Finger Prints
In this month's instalment of summer preparation, Talk Magazine's style editor sought out where to go to get top model talons.
Mission: To bring catwalk glamour to your fingers and your toes
Why: Because your nails deserve the designer treatment too
Where: Villy's Nail Studio, 123 Wulumuqi Bei Lu, near Yuyuan Lu. Tel: 3255 8131. E-mail: [email protected]
How Much: Nail art using OPI polish-RMB 80 for manicure, RMB 110 for pedicure
I may not be able to clothe myself in high fashion, designer prints, but at least I can rock them on my nails. After all, the current print craze that has everyone hooked doesn't have to stop at your wardrobe! Be bold and extend your love for high fashion designer style to your fingers and your toes.
Villy's Nail Studio (whose company motto coincidentally is 'Fashion on Nails') is a haven for manicure and pedicure enthusiasts and a stones throw from Jing'an subway station (five minutes walk approximately), is the ultimate in convenience for gals on the go. What's more, it's kids friendly, so your little ones can also see creative magic at work on their small, oval shaped canvases, and come away with a masterpiece that will have them the envy of all their friends.
Whichever design strikes your fancy, this studio can paint it. So be anything but conservative. Ask for Prada flames, Stella McCartney paisleys, Dolce and Gabbana veggies even! And if someone disapproves of your eccentric prints, set them straight by showing them your finger(nails). Case in point, literally.
Villy's Studio delivers the kind of nail experience that guests yearn for: space, cleanliness and tranquility. Unlike other salons, it doesn't carry that noxious scent of fumes because it is well ventilated, thus making time spent there more pleasurable. When you enter, comfy sofa chairs await you amidst the sound of flowing water and softly dimmed lighting. Clearly the phrase "Pain is beauty" doesn't apply here.
Requesting a stylish print for my nails was painless as well. I just showed an example of the pattern I desired and owner, Villy Lee personally saw to it that it was done. I was given the opportunity to customise the colours to my liking, choosing bright, neon hues from an extensive selection of colours to fit the summer season. Once I had decided on everything, my manicurist attentively catered to my hands, first soaking them and scrubbing out the rough spots, before buffing up my nails and applying polish with the utmost precision.
"We use OPI nail polish because it produces the best results. Their extensive range of colours is a nail artist's dream palette," said Lee.
And so it is! The whole process took roughly an hour, and before I knew it, I had designer prints painted onto my nails, just in time for my date with a friend. The colours worked gorgeously together and each nail shined like a jewel. Proof that making a statement doesn't have to be limited to what's in your jewellery box; you can take customisation to new, creative heights, and look desirably designer for a speck of the price.
