Certain nail polish shades are summer staples: CND’s Studio White, Essie’s Bikini So Teeny, or OPI’s Mod About You. Despite the hundreds of thousands of polishes in existence, the dreamiest milky white—not fully transparent or opaque with a subtle opalescence—is hard to pin down. But leave it to Jennifer Lopez to debut the perfect version on the red carpet, by combining two shades: Aprés Nail Official Light & Shadow Gel Couleur in shades Renewal and Daydreaming.
Lopez wore the cloud-like creation to the Los Angeles Netflix premiere of her new movie, Atlas, on Monday, May 20. Her manicure popped against the dark fabric of her Greta Constantine skirt while playing up the drama of her exaggerated emerald cocktail ring.
The elegantly minimal look is the brainchild of the singer's go-to nail artist, Tom Bachik. Bachik dreamed up the “glamorous” manicure to channel Old Hollywood for Lopez, starting with a sleek and elegant oval nail shape. He then used Aprés Base Coat and Non-Wipe Top Coat to ensure chip-free, long-wear color. (And long-wear, it was: Lopez also wore this manicure through her Jimmy Kimmel appearance Monday night).
A layered look isn’t anything new—just look to last year's glazed donut manicure craze for proof. Still, it’s projected to be a big 2024 nail trend again and an easy way to emphasize your personal style.
“Take the season’s pastels, or even a sheer nude, and add a coat of shimmer sparkle, or pearl,” nail artist Miss Pop previously recommended to Marie Claire while predicting the season’s biggest nail trends. “It takes any nail color and subtly makes it look sun-kissed—like you went to Aruba for spring break.”
I have a feeling I’ll be trying out J.Lo’s color combo ASAP, but the summer-appropriate layering options are endless. I’ve assembled a few of my favorite duos for your shopping pleasure, ahead.
