When is NSFW not necessarily naughty? When the concept is reimagined by CND, which created truly “not suitable for work” nails to complement Libertine’s SS18 NYFW show. After all, who could type (or dress hair, for that matter) when sporting statement-making, punk-inspired nails topped with barbed wire? “Like Libertine, CND revels in pushing limits and elevating even the edgiest of expressive styles into beautiful, wearable art,” says CND Co-Founder and Creative Director, Jan Arnold.
Guided by Arnold and CND creative lead Heather Reynosa, the CND Design Lab Team created the 3-D nail designs that were both sculptural and functional—Swarovski adorned Venus Flytraps with hinged jaws opened to reveal Libertine’s insignia, while working lava lamps bubbled on the tips of the nails. Paraphernalia including spilling pill capsules and opium flowers alluded to the illicit, while blade-like treasures and hand-sculpted bird skulls crowned in safety pins warned that danger was lurking underneath the nail’s surface.
“Over the course of seven seasons working with [Libertine designer Johnson] Hartig, our creative spirits have become so tightly entwined that we can’t help but make magic on the runway,” says Reynosa. “Taking our artistry to a hedonistic place this season was a supremely fun challenge that inspired these incredible, indulgent designs that pay tribute not only to the spirit of a ‘libertine’ in the most literal sense of the word, but also to Libertine’s roots as a design house.”
About: Founded in 1979 and based in San Diego, CA, CND (Creative Nail Design, Inc.) is the global leader in professional nail products and services – including SHELLACTM Brand 14+ Day Nail Color. Deeply committed to advancing the nail care industry, CND devotes significant time and resources to product research and development, education and customer support. Only CND delivers high-performance nail color on the cutting edge of fashion and technology.