Blake Lively’s Floral Nails Are a Nostalgic Tribute to Britney Spears

“Classic 2000s” Butterfly Floral Nails

Lively’s latest press tour nail look was a nostalgic nod to the early aughts, specifically inspired by “Britney Spears circa 2002,” said Gerstein in a press statement. The manicure featured both florals and butterflies, brought to life using one coat of OPI’s Stay Classic Base Coat, two coats of OPI’s Switch to Portrait Mode, and a combination of colorful OPI hues for the dotted flowers. The duo decided to keep some nails bare of nail art, instead highlighting Lively’s naturally elegant nail shape.

Unlike the rest of Lively’s It Ends With Us manicures, this one was a collaborative effort. As outlined on Instagram, Gerstein set the manicure and painted on the shimmery base, but Lively herself was behind the intricate nail art. To fully tie the theme together and look picture-perfect with her manicure, Lively chose the best possible outfit: a sequined, rainbow-hued Versace gown, famously worn by Spears at the designer’s spring 2003 runway show.

“Embroidered” Floral Nails

This “embroidered” floral manicure was double-take-worthy, to say the least. To complement Lively’s strapless Oscar de la Renta dress, Gerstein created an “embroidery floral” nail look using the Kiss Salon X-tend LED Soft Gel System in Moonlight as a base. As explained in a press release, Gerstein cleaned, filed, and buffed Lively’s nails before following the proper steps to cure them. Then, she got to work on the art, creatively adding sparkling cat eye powder to give the illusion of the nude flesh of the dress. She then painted multi-colored florals in various sizes and heights, creating a mosaic-inspired pattern that mimicked her dress’s embroidery.

“Minimalist Watercolor” Floral Nails

For the second floral look of the press tour, Lively enlisted Gerstein to create an understated take on a French manicure. The result: A “minimalist watercolor” design. The look features a soft pink base with delicate watercolor florals adorning the tips. As detailed on Instagram, Gerstein used Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in the shade Fairy Tailor, describing it as a “perfect translucent and neutral base to complement the nail art.” While she didn’t share specifics on how to try your hand at the elegant watercolor floral design, she did reveal her finishing step: Essie’s Gel Couture Top Coat for “a beautiful shine.”

“Micro-Floral Garden Party” Nails

This is the first of Lively’s floral nail looks on the It Ends With Us press tour—a beauty, right? Gerstein dubbed the pretty design an abstract “micro-floral garden party” manicure. In a press statement, she described how she used a handful of Essie shades to create the mini florals, blending colors to add depth, and finishing with green polish “for the leaves and realistic greenery.” For a sparkly touch, she dressed up Lively’s nails with a “tiny splash of gold and translucent gold foil for a glamorous effect.”

“This nail look was an incredible collaborative design with Blake, inspired by her character and chosen outfits for her press day!” Gerstein added. “Chiffon the Move [Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish] was the perfect base in creating a striking contrast with the nail art. The micro-floral design pays homage not only to her character’s career as a florist, but also to the themes of growth, resilience, and the beauty that can emerge from life’s challenges.”