Nails – The Story of the Modern Manicure (available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble) by Suzanne E. Shapiro covers the history of manicures in fascinating detail. From ancient civilizations to modern times Suzanne covers information in a way that is easy to understand, yet hard to put down
The book is filled with inspiring images – works of art, advertisements (both new and old) and modern nail art. It also touches on how nail polish was made over time and even includes photographs from inside the factory where OPI polish is created!
The book is broken down into six chapters.
- Natural Beauty and Sophistication (Antiquity through the 19th Century)
- The Rose-colored Rebellion (1900s through the 1920s)
- Starlets, Scarlets, and Defiant Glamour (1930s through the 1940s)
- Reigning Red and the Pale Nail Revolution (1950s through the 1960s)
- Flamboyant Fingertips and Professional Polish (1970s the the 1980s)
- Adornment Unlimited (1990s through today)
 |
| Michelle from All Lacquered Up |
Although myself a lover of history (I majored in Classics) my favorite chapter was definitely the 1990s through today. Old Hard Candy and Urban Decay ads, Uma Thurman wearing Chanel Vamp in Pulp Fiction, Japanese nail art and even nail blogs are just a few of the topics covered.
OPI created a very special, limited edition shade called Switchboard Starlet to celebrate the publishing of this book. Only 1,000 bottles were made, and it is not available for purchase. Want to win a bottle of OPI Switchboard Starlet yourself? I’m giving it away here!
I highly recommend picking up Nails – The Story of the Modern Manicure for yourself or the polish lover in your life. It would make a wonderful coffee table book, sure to start many conversations! It had been temporarily sold out on Amazon, but it’s currently back in stock!
Don't forget to enter my giveaway for OPI Switchboard Starlet!
Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.
