Emerald City

When it comes to hands and feet, it’s very easy being green.

November 2009

Unorthodox nail colors have a tendency to go quickly from shock inducing to ubiquitous. Remember the first time you saw Chanel Vamp? Now green is poised to become the new It color. “Green has a very Ralph Lauren-by-the-fireside feel to it,” says Nonie Creme, cofounder of nail polish line Butter London, who created a shade called British Racing Green. “Because it’s anchored in preppiness, it’s not so scary.”

green nail polish

From left: Green nail polishes from Dashing Diva, OPI, Hard Candy, Illamasqua, Rescue Beauty Lounge and Barielle, artistically crafted at left.

Among the season’s offerings are emerald (Illamasqua’s Rampage) and bright olive (Barielle’s Polished Princess). Most take their cue from the great outdoors. There’s the grassy tone of Enchanted Forest by Orly; the black-green that characterizes CND’s Oilslick, Cosmic Ray by Np2 and Here Today…Aragon Tomorrow by OPI; and a pine hue, which shows up in Dashing Diva’s Grand Central Station and two different polishes named Envy (one by Hard Candy, the other by Zoya).

Rescue Beauty Lounge owner Ji Baek, who formulated a muted stem shade, Orbis Non Sufficit, for fall, loves the trend. “Green is very sophisticated while also having a soft touch,” she says, adding that it has the benefit of operating like a neutral. “It goes with everything!”

Comments

Post a Comment
Subscribe to Wmagazine.com
Give the Gift of Wmagazine.com

W Blogs

W Online Exclusives
Beauty on the Blog

W's beauty team reports the latest on the Editors' Blog.

Every Tuesday we interview one of the industry's top models. Check out our archive of model Q&As, updated weekly.

The seven best lip balms on the market.
Inside Wmagazine.com
Diet Doctors

Feeling porcine on Park Avenue? Here, W's guide to the top six weight-loss gurus to Manhattan's jetset.
Feminine Mystic

A revealing interview with Christiane Northrup, Oprah's fave feminine mystic.
Gone, Baby, Gone

What beauty addicts do when their favorite products are discontinued.
Aged and Confused

The real science behind warding off wrinkles. (April 2008)
The Acne Diet

Candy and pizza don't cause breakouts—or do they? (November 2007)
Pregnant Pause

Doctors rethink unexplained infertility. (March 2008)
Stay a While

Are almost-permanent facial fillers the ultimate fix? (January 2008)
Left to Your Own Devices

Self-service beauty gadgets bring doctors’ high-tech weapons home. (July 2005)

W Newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest on fashion, art and style delivered to your email inbox.

Subscribe to Wmagazine.com

W Newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest on fashion, art and style delivered to your email inbox.

Christy Turlington Burns

Maurizio Cattelan

In a world created by Cattelan, Linda Evangelista stars as saint and sinner.

W Blogs

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

Domestic Bliss

The Steven Klein shoot that started it all: Mr. and Mrs. Smith costars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie play house in Palm Springs. (July 2005)