NYFW Nails: Essie for Opening Ceremony

Julie Kandalec for Essie created a bold, negative space design topped with a glamorous bronze glitter for the gold section of Opening Ceremony’s Spring/Summer 2019 collection. “The moon shape mirrors the sweetheart neckline of a sweater in the show,” she says.

Get the look:

1. Apply Here to Stay Base Coat for a smooth polish application.
2. Using Licorice and the brush from the bottle, create a heart-shaped area of negative space near the cuticle.
3. Fill in the rest of the nail down to the tip with Licorice.
4. Add three coats of Summit of Style over the black polish.
5. Finish with Speed.Setter Top Coat for high shine.

Kandalec played off the gingham print found in the executive tailoring section of Opening Ceremony’s Spring/Summer 2019 collection. “I wanted to juxtapose the tiny print in the clothes with a magnified version on nails,” she says.

Get the look:

1. Apply Here to Stay Base Coat.
2. Add one coat of Marshmallow over the entire nail.
3. Using a flat shader brush dipped in Licorice, draw two lines equally spaced apart down the center of the nail.
4. Next, create two to three horizontal lines from edge to edge with Licorice.
5. After the polish dries, apply another coat of Marshmallow over any areas of white.
6. Finish with Speed.Setter Top Coat.