The biggest red carpet trend of the decade has to be method dressing – where a star’s ‘tourdrobe’ of looks become central to their project’s promo. From Margot Robbie embodying the different eras of the most famous Mattel doll for Barbie, to Zendaya making tenniscore take off via her Challengers premiere looks, it’s now Blake Lively’s turn – the actor currently committing to an all-floral theme in honour of It Ends With Us, her florist character aptly named Lily Bloom.
But for Lively it doesn’t start and end with her outfits (which have ranged from an Oscar de la Renta mini-dress to a vintage Dior skirt suit and a Versace gown previously made famous by Britney Spears in 2002) – she has continued the floral theme to her nails.
The perfect canvas to share stories, nail art has long been a means of conveying messages as much as a showcase of tastes – look to the vibrant display of nail art at the Paris Olympic Games, for insights – which Lively knows more than most. A long-time collaborator with celebrity nail stylist Elle Gerstein, the actor often puts on a sartorial display that extends to her fingertips. This month alone Gerstein has given her myriad manicures incorporating floral motifs, from the abstract to the literal, with our favourite being the look Lively finessed herself.
“Classic 2000s nail vibes,” was how Gerstein described the mani which was “inspired by the ultimate symbol of rebirth; the guardian of gardens, the butterfly” to compliment her moment in Spears’ vintage Versace. After the artist created a shimmery base using OPI’s Switch to Portrait Mode polish, Lively (“the ultimate craft queen”) added the flowers and butterfly details herself.
While their manicure skills would no doubt surpass many’s, floral nail art is trending in salons this season – making it easier for us all to follow suit. One of our favourite manicure spots in London, Townhouse, has a chic floral design on its SS24 menu, as well as a ‘floral French’ option within its new collab menu with Elemis this summer. The chain, plus many other nail bars, also offer bespoke creations, available as an add-on to any gel manicure in your choice of colours.
Below, see more of Lively’s floral-themed manicures to get you in the mood:
