Swatches From The Atelier: August 19, 2025
Highlighting the best single-color gel manicures from our Philadelphia nail salon over the past ten days.
At Atelier Anaiis, nail care and single-color gel manicures are never separate things. Our Philadelphia nail salon’s nearly two decades of experience have taught us that long-lasting gel manicures are only possible when the natural nails are first cared for and on their way to nail health.
That’s why every Signature Foundation Manicure at our nail salon in Philadelphia begins with our Deep Clean Manicure—meticulous cuticle care, attention to nail walls, treatment of hangnails. This foundation isn’t cosmetic; it’s what allows natural nails the time and space to reshape and regrow, while being protected by the gel polish.
Only then does the color come in—never random, never an afterthought.
This week’s Swatches From The Atelier was anchored by several eye-catching cat-eye polishes in dazzling silver, deep red, aquatic blue, and a pearly white; it featured two high-powered blues very different from each other; and an iridescent cat-eye finished with chrome that we’re still dreaming about.
Each of these shades was laid down as the final layer of The Signature Foundation Manicure—not just for beauty, but for resonance. For the lives they quietly protect.
Gel manicures, done differently.
Always health-first. Always built to last.
An electric kind of blue, this swatch epitomizes fun, bite-sized summer memories. Just like those blue M&M’s we plucked from the bag.
In contrast to the blue swatch above, this salmon pink Signature Foundation Manicure ups the elegance and subtlety for an impactful yet versatile nail look.
Pearls have survived fashion’s cyclical trends for decades, transitioning from classic movies to boardrooms, from minimalist to maximalist. Although typically associated with necklaces, we find pearl white gel manicures equally up to the task of being versatile and elegant.
There’s something about an aquatic cat-eye gel polish, as if you’re diving deeper and deeper into the swatch the longer you stare.
This dazzling silver cat-eye gel manicure brings instant icon status.
The gel manicure perfect for a hot summer at home, exploring farmer’s markets and gardens, with a sweet treat in hand.
An off-white swatch, or creme gel manicure, is as timeless as they come, comfortable strolling the cobble-stoned streets of Old City or with a drink in hand on the Italian Riviera.
A gel manicure in turquoise brings a particular kind of charm to the summers, capable of transporting us to a place with dry heat and golden in hue.
A nude manicure from our Philadelphia nail salon works just as well in August as it does in March, making it the perfect canvas for a signature manicure you can return to anytime.
Bright and juicy, this mango yellow Signature Foundation Manicure conveys the tingling excitement of summer.
We’re endlessly fond of this milky swatch at Atelier Anaiis, occupying somewhere between creme and nude manicures.
For those looking for elegant summer swatches, this red Signature Foundation Manicure may surprise you, replacing the spice of more gregarious reds with a soft-spoken sweetness.
An early forecast of fall, this deep red cat-eye reminds us to enjoy and be grateful for the remaining summer days.
