Mix Masters

Mix MastersIn need of a perfect polish match? When designers crave custom-colored polishes, CND whips out the hues.

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Designers: 3.1 Philip Lim, Louis Vuitton, Karen Walker, Twinkle by Wenlan

Products: CND

Marc Jacobs had a vision for his spring/summer 2008 Louis Vuitton collection in Paris: fervent color—and plenty of it. Jacobs focused on the tiniest of details, leaving no button, texture or stitch unturned.

And his attention to detail didn’t stop at the wares and accessories; the nails became a major focal point as well. “Marc was extremely specific about the polish colors he wanted,” says CND’s Team Red tech Amanda Reevell. So specific, in fact, that many of the hues needed to be custom-mixed—a skill that CND has become known for backstage during Fashion week.

Jacobs’ stylist, Katie Grand, showed Reevell countless pairs of gauzy, elbow-length gloves in a crush of pastel colors that the models would don; Jacobs coveted exact color matches for the lacquers and the gloves. “Initially, Marc chose 30 colors, but eventually he whittled the number down to 17,” recalls Reevell. She then set to work, custom-blending such hues as pale mustard and sage green—both hues she deems “unusual, but definitely wearable.”

Across the pond, CND Team Red fixture Kristina Baune—the original “mix master” of CND polishes—put her blending skills to the test at a variety of shows. Designer Karen walker’s ultra-feminine, floral tea dresses called for sweet, muted tones. “Karen actually sent over three pantone colors—Dusty Mint Pantone 21C, Dusty Pink Pantone 691C and Dusty Yellow Pantone 121C—for me to match. She was very specific about what she wanted,” says Baune.

Backstage at Phillip Lim’s show, beauty editors were all atwitter over another of Baune’s creations: a knock-’em-dead reddish coral that stole the show. “It’s such a wearable color. no matter what skin tone you have, you can wear this color and look great,” says Baune matter-of-factly.

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