One of my favorite shows during New York Fashion Week is The Blonds. The brand is known for in-your-face accessories and makeup and nails, and this season was no exception. Every season they do something big and bold to keep the masses excited and ready for more!
NYFW may be ending but the fashion and beauty looks and trends are still rolling in! You all know that I am a huge admirer of gaudy (but fashionable) looks you can easily replicate on and off the runway, so I am always looking to see what designers are doing and how we can replicate.
Jan Arnold, the beloved co-founder of CND, single-handedly selected Julie Kandalec and Lavette Cephus to lead the nail looks for the show.
In April 2021, Jan launched Julie K Nail Artelier, an exclusive, by-appointment-only nail art studio in Manhattan offering one-of-a-kind manicure services including high-end nail enhancements, gel polish, sculpting gel, acrylic, acrygel, soft gel full coverage tips, enhancement removal, and a variety of intricate and detailed levels of nail art.
THE BLONDS latest collection is a tribute to the first summer they shared—filled with escapism, glamor, and nightlife in New York City—and all about excess style. The collection features the signature over-the-top looks with golden hardware and crystals, which can be seen dripping off the clothes and the nails.
What makes the CND x The Blonds years-long partnership so unique is that The Blonds were one of the first shows that started incorporating nail art into its looks, putting nails on the map on the runway. THE BLONDS are designers that are known for creating collections that are over the top with a rebellious twist.
From nail campaigns to backstage at New York Fashion Week, Julie Kandalec is the nail professional editors, designers, and celebrities call to make their dream nails come to life. The founding creative director of Paintbox in New York City, Julie made chic and on-trend nail art accessible to a mainstream clientele and now shares her years of experience with salons, schools, spas, and hotels around the world.
Her clients include Selena Gomez, Pete Davidson, Dove Cameron, Jessica Chastain, Joe Jonas, Mariah Carey, Camila Cabello, Emma Roberts, and Hailee Steinfeld. Her work has been featured in Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Vogue, WWD, and on campaigns for Chanel, CND, Dior Beauty, YSL Beauty, Tiffany & Co., Glossier, Bobbi Brown, Urban Decay, and Maybelline.
Lavette is a Master Nail Artist & Owner of Beautè Asylum Salon, as well as a mother to two. Lavette has traveled across the US to master her craft, network, and stay up on the latest and newest trends that the fast pace beauty industry has to offer. She has a true passion for Nails and Skin.
In January 2015 She was named NAILS NEXT TOP NAIL ARTIST. After winning the Global Nail Art Competition. She has gone on to do editorial work including Nails Magazine cover, Beauty Link Magazine, and ESSENCE MAGAZINE. Lavette aspires to open many Beautè Asylum Salon locations and become a renowned beauty industry mentor/educator.
The Blonds Nail Look
Now, you may be wondering how one gets this look at home, and thankfully it’s pretty simple. Here is the breakdown for those epic chain nails:
1. Apply one coat of CND™ PLEXIGEL™ Bonder to coat the nail with a bonding base coat
2. Apply one coat of CND™ Shellac™ No-Wipe+ Top Coat followed by gold chrome powder
3. Finish with CND™ Shellac™ No-Wipe+ Top Coat for high shine and long-lasting wear
4. Using CND™ PLEXIGEL™ Builder, embellish:
- The tips of the nails with gold chain from the designers’ pieces for Dipped in Chain
- Position the chain in a continuous flow down the nail bed for Wrapped in Chain
- Frame the nail using one long chain strand, and another shorter strand down the center of the nail for Framed in Chain
Would you rock these nails?
