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<i>By Melissa Magsaysay, Los Angeles Times staff writer</i><br>
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Nails have replaced the statement necklace, earrings and "it" bag as the accessory du jour. Whether it's a striped metallic or textural "deconstructed" look, the trends in bold nail color and design take a cue directly from designer runways.<br>
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A California company, Creative Nail Design, is leading the way, conceptualizing and executing some of the most eye-popping nail looks for runway shows in New York, London and Paris by drawing inspiration from a designer's overall vision, color palette and collection. Co-founder Jan Arnold and her Vista-based team research trends in fabric, color and even home design to predict the direction nail color and shape will take in the coming season.<br>
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"Nails are a fashion accessory that balance a color palette and bring forward texture trends," Arnold says. "When we did the nails for the Louis Vuitton show, [creative director] Marc Jacobs sat down and blended a shade he felt would be the perfect accent to his collection. He painted a swatch and dropped it in the same dressing bag as the sunglasses and purses that went with each look. He truly treated the nail design as a fashion accessory."<br>
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For fall 2009, Creative Nail worked on 103 runway shows and took away these top trends, which are trickling down from the catwalk to the street.<br>
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<i>Photo: Backstage in February at the Ruffian fall 2009 collection runway show.</i>

The runway's hottest nail trends

( Graylock.com )

By Melissa Magsaysay, Los Angeles Times staff writer

Nails have replaced the statement necklace, earrings and "it" bag as the accessory du jour. Whether it's a striped metallic or textural "deconstructed" look, the trends in bold nail color and design take a cue directly from designer runways.

A California company, Creative Nail Design, is leading the way, conceptualizing and executing some of the most eye-popping nail looks for runway shows in New York, London and Paris by drawing inspiration from a designer's overall vision, color palette and collection. Co-founder Jan Arnold and her Vista-based team research trends in fabric, color and even home design to predict the direction nail color and shape will take in the coming season.

"Nails are a fashion accessory that balance a color palette and bring forward texture trends," Arnold says. "When we did the nails for the Louis Vuitton show, [creative director] Marc Jacobs sat down and blended a shade he felt would be the perfect accent to his collection. He painted a swatch and dropped it in the same dressing bag as the sunglasses and purses that went with each look. He truly treated the nail design as a fashion accessory."

For fall 2009, Creative Nail worked on 103 runway shows and took away these top trends, which are trickling down from the catwalk to the street.

Photo: Backstage in February at the Ruffian fall 2009 collection runway show.

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