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The MTV Video Music Awards are always a party, where anything goes on the red carpet and every fashion and beauty risk is worth taking. For Sabrina Carpenter, who won three moon-person statues and also performed her new song “Tears” at the ceremony, the show was also an opportunity to have a lot of fun with her manicure. Though her sheer red lace Valentino gown and lavender marabou cape may have grabbed your attention first, her rhinestoned confetti French tips deserve their moment in the spotlight too—and perhaps a spot on your personal manicure moodboard as we inch closer to the festive holiday season.
Carpenter's manicure was the work of celebrity manicurist Zola Ganzorigt, who frequently works with the Grammy-winning musician, and they were essentially a sequel to a prior mani. “[The manicure] was inspired by her ‘Tears’ music video nails,” Ganzorigot shared. "We recreated the nails but with a red tip color for it to match her red carpet and performance outfits.”
For the base, Ganzorigt applied just one coat of OPI's Bare My Soul, a sheer nude shade, for a barely there finish. Instead of a traditional white or soft cream French tip, however, she used the rich burgundy shade Malaga Wine instead, in keeping with the palette of Carpenter's Valentino gown and shawl. (Ganzorigt used the brand's salon-only GelColor formulas, but each shade is available as a Nail Lacquer too.)
Ganzorigt then applied multicolored, multi-size rhinestones all over each tip, using builder gel to affix the stones and cover Carpenter's nails in a cheerful, colorful sparkle that caught the light as the singer posed for pics. The vibrant arrangement of rhinestones was reminiscent of the aftermath of a really great celebration, confetti scattered across the floor as a reminder of all the fun you had.
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The confetti French manicure obviously suits Carpenter's glittery, cheeky, bombshell-with-a-wink persona, taking the classic nail design and adding in a healthy dose of whimsy to make it feel as infectiously cheerful as her music. Earlier this year, the star added rhinestones to a polka dot mani for subtle sparkle, while Megan Fox studded her silver chrome manicure with pink, purple, and yellow gems. Multicolor rhinestones not your thing? NBD! Dua Lipa recently wore a “gold bijoux French” made of individually placed micro flat-back beads for an equally glitzy take on the look.
