Deborah Lippmann Fall 2011 Collection

I have worked directly with some of the world’s top fashion designers on everything from ad campaigns to fashion shows. When I set out to select nail looks for the fall 2011 collections, I noticed a common theme among all of my collaborators: warmth. The clothes featured vivid, lush earth tones—think lush greens, rich reds and intense golds.

I wanted to capture a similar heat and earthiness in the accompanying polishes, but with an added punch. BILLIONAIRE, a moody hunter green, BRICK HOUSE, a shimmering rust, and SINGLE LADIES, a flirtatious red, all have warm undertones, which give them a beautiful intensity, but also have a jewel-like quality so they really make nails pop.

Usually Narciso requests a nude nail to complement his minimalist designs, but for fall 2011 around he wanted something bolder—a color with strength and edge to offset both his collection and the softness of the hair and makeup. For the perfect custom finish, I mixed (and mixed) a new shade by hand in just 24 hours. The final product: an edgy granite that emanated power and intensity. The models who walked the show (and who rarely, if ever, comment on the nail color) gushed over the shade. And so STORMY WEATHER was born an edgy granite (crème) for a strong fall statement. — Deborah Lippmann

• Billionaire Moody hunter green (Creme)
• Brick House Shimmering rust (Shimmer)
• Single Ladies Flirtatious red (Creme)
• Stormy Weather Edgy granite (Creme)

availability: August/September 2011, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and online at www.deborahlippmann.com; $16 each

See more photos!

Billionaire, Brick House

Single Ladies, Stormy Weather