Lizzo has a message for her haters, and it comes with ample gesticulationขalong with a set of hyperbolic nails up to the task. Thursday evening's release of the pop star's new single, “Rumors,” featuring Cardi B, was accompanied by a music video run through with a theme of gilded Greek goddesses, an aesthetic elevated by extra-long, stylized manicures. A peek at the glamorous nails came earlier this week courtesy of the single's cover art. “I wanted to do something really dramatic, because you can’t really see her outfit on the cover,” says nail artist Eri Ishizu. She achieved her goal with a set of custom press-ons bedecked in vertical rows of square Swarovskis and interspersed by lengths of gold chain, also worn throughout the video.
And because extra is Lizzo’s M.O., Ishizu created a second set, this one coated in an alabaster gel polish and finished with a gold French tip. “I think the designs are reasonable to recreate,” says Ishizu, who recommends a slightly more manageable length, a milky (never chalky) white hue, and a gold chrome powder to achieve the aforementioned style.
A series of muse-worthy updos executed by Shelby Swain (including one interminable ponytail that functioned as a trailing train), makeup artist Alexx Mayo's majestic pulls of liner, feathered brows, and ample lashes, and Cardi's baby bump and body paint combined for a powerful visual treat. But the nails did their best to steal the show, particularly in the video's final shot, a recreation of an iconic Michelangelo moment modernized by manicures. All the rumors are true: Over-the-top polish jobs are here to stay.