Costello Tagliapietra Spring 2012: Backstage Beauty Pictures

by Annie Tomlin 0

At Costello Tagliapietra, manicurist Deborah Lippmann (for Beauty.com) nailed a chic, sophisticated look with a nude-gray hue. "The woman is 'finished,'" Lippmann said of the collection's inspiration. "She's definitely a woman, not a little girl." To play off the textures and patterns of the clothes, Lippmann layered two nail polishes to create a neutral nail that flattered models of all skin tones. First, she adorned nails with Waking Up in Vegas, a creamy gray with blue undertones. Then, she added a coat of Fashion, a yellow-based taupe. Customizing the color for each model involved using thicker or thinner coats to complement their undertones; the key to getting it right lies in the cuticle. "If your cuticle looks red, brown, or darkened when a polish is applied, the color is wrong for you," Lippmann explained. "With this look, we can make it look great on everybody."