YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Nail Art as High Fasion

    Elizabeth Siegel, Allure magazine

    Bon Qui Qui had nail art; Kate Moss did not. But suddenly, inexplicably, nail art traveled from the garish fringes to the fashion runways. Now it's infiltrating the mainstream, thanks to new kits, stencils, stickers, and special-effects polish. Part of the appeal is creating the look at home rather than turning to a professional. Full of fresh inspiration, self-styled nail artists are populating YouTube, demonstrating their handiwork, such as 3-D acrylic roses, with step-by-step instructions, and perhaps making nail art the one thing tweens, hipsters, supermodels, and the superfly have in common.

    The runway is both a showcase and an inspiration for nail art. We asked five nail virtuosos to come up with designs based on some of the wildest prints and patterns for fall.


    See more from Allure:
    The Top 14 New Summer Hair Ideas

    The 12 Best Eye Creams

    2012 Readers' Choice Awards
    10 Hairstyles That Make You Look 10 Years Younger