The right away: It's been bitten, torn, cut, clipped, stubbed, painted and filed.
But never before has it sat at the epicenter of a fashion whirlwind, with designers sending multicolored manicures down the runways and richness brands such as Chanel being known as much for trend-setting nail colors (mint green, a trio of khakis) as for couture. As a d, Chicago women have begun to feel more comfortable sporting off-beat colors and nail art, even in more conservative workplaces.
"I extraordinarily do consider nails an accessory," said Laura Jastram, 28, of Wicker Park, who works in an habitat she describes as creative. The women in her office, she said, are passionate about their nails and love greens, blues and yellows—colors that might have been considered too preposterous for the office just a few years ago. "I feel like it's become this whole subculture. It's crazy."