Backstage Pass: Nail Artist Dawn Sterling Gives An Inside Peek At Pharrell’s LV Show

This week, Pharrell presented his spring/summer 2027 menswear collection on Paris’ hottest day on record. Held the same time as the famous Fête de la Musique festival, the streets outside the show were just as hot, so Pharrell transported the front row to an indoor beach. For Louis Vuitton nail artist Dawn Sterling, this creativity is exactly why she feels such an electric inspiration during Paris Fashion Week.

“There is beauty everywhere,” Sterling tells ESSENCE. From the architecture to fashion, food to history, “it fills my cup every time I visit.” This time around, she’s the one filling ours as the nail artist behind one of the city’s most anticipated shows. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work behind the scenes for some of the most iconic brands in the world,” she says. Even though she’s a veteran, “every season still feels magical.”

As a Black woman from Brooklyn, Sterling started doing nails in a neighborhood salon. Now, she’s accustomed to creating global beauty moments, which she says never gets old. “Working with Louis Vuitton is always special because every season feels like an opportunity to tell a beautiful story through fashion and beauty,” she says.

This season, the show’s nails shared the same patterns seen in the collection, which told the story of catching a gnarly wave. For example, the bottom of surf- and skateboards had colorful LV monograms, some layered over a black-and-white checked pattern. The same colors and shapes were transported onto the nails, from monogrammed French tips to logo’d accent nails.

“Paris Fashion Week feels like the pinnacle of artistry,” she says, just like her Louis Vuitton nails. Outside of that show, brands like Schiaparelli, Prada, and one of her favorite Houses, The Row, all tell a different, yet thorough story, which is something she always looks forward to. “I’m always excited for the houses that push creativity while maintaining a strong point of view,” she says. “They each approach beauty and fashion so differently.”

While fashion week for Sterling often means rushing from show to show, finding time to slow down and take in the city she’s in is still at the top of her list. “Fashion Week can move at an intense pace, so I enjoy taking long walks through the city, stopping at a café, people-watching, and soaking in the energy of Paris,” she says. Whether she’s getting lymphatic drainage from her favorite Parisian spa, Slow Vibes, or a croissant from her favorite spot in the world, Du Pain Et Des Idees, “sometimes the most inspiring moments happen in between the shows, not at the shows themselves.”

But, these little moments to check-in with herself aren’t just for leisure. They’re non-negotiable. “Even if it’s just a quick walk or a few quiet moments to myself, I make sure I create space to reset,” she says. While her days are full of making other people feel beautiful, her personal routine is simple: Hydration, healthy skin, fresh face, and of course, moisturized hands. “As a nail artist, hand care is especially important for me, so cuticle oil is always on deck.”

Below for Sterling’s backstage POV at Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week SS27 show.