I've always considered an Ines Di Santo gown a work of art, so it’s only fitting that a bride’s hands should become works of art when she dons one of our gowns for her special day. For our Fall 2025 presentation, we quite literally took hands to heart by collaborating with the extraordinary Aki Hirayam—a passionate nail artist from Japan.
Aki moved to the U.S. in 2014, bringing with her over 13 years of experience and a portfolio that includes work with elite publications like Vogue, ELLE, and Variety, as well as campaigns for iconic brands like Swarovski. Her talent has flattered the fingertips of luminaries such as Margot Robbie, Zoë Kravitz, Demi Moore, and Pamela Anderson, to name a few. Needless to say, we were thrilled to partner with her!
I just had to share this with you and hope you'll be inspired too—here’s my Q&A with Aki:
Aki, I’m still in awe of what you created for us. You translated every detail of our gowns onto the fingertips so beautifully.
Thank you, Veronica. I was so inspired by your designs!
How did you first discover your passion for nail art?
As a teenager, I loved painting the nails of all my friends! It became my favorite form of artistic expression. Now press on nails are my canvas and the possibilities are endless.
Tell me how you brought this art to us.
I hand painted each nail to match the details of each dress. For example, for the floral designs I wanted it to be reminiscent of an oil painting. I used 3-D gel to make a floral painting where the flowers stand out. Then I used chrome gold for accent to reflect a beautiful, fine finish.
For the bride-to-be who wants something like this for her own wedding, how much time will it take and how soon before the big day should she have her nails done?
During a wedding, your hands appear in many photos, such as ring shots or holding hands with your partner. That’s why I recommend doing nail and hand care a few days before the big day. If you do it more than a week in advance, your nails might grow out and lose their fresh look. Ideally, you should do the coloring the day before or two to three days prior. Plus don’t forget about hand treatments as well! Now there are so many convenient hand masks you can use at home. For example, you can apply a hand mask treatment while getting your makeup done. It helps smooth the texture of your hands, moisturize your cuticles, and make your hands and especially nails, look beautiful in photos.
Aki proves imagination is the only limitation of nail art. What will you envision for your big day?
Yours in the magic of it all,
Xx Veronica
