Margot Robbie is one of the greatest champions of method dressing. Two years ago, she captured the sartorial hearts and imagination of the world while promoting Barbie (and dressing the part)—and for her latest project, an Emerald Fennell adaptation of the classic Wuthering Heights, she’s giving herself the full-spectrum, yearning-filled Emily Brontë treatment, beauty included.
“The nail design was inspired by Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic heart-shaped Taj Mahal necklace, which Margot wore for the evening,” says Chanel nail artist Betina Goldstein, who was also on hand for Robbie’s Barbie-tour manicures (which included a viral micro-French and a shade inspired by jelly shoes). “The necklace has marquise diamonds and round rubies throughout, and this set was made to feel as if those jewels had fallen from the necklace and scattered delicately across her nails.”
Of course, that meant that diamonds and rubies were needed to complete the look. Goldstein worked with a set of almond-shaped press-ons and started with a base of Chanel Le Vernis in Ballerina for a “natural yet refined base tone.” From there, Goldstein used a jewelry drill (yes, really!) and got to work. “I approached the application as I would a fine jewelry piece, drilling custom-sized settings into each nail to perfectly fit the stones.” Two cuts of diamonds (round and marquis) were used, totaling 0.88 karats, along with 0.21 karats of rubies.
“One of the advantages of using real diamonds and gemstones is that they are resistant to acetone,” Goldstein says. “This allows the nails to be soaked and the stones reused.”
This is just one of the on-theme manicures Goldstein has planned for Robbie’s press tour—perhaps we see these stones repurposed into a cool toe ring or flashy pedicure next?
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