From The Straits Times    |

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It’s that time of the year again. Your letter opener (and poor PA) must be working overtime, slitting apart envelopes enclosing gilded invites to the biggest bashes of 2014.

If you’re wondering which parties to RSVP to and fretting over pairing your puckers to your polish, it’s so easy to default to a burgundy for both. Safe, conventional … and completely expected.

Try this instead. I was thumbing through a fashion rag when I was stopped short at the backstage beauty shots of Karen Walker’s Spring 2015 show. Bingo. The powers-that-be have basically given us the green light to brandish (literal) green thumbs.

Here’s why I think green nails are great for this season of carousing and champagne clinking. Sure, a Jessica Rabbit red will really pop on your feet – and play up the soles of your Loubies – but a glazed green gloss on your fingertips just feels so sexy, sumptuous and surprisingly fresh.

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Even better, the right shade of emerald enamel will simulate the gleam of the jewels themselves, meaning you could conceivably do away with cumbersome finger swag and let your own nails do the talking.

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Polish recommendations? Try Burberry Beauty’s deeply dramatic Dark Bottle Green, which comes with beautifying benefits by way of cuticle-comforting pro-vitamin V5 and moisturising myrrh extracts; or opt for Crabtree & Evelyn’s Nail Lacquer in Deep Ocean, a lush liquid lacquer with a seafoam shine and gorgeous glide.

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For a virtuous varnish that’ll lend you a truly killer set of talons, try The Body Shop’s Colour Crush Nails in The Body Shop Green. As per the brand’s wholesome image, the formula’s free of ethically suspect stuff; read my primer on toxic polish for a full list of cancer-causing chemicals.

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Not enthusiastic about emerald? Green nails don’t even have to be well, as green as grass. For an edgy youthful spin, try layering Ettusais’ Gel Color Coat in Milk Tea over the Japanese prestige brand’s Nail Color in khaki-tinged Corsage – the glossy gelish mani effect is more camo-cool than conservative and fuddy-duddy.

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Some final polish pointers? Dispense with the #NailArt embellishments and use a single solid hue – less mess, less stress – and keep your nail bed neatly trimmed and nicely rounded. Green is most definitely not the shade for a “stiletto” silhouette; you’ll run the risk of looking like a witchy extra from “Wicked”.

Other than that, it’s all systems go. Have fun blinding your fellow party goers with your bejewelled set of talons!

Burberry Beauty Nail Polish in 423 Dark Bottle Green, $30, is available at all Burberry counters and stores. For more information and to shop Burberry Beauty online, visit sg.burberry.com and follow the brand on Facebook.

Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquer in Deep Ocean, $13, is available from all Crabtree & Evelyn stores. For more information, visit www.crabtree-evelyn.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.

Ettusais Nail Color in Corsage, $10, and Gel Color Coat in Milk Tea, $24, are available at all Ettusais stores. For more information, visit www.ettusais.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.

The Body Shop Colour Crush Nails in 510 The Body Shop Green, $12.90, is available at all The Body Shop stores. For more information, visit www.thebodyshop.com.sg and follow The Body Shop Singapore on Facebook and Instagram.

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