10 per nail, so it may be a way for the average woman to break into the trend when they cannot afford a whole set. An accent on the pinkie finger was coined the ‘party nail’ which is basically a more genteel way of saying the ‘cocaine nail’. Also, lest we forget, Lindsay Lohan chose her middle finger as her accent during her 2010 court appearance. Iconic.

The act of a manicure is as important as the nails themselves. Salons are usually an all female space, so it feels non-competitive and safe, an environment to relax and zone out in. Because of the nature of manicures, it forces you to be off your phone for upwards of an hour, promoting a sort of enforced time-out. Nails are as cheap or an expensive habit as you make them, and their accessibility and individuality have undoubtedly underscored their popularity and longevity. Brooklyn White wrote for bitchmedia, “The process generally takes about an hour, and I always leave the salon feeling refreshed and dominant…I was unstoppable. I was the divine feminine.” Unlike other beauty trends, like false lashes and hair styles, nails can be enjoyed by the patron without the assistance of a mirror, so can be admired all day. Therefore, they want to be as exceptional as your outfit. And honestly, is there anything more satisfying than the tapping of a false nail on a keyboard or hard surface? Ask the ASMR industry.

Each era has bought a new shape or colour which was symbolic of the times they were living in. Manicured nails represent health and wealth, a small aesthetic clue that a percentage of your time and income was spent being waited on and indulged. Suzanne E. Shapiro, author of ‘Nails: The Story of the Modern Manicure’ writes, “Insecurities like age and body type don’t factor in, and as a short term beauty treatment, there’s never the regret of a bad haircut, dye job or even tattoo. You can choose a whole new style — and even identity — until you change your mind and then just rub, soak or clip it off.”

Photomontages by Luke Walwyn

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