These past few years, I’ve been working with Shon, we have always kept her nails a natural length, painting them everything from neutral to having a lil nail art fun with them.  You could imagine my excitement when she called me and said she was headin’ to Dubai and ready to change up her Nail Game!!  Long, almond shaped talons where the look she was after and my mind immediately went in a bazzzilion directions, with art ideas for her.

Shontelle chronicled the process ……..

I opted to apply nail tips with an acrylic overlay, instead of sculpting them.  I used Kiss long, curve overlap, nail tips.  I love the natural shape of these tips.  I then shaped them in an almond shape, which I think is THE PERFECT shape for Shon, and applied a natural colored overlay of acrylic on top. 

Now that I’m seeing this pic, I’m thinking of filling in my signature, heart tattoo…whatcha think???

Once her enhancements were complete, now was time for her color option.  Her Stylist, really wanted her to have red nails. Red is always classic and goes with just about everything, so I completely agreed !  Shon was going to be travelling for quite a while, so I opted to apply Gel Polish, instead of Nail Polish, as I felt it would give her the best longevity in wear.The gel polish color I chose, was Gelish,  ”Red Roses”.  As you can see, this color looks beautiful next to her skin tone. 

Then of course we can’t forget the Nail Bling, right??!!!  Shon’s stylist, Arnold Milfort, yup…Major, said she would be wearing lots of black, with mixtures of gold and silver jewelry.  I of course couldn’t resist and gave her all of those colors in her Nail Bling.  Silver, Gold, and Gun Metal colored micro-glitter (this stuff flies everywhere, so use carefully!), topped off with Black, Silver & Gold embellishments.   

Love this pic so much, as it’s showin’ Shon’s Trident Tattoo…so rad, right? 

And the finished product…Voila!  Glitter cleaned up, cuticles & skin hydrated with Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Cuticle Eraser + Balm with a dab of Nails & Cuticle Hand Cream.  

I kinda loved the final product and fingers crossed that Shon gets lots of ‘oohs and aaahs’ !   

Anyone who knows me, knows I adore Shontelle   I truly love the inner soul this woman has, so beautiful, and I am Blessed to know her.  

I can’t wait for our next Nail Stylin’ Adventure…Have so many ideas for these beauties…. :)

Check her out at link above or here http://www.shontellemusic.com/

***Link Warning….Her songs are extremely contagious and you will find yourself singing the words out loud at whole foods, at the gym, while trying to work, and pretty much all day… (or at least that’s happened to me) maybe even for a few days…you were warned =)

Til next time, Peace & Love

xoxo Tracylee  

www.luxebytracylee.com

facebook/twitter; Luxe by Tracylee

represented by Tim Howard Management

This year, I had the pleasure of nail styling some truly amazing ladies for the Costume Institute Gala…..Also known as the Oscars of the East Coast.  The Met Gala boast stunning red carpet fashions on models, celebrities, and industry insiders. 

*****

Writer, Contributing Editor for Vanity Fair  Amy Fine Collins wearing Alice + Olivia and black nails with simple nail designs in silver

Love having nail fun with her, every year, for the Met Gala 

Super Model, Elisa Sedanoui wearing DVF and neutral colored nail

Beautiful inside and out, Elisa looked gorgeous in this blue gown

TV Personality, Alexa Chung wearing Marc Jacobs

Great energy and all around cool chic….Alexa asked me for nails that resembled rubber (inspired by elsa shciaparelli black gloves)..that’s exactly what I gave her!

Model, Kate Upton wearing Michael Kors and a 2 layer nail polish look to match her skin tone

Love the metallic gown on Kate and that red lippie is ‘everything’!

Super Model, Karlie Kloss wearing Jason Wu and a neutral colored nail

I always love working with Karlie, some of the best nails in the game! Jason got a lil’ quick nail shine too :)

Cate Blanchett wearing McQueen and a neutral colored nail

one word…..Stunning! 

This year’s Met Gala prep needed 2 days to complete and was so much fun to work with these talented, gorgeous women…I am truly honored and feel Blessed

.

Til next time, Peace & Love

xoxo Tracylee  

p.s. Don’t forget to check out the Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada’s Impossible Conversations at Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute

May 10-Aug 19, 2012 first floor exhibit

www.luxebytracylee.com

facebook/twitter; Luxe by Tracylee

represented by Tim Howard Management

The Met Gala is tomorrow, and this year they are honoring Elsa Schiaparelli….fashion visionary

When I received the request to work on an Elsa Schiaparelli inspired story for Gotham Magazine, there was no other answer, but YES, YES, and YES!!!

I had so much fun on this shoot, not only because I was able to create my ‘Elsa’ inspired nails, but also because the amazing team I had the pleasure to work for.

John Midgley behind the lens, and Model, Jana, truly captured her essence!

Here’s the story….

Hair Styling and Hair Artistry created by Alberto Guzman…he’s A-maaazing!!  All of these hair pieces he created by hand for the shoot, and were all made out of hair!!!  

Pink bird, yup, it’s hair too! 

I had two looks for this shoot. Elsa loved a gold nail, I created my 2012 version with metallic finishes, glitter and my ‘Luxe’ custom nail jewelry that I made for the shoot

…these gold ones reminded me of the gold nails that Elsa created and place on a pair of gloves, here:

Elsa was often photographed wearing a dark nail color, often red…. I opted 

for a 2012 version using matte rouge noir with glossy french tips and moons,

I created these originally for the Chadwick Bell show, and thought they’d be

perfect for this story!

Some of Elsa Schiaparelli’s original pieces, brought in for the shoot

I’m in LOVE with this pic…

Janiero KILLED the makeup application!!!  

Janiero created these feather glasses for the shoot…..I died again! 

Alberto and one of his masterpieces…

this shoe hat is craaaaazy amazing!  all made out of hair!

Almost good enough to eat….well maybe not, it is all hair too!!! 

This shoot was such an honor to work on…I appreciate Elsa and her importance in fashion history and I hope Elsa would appreciate my vision, in her vision……. She was ahead of her time, that’s for sure….

Til next time, Peace & Love

xoxo Tracylee  

www.luxebytracylee.com

facebook/twitter; Luxe by Tracylee

represented by Tim Howard Management

Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada’s Impossible Conversations at Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute

May 10-Aug 19, 2012 first floor exhibit

Metropolitan Opera Gala Premiere Of Jules Massenet’s ‘Manon’

Emma 

Lots of swingin’ going on in this V Magazine story I worked on with the incomparable Photographer, Miguel Reveriego.

With 5 Models on set, I was ever so happy that Angel, just happened to be in NYC from Maryland to assist me, giving the models’ perfect pedi’s!! (lifesaver!) We were able to have some nail polish fun, using colors of eggplant, pistachio green, opaque nude, and ruby red on the the models nails. Fingernails were kept natural length and shaped to each individual model, in oval and almond shapes. 

Model Wang XiaO

Model Hanne Gaby

Model Aloyna Subbotina

Model Ondria Hardin

Model Alana Zimmer

Til next time, Peace & Love

xoxo Tracylee  

www.luxebytracylee.com

facebook/twitter; Luxe by Tracylee

represented by Tim Howard Management

SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE™ Unveils the Color of the Year Beauty Collection    

Had so much fun on working on this video shoot for Sephora and of course I love all Tangerine, Nail Lovin’, close ups, in matte, opaque, glitter, and shimmer finishes…..My favorite is the tangerine glitter…. perfection!

Til next time, Peace & Love

xoxo Tracylee  

www.luxebytracylee.com

facebook/twitter; Luxe by Tracylee

represented by Tim Howard Management

This shoot for one of my all time faaavorite magazines, V Magzine was shot at a school in Brooklyn, what a fun idea for a story!  

I painted the models’ nails all in neutral shades of Chanel, as we wanted a clean and natural look to compliment their sporty fashion.  These trophy winners, spend every waking moment at practice, with little time for high fashion nails…. *wink  

Til next time, Peace & Love

xoxo Tracylee  

www.luxebytracylee.com

facebook/twitter; Luxe by Tracylee

represented by Tim Howard Management

Emmy Rossum covers the Special Edition Hair Issue of InStyle Magazine with her shiny, auburn, perfectly wavy, locks.  Sweet as Sugar, and a true professional, Emmy is a pleasure to work with.

I always love to work with, Peter Gray, who killed the hair as you will see, (that side twist and pearls is gorge!) and Fulvia Farolfi who did such a beautiful job with Emmy’s clean and perfectly barely there, makeup and the incomparable, John Akehurst behind the lens

I of course, am veerrry thankful for the one great nail shot in a hair story!  I completed Emmy’s manicure using NONTOXIQUE skincare line, Lumos base & top Coat and the polished using ‘Incognito’ by Dior.

What did you think?? Gorgeous, no???  YES!!!

Til next time, Peace & Love

xoxo Tracylee  

www.luxebytracylee.com

facebook/twitter; Luxe by Tracylee

represented by Tim Howard Management