Parlez-vous francais? Well, even if you don’t speak French yourself, your nails probably have at some point in your life. The French manicure has been a beauty staple for almost a century, having been invented in the late 1800s and coming into popular prominence in the 1920s and 1930s. Whether it is actually a French invention is a matter of debate; some claim it was invented by Max Factor with the “French” title added for effect. We do have a habit of thinking Parisians are ahead of the game in terms of beauty though, non?
While some may say that the look is passé and about as exciting as Wonder Bread, this is more debatable than where its name came from. The look of nude/pale pink/beige nails with white tips is undeniably versatile. It can go day-to-night and pretty much makes any outfit look sophisticated and not too try-hard. It’s polished without the polish. While perhaps being a fan of the understated look is a personal preference, celebrities more and more have been rocking their nails comme les francais recently… with a twist. To modernize the look, and give it a bit of edge, get the nude nail but replace the white tips with a pewter or bronze nail paint. The deeper metal look is the perfect accent to any accessory and maintains the air of sophistication.
