L: A look from Valentino Resort 2013

Welcome to our nail art column–the Top Coat! Every week we’ll be doing a step-by-step nail art tutorial. We’ve already told you the essentials you need for a good nail art kit, so gather your tools and try our next project.

The two hottest trends in nail polish this season? Neons and nudes. We decided we didn’t want to have to choose, so for this week’s nail art project we are combining bright and tame. (Doesn’t the combo look lovely in Valentino’s resort collection above?) We even tossed in a bit of metallic for an on-trend summery manicure that’s one-part subdued and two-parts standout. Here’s how to get the look: