Essie

Amp up your striking white nail polish look with gold studs at the base for a simple but impactful touch. Opaque white nail polish packs quite the punch, but it also tends to show mistakes a lot more than other polish hues. So to make sure it looks its best, first file your nails for a perfect shape and trim your cuticles to ensure clean lines around the edges.

To create the look, I started off with Butter London Nail Fertilizer ($18) as a nutrient-rich base coat. Then, I painted on two coats of Chanel Le Vernis in Eastern Light ($30) for pure white coverage. While the polish was still wet, I added a gold stud from The New Black Rock and Roll Royalty Set ($24), which comes with various polish hues and a bottle of edgy accents, including gold studs and black and clear rhinestones. To finish, I topped this look with Essie Good to Go ($8) to seal in the stud and give my nails a glossy finish. If you have any messy edges, go back with a brush dipped in polish remover to clean up any stray polish.

I was over the moon when Essie first released its Sleek Stick nail wraps, and now there's a new Summer 2013 collection with six fresh designs. The hot-pink Small Pleasures ($10) design caught my eye. I love the vibrant color, but it was the textured 3D design and the unique take on floral nail art that won me over. Plus, they're a breeze to apply! Be sure to start off with clean hands and nails to ensure the adhesive sticks. Then find the right size appliqué for each nail. Just peel off and apply to your nail, and use the included tool to help smooth out each wrap and get rid of air bubbles for a tight fit. Use the included file to remove the excess, and you're good to go. Which one is your favorite?

At New York Fashion Week, matte nails were as trendy as ever, but unfortunately, we can't just all run out and buy matte polishes to get in on the style. Luckily, all you need is Essie's Matte About You Matte Finisher ($10). This top coat instantly turns any polish matte, even your glossiest hues. Plus, it's quick drying, which makes messing up your manicure that much more difficult. Stay-for-days polish jobs are doable at home — even for those of us who are less dexterous than the rest.

The pared down beauty was simple, but thoughtful at the Jenny Packham Fall 2013 show. Because the pieces in the collection — from the clothes to the jewelry and handbags — were so ornate, the team of hair, makeup, and nail pros left the beauty look a little understated yet elegant.

The look: A loose ponytail with a ribbon, glowing skin, and a gradient glitter manicure
The inspiration: 17th century opulence
Trends: Nail art

Makeup: "We wanted the makeup to look expensive," said lead makeup artist Talia Shobrook, who created the minimal look using Laura Mercier products. There was an emphasis on a glowing complexion, which was attained by using the Mega-Moisturizer Crème all over the skin with a touch of foundation. Shobrook accented the dewy look with lipstick as blush, while Tawny Eye Basics was swept on lids and Caviar Stick in Seashell was drawn along the crease.

Hair: Jeanie Syfu for TRESemmé created a simple, loose ponytail. First, she applied 24 Hour Body Blow Dry Lotion for lift and hold and blow-dried with a flat brush to achieve a straight look. She parted the hair in the center and gently teased the midlengths for a little shape in the back of the ponytail. She let any face-framing layers fall out, and tied the look with a ribbon for that 17th century feel.

Nails: The sparkling nails were created by Gina Edwards for Essie. To complement the lavish jewelry and handbags in the collection, Edwards decided to paint on a gradient nail art design using Essie Luxeffects in Set in Stones. She applied the glitter polish at the center of the nail and then tapped the brush back and forth to the tip to form the cascading look.

I often paint my nails at night, so I've woken up plenty of times with sheet imprints on my fresh new manicure. The easiest solution I've discovered is to polish on a glittering top coat. Between the texture of the sparkling flecks and their ability to obscure any smudges, a sparkling top coat pretty much works like magic. My deep plum manicure got plenty of sheet action the night before, so I reached for Essie Luxeffects in Stroke of Brilliance ($8) to hide my imperfections. The bluish glitter worked perfectly with the shimmering purple polish, but I also keep the silver Essie Luxeffects in Set in Stones ($8) and the gold Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow ($20) on hand, depending on my polish shade. This quick fix is quite a dazzling option.

Essie is starting the New Year with an exciting new launch: Sleek Stick Nail Appliqués ($10 each). While nail art wraps aren't exactly new, the brand is out to set a new bar on the nail sticker category. The Sleek Stick collection features 12 different designs with many of them making a good use of metallics. UV cured, the high-shine wraps are made with a long-lasting adhesive that can stick to your nails for up to 10 days. I used the Oh My Gold! design, which features a silver and gold geometric pattern. The wrap is actually clear, so my natural nail was able to peek through; that means this would also look great over any nail color. Learn more about the application process when you read more.

Science hasn't proven this theory correct — yet — but it seems that adding glitter to boots makes the average person more likely to develop full-blown shoe lust. Could be why these Miu Miu Chelsea boots ($750) have garnered a cult following over the past year, frequently popping up as a street-style staple. If you've come down with Miu Miu fever, too, let the shoes inspire your next manicure. Paint your nails with a deep blue polish such as Sinful Colors in Hot Spot ($2), then apply two coats of Essie's Stroke of Brilliance effect ($8). It couldn't be easier to create this magpie's dream — and that's a fact.