FASHION Magazine

In the continued tradition of Beyoncé‘s tumblr making us feel simultaneously in awe and beyond envious of her life is her most recent picture post of some pretty incredible nail art. Bey’s always been into elaborate manicures but this really does top everything she’s done before: there are mini prints of her and Jay Z‘s faces!

The Olympics are impressive for a variety of all reasons, but most of all for being the one event to turn even the most athletically disinclined into feverish sporting enthusiasts. Athletes replace celebrities in gossip circles, stringent co-workers suddenly have secret browser windows open to watch the games and, best of all, even Kate Middleton is involved! So once you’re done wrapping yourself up in Team Canada gear get your nails into the game with an Olympic-themed manicure.

See how it’s done! »

Whether you’re a devout James Bond fan or simply appreciate the series’ commitment to swoon-worthy male leads and great fashion, OPI’s latest 007-inspired offering will undoubtedly be a must-have for any polish fan. While it’s not due on shelves till October, rumours about the 18 karat gold leaf-laden top coat have been flying for weeks.

If you happen to be in London for the Olympics, we’re warning you ahead of time: your bank account is in danger of serious depletion. Chanel is the latest label to jump on the pop-up shop bandwagon, joining the likes of Opening Ceremony by descending upon Covent Garden. (It will also be the French fashion house’s first U.K. location dedicated only to beauty and fragrance.)

Created by arts organization No.9 and Toronto-based artists Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins, Art Train Conductor No.9 is more than just a wrapped GO train—and it’s also the first time I’ve felt envious of commuters! (If you are a Toronto-area commuter, the train is currently running on the Lakeshore line, but is moving to Barrie as of July 31.) The whole design is beyond visually stunning: from blown-out multi-coloured pixels to bold zig-zags of black and white, there’s a lot going on. So when translating the train into nail art, the biggest obstacle was figuring out which elements to use and which to ignore. After drafting a few different ideas, I decided the best route was to focus on using similar colours and mimicking just a few repeating shapes. The result is a graphic set of striped nails that could serve as a great distraction during any commute home.

Love this look? Here’s how to do it »

With a client list that includes Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Madonna, it’s safe to say that Lisa Logan is a bona fide expert when it comes to the art of nail design. (Need more proof? She was the nail genius behind this Vogue Italia shoot.) Her latest partnership with Minx, the nail decals seen on fashion runways and stars like Rihanna alike, is yet another example of her always colourful and eclectic design aesthetic. The vibrant set of eight designs ranges from ‘90s-esque neon tribal print to a heart pattern initially designed for Suri Cruise. Most salons that carry Minx will have the set, but if you’re in New York you can get them done by Logan herself, at her soon-to-open salon. Oh, you bet our fingers are already crossed that you’ll get an appointment at the same time as Beyoncé.

Check out all the Minx for Lisa Logan designs! »

With the weather hitting sweltering, record-breaking highs this week, it’s all about seeking relief from the heat in as many creative ways as possible. While a manicure isn’t likely to make you feel any cooler (tempertature-wise, that is!) there’s no denying that even superficial ways of tricking the mind to think about winter can help. So this week, put away your beachy pinks and oranges and turn toward frostbitten colours instead. Chanel‘s new shivering blue shade of nail polish is a great place to start, and the set from their Fall 2012 show provides further direction: the Superman Fortress of Solitude-esque ice crystals inspire an easy bit of nail art.

Ready to cool down? Find out how to do this manicure! »

View the collection! »

Chanel continues to prove that its vision of air travel remains much better than our reality, with a limited edition makeup collection inspired by their Spring 2012 Couture show. Based on shades of blue from a “cloud-strewn sky,” the nine-piece collection includes a full spectrum of inky to iridescent shades, in eyeshadows, liners and—our favourite—a nail polish. The pale, pearly blue Le Vernis is called “Sky Line” and made its debut on Chanel’s airplane aisle runway back in January. The complete Blue Illusion de Chanel collection is available July 23 at select counters in Canada: Holt Renfrew and the Chanel boutique on Toronto’s Bloor Street, and at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver.

There’s something about Resort collections that make them seem more dreamy than the rest. Perhaps it’s the whole “envisioning each item in its natural habitat”—you know, a private vila in the Mediterranean or on a yacht somewhere only the very rich or the very royal can sail to. Or perhaps it’s just because super pretty dresses are so common in Resort collections, such as the multi-coloured lace numbers designed by Valentino. The pastel patchwork of flowers—which come in both gown and short frock format—might be intended for winter months, but work just as well as a mid-summer manicure.

Ready to do some resort on your nails? Read on! »

After seeing Dior‘s spectacular Couture show earlier this week, one thing (aside from the collection, that is) stood out: the brightly hued lashes on each model. Created by makeup artist extraordinaire Pat McGrath, hot pink, cobalt blue and lime green eyeliner was applied over silver shadow, with matching mascara to make the neon colours stand out even more. Basically, it was impossible not to turn back to Sally Singer’s eyeball manicure for Nail Corner inspiration. This design may have more of a cartoonish than couture feel, but it’s one way you can get away with neon eyelashes for everyday wear.

Couldn’t you see Katy Perry in this mani? Find out how to do it before she does! »

Will we ever tire of the rush that comes from anticipating a new Chanel nail polish colour at every runway show they do? Considering that today’s Fall 2012 Couture presentation provided us with not one, but three new polish gifts, we think not. That’s right, there were three treats on models’ fingers: two new colours, and one foray into nail art—which may just be a first for the brand.

See our editor’s beauty picks »