Backstage beauty tips with Zoya nail color experts at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

NEW YORK -- Color designer Rebecca Isa of Cleveland-based Zoya nail polish was backstage at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for the Zang Toi show last week to show off the custom colors the brand created for the show and what shades will be hot for spring. 

Zang Toi, whose fashions are the epitome of luxury, drew inspiration for his fall 2013 line from the colors and grandeur of Imperial Russia.  The palette for apparel featured sapphire, deep purple and emerald.  Zoya made polishes that mirrored these hues, as well as their textures and sheens. 

In past seasons, polishes in deep tones with matte finishes were popular. 

“This year is all about light and vibrancy,” Ms. Isa says.  Polishes contain a liquid crystal compound inside that gives them their iridescence.  

For the runway show, models' nails were dressed up with crystals that contrasted in color from the polish.  The set of polishes inspired by Zang Toi's designs are available for $33 from House of Toi.

Shades for spring ...

Forget clothing trends -- nails have a style all their own.  Zoya has some warm brights in store for when the weather heats up.  One of its newest collections is PixieDust, named for its subtle shimmer.  The sugary sheen is the result of a new technology that allows glitter to rise to the surface of a matte polish once it dries. All it takes is a couple coats -- no base coat or top coat, as usual.

Photo: Vespa, from the PixieDust collection.

Another offering for spring is the Lovely collection, six soft shades reminiscent of a bouquet of spring flowers.  The lilac, pink and yellow are custom colors Zoya made for Zang Toi's spring 2013 runway show, which was presented at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week last September.

Both collections are available now at Zoya.com.