Nails Bite

Of course, high fashion has been bananas for edgy nails for several seasons. At the spring 2012 shows, we saw dagger-sharp "flesh extensions" (nail polish mixed with mineral makeup to match each model's skin tone), lattice-printed clear Lucite press-ons, reverse French manicures in jewel tones, and ombre-printed nails fading from black to electric blue, to name just a few offbeat looks.

"Nails are very much in the forefront of fashion right now," says celebrity manicurist and beauty mogul Deborah Lippmann. "I don't think all of the nail options that are available now would have worked at another time. We've seen some of these products in the past, but the time is right, so things that didn't work before are working now."

As Valley owner Nina Werman says, nails are "recession-proof." "Most women will still plunk down money for nails, even when they won't for clothes," explains the New York City salon owner. "You can be running around town in sweatpants, but if your nails are done, you look polished."