This season, manicures were in a heightened state of bliss – in Lucite, gold foiling, high shine gray, and glam styles:

Many thanks to our entire team who worked tirelessly this week doing some of the best nails I’ve ever seen! They were the most delicate, refined and gorgeous looks I can imagine. Here are some of the early comments from designers:

“Just have to tell you how amazing the nails looked and that people have not stopped asking me about them since Monday. Please send my thank you to the team and I truly appreciate the support and collaboration. PERFECTION! Looking forward to working together next season, cant wait actually as I’m now looking at nails in a whole new light! You guys are fantastic.” – Norman Ambrose

“Yesterday’s event was one of a kind; I felt transported into a magical land, and this, thanks to your support and CND. Love you ladies from Diego and me.” -  Luz Solarez of Diego Binetti

The designer: Indian-born designer of ornate, intricately detailed red carpet gowns that are sold in the best stores in the world.

The collection: Colorful, racy, glamour with a big dose of shimmer, shine and heavy metal attitude!

The nail trend: ‘New Rock N Roll’ “Hematite Nails” for manicures and pedicures using saturated concrete gray Asphalt finished with Super Shiney Top Coat for a lustrous look. This sophisticated almond shape accentuated elaborately twisted buns and gorgeous red carpet-ready gowns on the runway.

Get the look: You’ll love this mani and pedi so much you’ll want to get CND Shellac in Asphalt, which guarantees mirror shine for two whole weeks!

On the docket are beautiful designers whom we love and are so honored to work with. The team has outdone itself with nails so rich and special. Let me show you:

The designer: Successful since 2004 with a refined collection of classic American sportswear with a romantic, masculine-feminine refinement.

The collection: Loose-fitting layered pieces – zippered two toned pants, gorgeous pale translucent raincoats, flowing, sheer dresses. Easy, chic and comfortable.

The Nail trend: ‘Organitech.’ “Rain Coat” manicures to match see-through jackets on the runway. The designer wanted the manicure shade to mirror the flesh tone underneath the nail plate, so CND custom-blended a nail stain using drops of Raspberry Parfait and Guava mixed with Speedey Top Coat.

The designer: Milly by Michelle Smith has a celebrity following (Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce and Victoria Beckham) as well has representation from the finest retailers in the business…all in the front row to see smart, stylish and modern looks.

The collection: Bold, geometric and intelligent clothes in cobalt, vermilion, jade and tangerine. Properly retro and fabulously modern!

The nail trend: ‘New Rock n’ Roll.’ Softly shaped, tailored nails were polished in custom-blended neon orange using a blend of Brilliant White, Bicycle Yellow, and Electric Orange, to accessorize hot pink lips and long lovely lashes.

Get the look: Spike this neon orange with new CND Additives, out November 2011 – pigments that amp up the color! Don’t forget Stickey for lasting wear!

The designer: Wayne Lee’s vision of futuristic fashion was honed during her years as a buyer for popular fashion haunt Barneys NY.

The collection: The ‘Bird of Prey’ theme set the stage for the mostly black and white collection with periodic blocks in vibrant royal blue. Feminine draping and body flattering shapes on top…masculine structure and strength below the waist.

The nail trend: ‘Organitech.’ ‘Black swan’ graffiti manicures were created using and base of Brilliant White with feathered and furious strokes of feathered graffiti with Blackjack on the tip of each nail to go with fierce, whited-out eyebrows and pecked-at nested hair.

Get the look: Tailor nails in a strong, yet sleek square-shaped tip…white-out and graffiti the edge in black.

The designers: The Blond design duo made their name in corsetry but have a cult following for their showmanship, artistry and ability to thrill!!!

The collection: The most intricate, priceless, hand-crafted, crystal encrusted corsets…this time in homage to Playboy!

The nail trend: ‘New Rock N’ Roll’. “Glitz & Glam” manicures for a collection inspired by 60′s Playboy glamour infused with the razzle-dazzle spectacle we all know and love. The 20 sets of nail tips took over 100 hours of manual labor to hand detail, and included a “Stockings Series” of manicures portraying fishnets, lacy tights and sexy seams. Vintage cosmic-shaped glass was imported from Germany to shape diamond-decadent nails that shined out loud in the spotlight.

Get the look: Pull out your wallet and go shopping for Swarovski crystals, vintage German glass and pure 24K gold!

The designer: Innovative, thought-provoking designs and elegance with hand-crafted, artistic detailing for a modern couture style.

The Collection: The set was a beautiful fantastical secret garden with models like living fairies in pin-tucked gowns and layers of silk chiffon and intricate beading. Any girl who wants to feel beautiful would lust for these dresses and gowns. A dream come true!

The nail trend: ‘New Rock N’ Roll’. Nails were dye stained in Raspberry Parfait against a clean Frosting Cream white background, then capped in gold and silver metal for an artisanal finish….or as Diego said, “for a little ghetto edge!” Toes were polished in Raspberry Parfait. Makeup embraced “mask as part of the model,” and hair was crimped and elaborately wrapped for a nighttime beauty look to remember.

Get the look: Formation Tips shaped in a soft square with layers of sponged Colour and chrome dipped tips.

The designer: This New Zealand-based designer (and lovely person) has her own perspective of today’s downtown cool chick! Eclectic, interesting and artistic…Karen has great commercial success globally with her iconic glasses, foot wear and easy, hip separates.

The collection: 50’s tablecloth prints, preppy-boy shorts suits, Lucy and Ethyl head wraps in mustard, royal blue and flashes of unexpected bright coral.

The nail trend: ‘Organitech.’ Nails were solidly coated in a custom blended “Murky Mustard” using Bicycle Yellow with 7 drops of Blackjack for a moody and rebellious youthful shade. Fresh faces had poppy orange lips and hair was pulled up in Victorian twists.

Get the look: Clean nails and dip in vats of murky mustard. Don’t be too neat!

Over the past six seasons that I have been reporting on Fashion Week nails, there is always one brand that stands out above the rest and that is, of course, CND.

Season after season the uber-creative team of Education Ambassadors working under Jan Arnold’s brilliant direction continue to create what I consider “aspirational nails.” As a DIYer I always come away from Fashion Week with new nail ideas thanks to CND. Whether it’s a custom blend, a unique way to layer Colour & Effects or an innovative technique, I have something interesting to bring home to my readers and this season is no exception.

For Spring 2012 I am loving the ombre nails that Wanda Ruiz created for Jen Kao, the clear lucite styles that demanded attention at Joy Cioci, Alexander Herchcovitch and Joanna Mastroianni and the glam rock checkered tips at Nicole Miller. And I can’t wait to replicate the new twist on nude that Candice Mannachio created at Kevork Kiledjian using Desert Suede, Jade Sparkle Effect and Washed Down White. I tell everyone and their mother to get involved with Colour & Effects and this is a perfect example of why. The way Washed Down White neutralizes the green in Jade Sparkle, allowing the delicate, flaky micas to stand out, makes the final look so much more than an everyday neutral.

Speaking of Joy Cioci, I was granted the experience of a lifetime when I strapped on a tool belt to assist the team working backstage. Learning how to properly apply and shape tips, crouching on the floor, chatting up the models (who were REALLY sweet) and being able to see the whole process of getting the models ready for the presentation was amazing. Being in the middle of such organized chaos and watching the calm in which the CND team goes to work only served to amplify the respect and awe I have for the amazing work they do.

Michelle Mismas
Founder, All Lacquered Up – The first nail focused beauty blog

The designer: Fantastical yet utilitarian, freaky yet playfully wearable…all words that describe the Brazilian-born designer’s vision, who is a global favorite with cool hipsters from Japan, Brazil, China and NYC.

The collection: disheveled elegance of 40′s, 50’s 60’s with feminine golden silks, intricate embroidery and elaborate beading.The nail trend: “Sugar Babe” manicures dazzled with shimmery white glitter on clear tips – fit for Sugar Plum Fairies on summer holiday. The nails were created using Air Dry Top Coat on the entire nail, with fine white sparkle sprinkled on top, and an additional sweep of Air Dry down the middle, loaded up with more glitter. Eyes were shimmery iridescent to match nails.

Get the look: Apply a clear tip in a barely-there extension in a soft oval shape, coat with clear Brisa Gel and drizzle white glitter down the center of the nails. Seal with Brisa Gloss.

The designer:

The collection: St. Tropez chic…’sun glistening on the Mediterranean like a sea of diamonds’.  High glam 60′s pieces straight out of vintage Vogue – for the sexy, exotic woman who swims in her diamonds….$22 million dollars of Verdura jewels sparkled on the runway!!)

The nail trend: ‘Treasured Antiquities’…meets ‘New Rock N’ Roll.’
We created six different high-style two-tone nail fashions to adorn and accessorize every look:
1) Flashpoint iced with 24K Sparkle Effect for a gilded French tip
2) Flashpoint topped with Poppyfield, acid washed with a quick sweep of acetone for texture
3) Gold Chrome topped with Copper Chrome, finished with acetone wash
4) Gold Chrome edged with Blackjack and gold leafing
5) Desert Suede topped with Ice Blue Shimmer, edged with Silver Chrome

Get the Look: Go long and strong in a sleek almond shape with Retention+ Liquid & Powder, then stroke on the riches!