I recently finished up an article for NAILS Magazine’s soon-to-publish December issue in which I interviewed nail techs on what accessories they were matching their clients' nails to — rings, purses, boyfriend’s ties, etc. One new and noteworthy response I kept hearing over and over was cell phone cases! Now that most of the U.S. population owns smart phones, I love how the phones have become a fashion accessory. Cases that started from practicality — who among us wants to damage a $500 phone? — have evolved into a way to show your sense of style.

And I just got an e-mail about how this trend is also appearing on fashion runways. Gelish educator Rose Velez and her team of manicurists were tapped to create Art Deco manicures to complement smart phone cases and Cesar Galindo fashions at premium smart phone case seller Case-Mate’s 2013 showcase at the Best Buy Theatre in Times Square.

Velez went with color blocking as the manicure motif. In total, Velez created 17 sets of custom tip designs that were applied interchangeably to the models according to what they were wearing and which case they would be holding. No two models had the same set of nails. Creative director Steven Gerstein and celebrity stylist Eric Archibald gave 100% creative direction to Velez. Velez used Gelish colors exclusively for this project, along with her Hand & Nail Harmony Striping Brush to create the nail art.

—Sree