For Libertine’s Spring/Summer 2019 collection, designer Johnson Hartig drew inspiration from Georgian glass-covered portrait stones and extremely fine needle-point embroidery, intending to show there is a certain beauty that can only come with age. In Hartig’s typical fashion of resurfacing classics with a modern twist, the collection reflects muted, melancholy pastels with pops of bright bold color, allowing voyeurs to bask in true craftsmanship in its oldest form, while staying relevant in the now.

The CND Design Lab team drew inspiration from Petit Point embroidery, one of the oldest forms of impossibly fine cross stitch needlepoint — ever-present across the Spring/Summer 2019 collection. Antique roses, Victorian pearls, vintage stones, 24k gold frames, aged pastels, monogramed signets, and intimate keepsakes that serve as tokens to remind of hearts always connected. These nails aim to tell an intricate story of a yearning for the past and a thirst for what’s to come.

“As we head into our ninth season with Johnson and Libertine, we were incredibly inspired by his beautiful, slightly melancholy tribute to the antique,” says CND co-founder and style director Jan Arnold. “The CND Design Lab team have curated nails that perfectly translate this romantic vision.”

Nail Look: Braided Love Lock by CND lead nail artist Heather Reynosa

In Victorian days, lovers would wear “tokens of love,” jewelry that incorporates hair from their significant others to always keep them close. To mimic this sentimental keepsake,  Reynosa braided incredibly fine locks of hair to represent two loves coming together as one, finished with a lovely caviar bead frame. This nail look perfectly translates Johnson’s romantic vision with CND’s unique technique, making them both wearable and modern. Reynosa used CND Vinylux in Studio White and Vintage for this nail look.

Nail Look: Heirloom by CND lead nail artist Shelena Robinson

This refined rose print nail look was crafted with the entire CND Spring Sweet Escape Collection mixed with CND Shellac Matte Top Coat to delicately age the shades. The antique florals were lovingly painted, hand-drawn with a fine point Micron pen to define the incredibly thin lines, and then finished with a muted gold gilding. When crafting, Shelena aimed to translate dimensions reminiscent of Monet and the defined framework of Picasso.

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