SPACE CADET

Rodarte gives punk classic "Marquee Moon" the beauty treatment.

You might not know Deborah Lippmann’s name, but you definitely know her work.

From nude nails to shimmering lilac tips, she’s painted some of fashion’s most famous fingers – often picking up on trends months before beauty brands like Dior try them out.

In the past, Lippmann has used colors from her brand’s arsenal, but she's started tapping some major fashion talent to help her formulate new colors moments after they’ve been tested out on the runway.

Zac Posen had his chance with “Purple Rain” (finally hitting shelves on March 20), and now the Mulleavy sisters have theirs; Lippmann Collection teamed up with the Rodarte designers to re-create the one-off polish worn last month at their fall ’09 show.

“Marquee Moon” is a gunmetal silver shade with huge chunks of sequins to give it an out-of-this-world sparkle. Like the clothes sent down the runway, the color is a bit tough, a bit edgy, and as deconstructed as nail polish gets.  It might not be Tom Verlaine approved, but we can imagine Patti Smith, who briefly dated the Television guitarist, rocking it.

The shade won’t be available until June—which means that you can get the beauty look before you can actually buy the look. It’s not quite the same as a pair of thigh-high bandage boots, but at $15 you’ll have enough money leftover to keep dreaming.
REBECCA WILLA DAVIS

Visit lippmanncollection.com for more info.

THAT'S NOT ALL...
Kate Mulleavy on why she likes all things ugly
Beth Ditto inspires a polish
A Lippmann shade that's better than your vinyl collection



This story was published on March 18, 2009.