Creative Nail Design

Because runway-inspired Creative Nail Design lacquers are a favorite and regular accessory to our BeansTalk COO and Managing Editor, we sought out Jan Arnold, founder of Creative Nail Design, to comment on nail trends for those readers keeping up with the latest from Milan and Paris, and for the average soccer mom sporting khakis and layered tees.

BeansTalk (A.A.Goodwin): What manicure looks are changing as we transition from summer into fall?

Jan Arnold: Nails are strong, short and tailored in the darkest blackberry Fedora from our fall 2006 collection. Wearing dark, almost black nails is a very bold, confident and glamorous beauty statement. Or, the evolution of summer’s bright corals is the new classic brick red called Tweed. It looks really modern; it’s a color that we haven’t seen in makeup in decades and it looks incredibly hip. A third option this fall is the new metallic reds – either bright or dark with a hint of brown. No matter what, nails are a bold finishing statement; they are not left bare – it’d look like you hadn’t finished getting dressed.

BeanbTalk: Some of us have trouble maintaining long nails. You have good news for us?

Jan Arnold: The nail for Fall 2006 is short and tailored and enameled in inky dark teal, raisin or burgundy. The colors are so heavily pigmented they look black until they catch the light. The darks are highlighted with rich creamy fuchsia, ochre or vermillion. Think an ETRO paisley or a Dutch master painting.

BeansTalk: Thanks for taking the time, Ms. Arnold!

More on Creative: What BeansTalk Recommends

When introducing their fall line, Creative Nail Design created a special collection of hues which were inspired by four couture themes for fall. These exclusive and modern shades range from extreme darks to playful lights , as evidenced and inspired by the clothing lines of Venexiana, Vivienne Westwood, Ghost, Boudicca, and Betsey Johnson. The nail and clothing designer looks each have personalities. They are:

Courtesan, defined by poetic, rich, billowy fabrics. Large bows, lace, taffeta ruffles, velvet peep-toe shoes. Nails are perfectly manicured in deep metallic burgundy enamel called Baroque, as seen at Douglas Hannant.

London Lolita, the tomboy that loves makeup, wears lots of plaid, short hair, dark eyes, and DIY bright Crayola color manicures. On short nails, she polishes in Hand-Me-Down, a vintage in feel, posh fuchsia cream. Seen at Betsey Johnson.

Perfect Mis-Match, artfully layered textures in juxtaposing colors, swingy skirts and chunky knits go with longer, cheerful nails polished in Perfect Mis-Match, a full-bodied ruby shimmer, or Flounce enamel, a butterscotch hue laced with flecks of gold. Seen at Issa.

sHE, has a definitive, powerful style and wears tailored menswear that shows curves but not skin. Nails are certainly not subtle. Groomed hands show off short dark nails in Fedora enamel, a slick, swarthy brown-red crème, or Tweed enamel, the evolution of summer coral, a velvety russet crème thick with pigment. Seen at Issa, Ellen Tracy, and Ashley Isham.

We are such fans of Creative Nail Design that we could not pick a favorite from this collection. We love all six of the above shades. The brights are surprisingly wearable and compliment rather than compete with our wardrobe. Why not wear them all?

Look for Creative Nail Design products in professional salons, spas and beauty supply stores, and on www.goindulge.com or www.bebeautiful.com. They retail for about $6.00. For local salon information, visit www.creativenaildesign.com.