Nail Art - Rachel Antonoff Fashion Week

Nail Art at Rachel Antonoff

Backstage with CND Artist Shelena Robinson

We’d be lying if we said unlimited coconut water and granola bars weren’t huge incentives for going backstage during New York Fashion Week.

But it’s also pretty freaking cool to be surrounded by beauty’s greatest talents as they do their thing.

In today’s videos, we venture into the chaos and ask the experts to give us the inside track on the looks at some of our favorite shows. We get a floral nail-art tutorial at Rachel Antonoff (above) and explanations/inspirations for the asymmetrical chignons at Suno, avant-garde braids at Creatures of the Wind, and loose ponytails at Tracy Reese.

As always, some are more wearable than others.

But at least they won’t take up any room in your purse.

Want to keep watching? Check out our backstage beauty videos for the spring/summer 2012 shows at Timo Weiland, Erin Fetherston, and Rebecca Minkoff. And by all means, read up on current Fashion Week shows on our Tumblr.

Next Video: What Should You Do with an Extra $100?

What Should You Do with an Extra $100?

LearnVest's Alexa von Tobel Helps Prioritize

Think fast: Your income just increased by $100 every month. What do you do, hotshot? What do you do? LearnVest’s founder Alexa von Tobel knows where you should put that cash and explains it here. (Sadly, the answer isn’t in a new Marc Jacobs bag.)

For more solid financial advice, go to learnvest.com.

Next Video: Geren Lockhart's Gift-Wrapping Tips, Round 2

Geren Lockhart's Gift-Wrapping Tips

The Clothing Designer Shows Us Her Secret Hobby

Yes, we know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, it’s what’s inside that counts, and so on and so forth.

But like the body of Arnold with a Denzel face, a beautifully presented gift never hurt anybody.

In today’s video, we asked Geren Ford designer/founder Geren Lockhart to show us a few of her favorite wrapping techniques from her Los Angeles home. Lockhart, who’s been renowned by friends for her pretty packages for years, showed us two methods: one for a soft package (above) and the other for a boxed gift.

While we were in the zone, a few DailyCandy editors came up with nine neat ways to wrap a present in brown craft paper. (Faux bois stamps? Felt acorns? Check.)

Appearance is all that matters.

For more information on Lockhart, go to gerenford.com.

Next Video: A Five-Minute Makeup Touch-up

Geren Lockhart's Gift-Wrapping Tips, Round 2

More Ideas from the Crafty Designer

We’re all fans of plopping a gift into a bag with tissue paper and calling it a day. But sometimes you want to do something truly special. In this video, designer Geren Lockhart wraps a boxed gift and gives us all something to aspire to.

For more information on Lockhart, go to gerenford.com. For more gift-wrapping ideas, check out how we jazzed up packages nine ways using brown craft paper.

Next Video: An Ideal Holiday Updo for Long Hair

A Five-Minute Makeup Touch-up

Birchbox's Mollie Chen's Holiday Makeup Tips

’Tis the season for fug sweaters, awkward hometown encounters with high school chums, and office-party faux pas.

When all else fails, we can at least make sure our makeup looks good.

Done. In today’s video, Birchbox’s brilliant Mollie Chen shows us a few ways to touch up and brighten our face postwork, preparty — all in less than five minutes. From her favorite eyeliners and gloss to why it’s better to wear a brightening powder than a translucent one, Chen knows her stuff.

While we had the Birchbox ladies in our office, we also asked co-founder Katia Beauchamp (whose hair always looks amazing) to show us how to create a cool cocktail party-ready updo. All it takes is a few minutes, dry shampoo, some pins, and elastic.

You know, the same thing we’ll need around our waistline after tomorrow.

To subscribe to Birchbox or purchase any of the products mentioned in the video, go to birchbox.com. For more beauty tips, watch our videos on how to do the perfect cat eye and the right way to tweeze your brows.

An Ideal Holiday Updo for Long Hair

Birchbox's Katia Beauchamp Shows Us How

You know those people in the world who seem to never have bad hair days? Birchbox co-founder Katia Beauchamp is one of them. In this video, she shows us how to do a cool twist-around side-bun updo using just dry shampoo, a teasing brush, elastic, and some pins.

To subscribe to Birchbox or buy any of the products mentioned in the video, go to birchbox.com.

Royal Wedding Headpiece DIY

Eugenia Kim Shows Us How

Hey, have you heard? Prince Will and Kate Middleton are getting married! It’s crazy how no one is talking about it.

Clearly, we jest. We’re as obsessed with the royals as the next palatial interloper. In today’s video, we team up with NYC-based milliner and all-around cool lady Eugenia Kim to craft a beautiful headpiece (perfect for 5 a.m. viewing parties).

You can buy all the supplies at any craft store for about $20. Feel free to use your favorite colors, fake flowers, and feathers — or even sub a headband for the clip.

We also asked Kim for her take on a Kentucky Derby hat. All you need is your favorite silk scarf, scissors, and a wide-brim straw hat. Don’t have the latter? We just bought one on the street in Soho for $15.

No joke.

Too scared to DIY? Check out our Roundup of 62 headpieces that make us swoon. For more information on Kim (or to buy one of her gorgeous hats), go to eugeniakim.com.

Kentucky Derby Hat DIY

Eugenia Kim Shows Us How

You need just four things for a successful Kentucky Derby party: a TV, paper to write down all the bets, mint juleps, and a big hat. In this video, NYC-based milliner Eugenia Kim helps out with the proper topper.

Find DIY intimidating? Check out our Roundup of 62 headpieces that make us swoon. For more information on Kim (or to buy one of her gorgeous hats), go to eugeniakim.com.