Long gone are the days in fashion where stripes show up simply in dainty pinstripe form. Now, bold bands of bright color butt up against each other in an array of patterns, from the sporty mismatched panels at Proenza Schouler to the whimsical splay of rainbow strips at Rosie Assoulin. When similar lines layer in different materials, like Fendi’s yellow-and-burgundy sweater and fur vest combo, the look pushes preppy into the realm of quirk. On the flip side, when stripes play second fiddle to, say, a sheer skirt dotted with roosters (seen at Stella Jean), their linear nature brings a level of order to an otherwise strange ensemble. Whether bisecting or parallel, thick or thin, bright or neutral, the season’s most interesting stripes serve as perfect nail art inspiration for both adventurous and conservative clients. For those with simpler tastes, follow guest artist Helen Nguyen’s lead by painting lines of varying sizes and colors, made more prominent with perpendicular strips of black. Or, take a daring approach by pairing stripes with odd shapes and elements, like, say, a hand-painted rooster.
Inspired by Stella Jean
Inspired by Sonia Rykiel
Nail Artist: Helen Nguyen is a nail artist in Edmonton, AB, Canada. Her motto is, “Work with love and live with passion.”
–by Karie L. Frost
[Images: fashion photos by Andreea Angelescu; nail art photos by Jason Bennett; (Rosie Assoulin) Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho]
