The Libertine spring/summer 2018 show sparked a punk couture uproar on the runway when CND, the pioneers of nail artistry at Fashion Week, reunited with their longtime creative collaborator Johnson Hartig for a seventh season. Showcasing irresistibly illicit looks, Libertine’s S/S 2018 collection was statement-making in more ways than one — but for the fashion world, the strongest statement was this: Hartig is not only returning to his roots, but reclaiming them.

To complement Libertine’s daring looks, CND’s key nail styles this season told a story of artistic uprising and haute hedonism. Skulls and safety pins, punk appliques, wild spirals, and forbidden hidden treasures combined to create a glittering underground playground where rebellion reigned supreme. Decadent details sparkled with subversion on the anchor nails, as pave Swarovski crystals were mosaicked into emoji-like designs, including smiley faces, skulls, and dollar signs. Pave Swarovski crystals also adorned one of the show’s most intricate nail looks: hand-sculpted bird skulls. Crowned in safety pins, the skulls gleamed atop the nails like ancient amulets.

Guided by CND Co-founder and Creative Director Jan Arnold and CND creative lead Heather Reynosa, the CND Design Lab Team created 3-D nail designs that were both sculptural and functional — reaching a level artistry that far transcended embellishment. Gemstone Venus Flytraps with hinged jaws opened to reveal Libertine’s insignia inside, while working lava lamps bubbled blood red on the tips of the nails. Paraphernalia including tiny spoons and pill capsules spilling out a ‘dose of fabulousness’ alluded to the illicit atop the nails, while blade-like hidden treasures warned that danger was lurking underneath the nail’s surface.