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After a summer of nail art fads which seemed to get progressively crazier as the season wore on (mermaid nails? bubble nails? aquarium nails???) we’re pleased to report that the latest big thing takes a rather more classy approach.

Mamas, allow us to introduce the naked manicure! In neutral shades of light pink, camel and apricot, this trend is all about showing off healthy, natural looking nails.

But nude nails don’t have to be boring! We’ve taken inspiration from the AW15 catwalks to bring you our top 3 ways to work the trend & the perfect maternity dresses to match:

1) Subtle Sparkles

From dots of bronze sparkle at Jenny Packham to a thin stripe of gold glitter at Delpozo and a chic cross detail just for the ring finger at Erin Fetherston, designers found clever ways to enhance the natural beauty of the nails with just a little touch of glitter. We love this look – it’s the perfect way to work the trend without giving up your glitz!

Work it with: Gold Sequin Maternity Dress

2) Negative Space

Another way to make the nude nail trend your own is to experiment with negative space. Tibi put a new twist on the classic French manicure creating stylishly angled white tips, and we love the subtle window pane style at Suno – just a few simple white lines against an all-natural base coat.

Work it with: Knitted A Line Maternity Dress

3) Pop of Colour

And finally, if totally nude nails just aren’t your style, why not try livening up the look with a splash of colour. We love the blue applique squares at Cushnie et Ochs, and the vibrant red and orange outlines at Tracy Reese set off the nude base perfectly.

Michelle Saunders, the lead manicurist at Rebecca Minkoff shared the secret of her AW15 runway look. She applied a base coat of Essie’s Mademoiselle, then layered shades of Berry Naughty & Midnight Cami in chevrons at the tip. She said:

“This is one of the easiest manicures you can do on yourself… The brush does all the work for you. The width of the stripe is the width of the brush – you’re doing a little X at the top of your nails with the red, then you follow the exact same pattern with the blue.”

Work it with: Printed Twist Maternity Dress

When you’re pregnant, it’s always nice to feel pampered every now and then – after all, you deserve it!

We don’t know about you, but in our experience, along with ordering a new maternity dress and getting complemented on your flattering new maternity jeans, having freshly manicured finger nails is one of those little luxuries during pregnancy that practically guarantee that it will be a good day. It’s also a great way to relax and de-stress!

But what kind of manicure do you go for? Do you go to the salon or do them yourself? Straight colour or nail art? And what exactly is Shellac? There are plenty of options out there, so we thought we’d round them up and take a look to help you decide what’s right for you.

Traditional French Manicure

Understated and ever chic, the traditional French manicure never goes out of style! It consists of a sheer pink base and bright white tips, and the over all effect is clean and natural. Perfect for any occasion, this is a great style to wear with your maternity work wear for a professional look at the office.

Single Colour Salon Manicure

A single colour salon manicure is a great, inexpensive way to freshen up your look! Simply choose your favourite shade, then sit back, relax and feel pampered – what a nice way to spend half an hour! Why not match your nail shade with one of our flattering Knot Front Maternity Dresses in blue, red, black, purple or fuchsia!

Nail Art and Gems

Nail art, gems and glitter are perfect for the party season! Go into your salon and check out their display boards to get a taste of the options available – they really can do almost anything these days! Why not treat yourself to sparkles for Christmas and match your nails to a glittering black and gold maternity cardigan!

Gel Manicure

A gel manicure involves painting a layer of gel on top of your natural nails, which then dry to form a rock hard layer of colour. Gel manicures are designed to last longer than regular manicures, and are good for disguising nails that are in a poor condition. The down side, is that removing them involves using abrasive chemicals which you may not be happy with when you are pregnant. Though they are great for an active mum on the go!

Shellac Manicure

A Shellac manicure is somewhere between a regular nail polish manicure and a set of gel nails. The Shellac polish is painted on to your natural nails just like regular polish, but will last chip-free for as long as you like! Perfect for a busy mum who’s not afraid to get her hands dirty, these nails are designed to last, the only down side is, that you have to go back to the Salon to have them taken off when your nails start to grow out!

Paint Them Yourself at Home

If you don’t have time for a trip to the salon, painting your nails at home is a cheap and easy way of bringing a little colour into your day. It’s also a great chance to catch up on a bit of me time. Close the door, slip into a comfy pair of maternity pyjamas, put on some relaxing music and pamper yourself!

Other Articles You May Like:

Pregnancy style Q&A with Glamour editor Natasha McNamara
Find your perfect pair of maternity jeans at the Seraphine denim boutique
Fashion icon Gwen Stefani rocks a Seraphine LBD!

Tag: manicure

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