Beauty Board: Jade Nails
No doubt you've noticed that many fashion magazines and celebrity weeklies are trumpeting a certain beauty trend for fall—green nails—but they're only partially correct. While verdant lacquer is certainly important, we must point out that discriminating tastemakers aren't going for neon versions, nor are they opting for dark forest green polish. Rather, it's a pale green iteration of this look that's taking celebrity hands by storm. We'll go so far as to say that jade tips were the it accessory at New York Fashion Week, as everyone from the sunnily stylish (like Rachel Bilson) to the quirkily cool (Alexa Chung) sought out this particular shade.
Before we discuss the way our favorite celebs are wearing jade nails, we'll briefly address its origins. The fingernail fad began where most polish trends start—on the Chanel runway—and this latest craze is no different. Peter Philips, the Global Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, originally created the fingertip tint as a one-off for the fashion house's F/W 09 show. But so many fashion fanatics, beauty lovers, and Chanel enthusiasts clamored for the pale opaque Le Vernis Nail Color ($25) in Jade, it's now available for retail!
Bearing this in mind, it's no surprise that at the New York premiere of Coco Before Chanel, many well-dressed Chanel-clad attendees, including Rachel Bilson and Leigh Lezark, wore said polish. However, the color wasn't simply a stunt for that event; earlier that week, Alexa Chung was spotted in a similar shade whilst DJing at the Miu Miu Boutique during Fashion's Night Out. We appreciate the way Chung balanced the trend by keeping her outfit restrained (in a sober but stellar Miu Miu frock) and letting her nails take the spotlight, an excellent choice indeed! Additionally, we also noticed that Drew Barrymore opted for gorgeous green nails while promoting her directorial debut, the hotly anticipated Whip It, at the Toronto Film Festival. However, instead of reaching for the de rigueur bottle, the petite powerhouse showed off today's beauty trend via Face Stockholm's Nail Polish ($12) in the new shade, 69. The zippy color offers an edgy contrast to her gorgeous Alexander McQueen cobweb dress (which is from the designer's Resort 10 collection) and is emblematic of Barrymore's delightfully idiosyncratic style.
Of course, if you're not able to snag a limited-edition bottle at Chanel—or on Chanel.com, the exclusive online stockist of the polish—there are a few other options for getting a similar shade. The beauty mavens at Illamasqua created a version of their Nail Varnish
($14) in Milf, a like-minded minty green, or you can pick up the newly formulated OPI Matte Nail Polish
($8.50) in Gargantuan Green Grape Matte. The latter is a bit more apple green than the Chanel color, but we had to include it because we're so fond of the look of matte nails. Whatever version you pick, you're sure to make your less fashionable friends (jade) green with envy!
Photos of Alexa Chung and Drew Barrymore, from Getty Images.
Before we discuss the way our favorite celebs are wearing jade nails, we'll briefly address its origins. The fingernail fad began where most polish trends start—on the Chanel runway—and this latest craze is no different. Peter Philips, the Global Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, originally created the fingertip tint as a one-off for the fashion house's F/W 09 show. But so many fashion fanatics, beauty lovers, and Chanel enthusiasts clamored for the pale opaque Le Vernis Nail Color ($25) in Jade, it's now available for retail!
Bearing this in mind, it's no surprise that at the New York premiere of Coco Before Chanel, many well-dressed Chanel-clad attendees, including Rachel Bilson and Leigh Lezark, wore said polish. However, the color wasn't simply a stunt for that event; earlier that week, Alexa Chung was spotted in a similar shade whilst DJing at the Miu Miu Boutique during Fashion's Night Out. We appreciate the way Chung balanced the trend by keeping her outfit restrained (in a sober but stellar Miu Miu frock) and letting her nails take the spotlight, an excellent choice indeed! Additionally, we also noticed that Drew Barrymore opted for gorgeous green nails while promoting her directorial debut, the hotly anticipated Whip It, at the Toronto Film Festival. However, instead of reaching for the de rigueur bottle, the petite powerhouse showed off today's beauty trend via Face Stockholm's Nail Polish ($12) in the new shade, 69. The zippy color offers an edgy contrast to her gorgeous Alexander McQueen cobweb dress (which is from the designer's Resort 10 collection) and is emblematic of Barrymore's delightfully idiosyncratic style.
Of course, if you're not able to snag a limited-edition bottle at Chanel—or on Chanel.com, the exclusive online stockist of the polish—there are a few other options for getting a similar shade. The beauty mavens at Illamasqua created a version of their Nail Varnish
($8.50) in Gargantuan Green Grape Matte. The latter is a bit more apple green than the Chanel color, but we had to include it because we're so fond of the look of matte nails. Whatever version you pick, you're sure to make your less fashionable friends (jade) green with envy! Photos of Alexa Chung and Drew Barrymore, from Getty Images.
I love love love trying out these crazy new nail trends. I saw this amazinggg matte blue polish ( http://beautyblitz.com/features/detail.aspx?id=190046 ) that I think would look awesome on anyone.
Posted by: kimberly | 2009-10-15 11:59:10
I love this color! I got the OPI matte Gargantuan Green Grape and reviewed it here: http://jennyknopinski.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/product-review-jade-nail-polish/
Posted by: Jennyknopinski | 2009-10-10 22:06:03
I reviewed OPI Matte Gargantuan Green Grape here: http://jennyknopinski.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/product-review-jade-nail-polish/
Posted by: Jennyknopinski | 2009-10-10 15:51:14
I can't wait to try the jade look...really cute:)
Posted by: Nidia S. Vivido | 2009-10-04 12:46:41
ohmigod i bought this polish last month! i feel so coooooool! http://thekatiegirls.blogspot.com/
Posted by: thekatiegirls | 2009-10-02 15:30:12
Every since you ladies posted this it's all I can think about! I'm going to get the Jade nail polish asap! http://emilypanda.wordpress.com
Posted by: Emily | 2009-09-28 01:19:06
Wooahhh.. Drew Barrymore's dress looks like it was drawn on her. Trippy.
Posted by: Dee | 2009-09-25 20:36:38
Love this post! I'd get a darker green though, not sure the lighter one would suit my paleness...
Posted by: Amy | 2009-09-24 13:49:29
just ordered from chanel but they got my address wrong :( now itll be WEEKS before it shows up at my doorstep.
Posted by: sun hee | 2009-09-24 10:12:10
I just bought mine from Chanel yesterday and haven't stopped starring at my nails since then. <3 Lovely shade! Cool vibe! Perfect for Pre-Fall season
Posted by: Sun Hi | 2009-09-24 07:31:35
i have always loved chanel nail color it's perfect. x
Posted by: S | 2009-09-24 01:46:08
Oh my gosh I've been looking for the perfect jade nail polish for the longest time. It's so modern and fun! Love it!
Posted by: Jane | 2009-09-23 23:14:50
My bottle arrived on my doorstep 2 weeks ago! Its actually the second green polish I've ordered in the last month. The other being Butter London's British Racing Green which is a gorgeous shimmering deep hunter green. For those who want to try a green polish, but for whatever reason want something darker then I highly recommend you try British Racing Green its much more subtle than Jade due to its much darker color and will flatter any skin tone. I love both shades, but I admit I sort of wish that Jade was more like the darker shade of jade used in the jewelry at Chanel like Rachel Bilson's necklace. Almost like Drew Barrymore's polish, but with less of a blue tinge.
Posted by: bella vita | 2009-09-23 17:25:36
It's fun! A definite makeover without fillers or scalpels. This isn't such a serious matter; listen to some of yourselves. Wear it and allow the non-enlightened to be green with Envy, Grape, etc... Let's all chill n let our inner child out! (wow, sorry for the cliche')
Posted by: Frieda S | 2009-09-23 17:07:06
love it! and not because i'm obsessed with drew. went to the nearest cvs and purchased a bunch of colors...mixed them up and created the most fantastic jade. x http://www.newandworthy.com/
Posted by: shauna | 2009-09-23 16:59:21
I just love this color! I'm going to order it on ebay becuase apparently its sold out. It's my new favorite color after black and red.
Posted by: lianna | 2009-09-23 16:37:09
amazing color but it would totally clash with my skintone
tofuscloset.blogspot.com
Posted by: cassie | 2009-09-23 16:27:00
The Jade color is super pretty. What a great airy + light color to wear for the Fall! Kwil
Posted by: Kwil | 2009-09-23 12:58:22
When is Gray making a comeback?!
Posted by: Julie Q | 2009-09-23 12:22:56
an entire post on one nail colour? nice one.
Posted by: r | 2009-09-23 12:16:46
It's alright, but would look AWFUL on my skintone. blegh.
Posted by: D. | 2009-09-23 11:58:53
A cheaper version is Mac's Peppermint Patti (I believe it's limited edition)
Posted by: marissa | 2009-09-23 11:19:10
Green seems to be the name of the game... just like last season's 'yellow'. It took me a while to haul myself around to it, and then I started seriously liking the whole ordeal!
Posted by: Susu Paris Chic | 2009-09-23 11:16:42
I LOVE the Jade nail color trend, but I am in LOVE with the Jade gemstone to make jewelry with and Foxy Findings has a variety of styles at great prices! I just made a fab piece that I will be sharing on my blog this week! Check it out, www.foxyfindings.com. Be Foxy Danielle
Posted by: Danielle Jacobs | 2009-09-23 11:05:24
This might not work with my pale skin, but sometime with an olive skintone could def. pull it off! Check out our blog: lekisskiss.blogspot.com
Posted by: Valerie | 2009-09-23 10:45:11
i don't know about green polish it may take some getting used to maybe a deeper shade may work for me like a hunter green.http://noirblancetrougepartout.blogspot.com X
Posted by: S | 2009-09-23 10:43:03
I love to wear Greenport by Essie, myself. The perfect aqua-green-blue mix! =) SEE HERE* Love, xoxo, FashionCHALET
Posted by: Fashion CHALET | 2009-09-23 10:05:30
i'm going to get that today! i got a link to this post at: http://www.joandjoenyc.com/1/post/2009/09/todays-style-pick17.html amazing!! xoxo
Posted by: | 2009-09-23 09:03:07
Love that jade color! Gorgeous! Emilie from http://whatshappeninginmyfashionworld.blogspot.com/
Posted by: EMILIE | 2009-09-23 08:41:40
Is there a drugstore version??
Posted by: Natalia | 2009-09-23 08:38:41
Great on fingers... probably not so much on toes.
Posted by: MEP | 2009-09-23 08:25:28
I am wearing jade right now! love it.
Posted by: Anna | 2009-09-23 06:37:41
hello fellow who what wear readers, I would like to know how w.w.w makes these images. (how they put them together via the internet) and I would like to know how I can do the same for my blog (but of course I will do it with a different font & colour scheme) merci
Posted by: rebecca | 2009-09-23 04:40:26
I love that jade color, it only I could get my paws on it!
Posted by: Maddy V | 2009-09-23 02:56:25