I’ve always been a fan of nail art, though my penchant for a glittery ‘mermaid’ nail has evolved to favor subtler star designs and under-stated decals. Similar to perfume, I adhere to the belief that the best nail art doesn’t catch you eye the moment you walk in a room, but only reveals itself once you lean-in close enough to notice (and appreciate) the intricate details. I was thrilled when this kind of manicure was all over New York Fashion Week last month. Runways were filled with signature colors and designs I’d actually wear in daily life. Here are the runway nail trends I’d willingly embrace this spring:
Seen all over Rodarte and Nicopanda’s runways, the chrome metallic nail feels super-modern and wasn’t restricted to traditional colors (I love this shade from Essie). The high shine finish catches the eye, so that with the right polish, you could easily forgo any jewelry and still make a statement.
These manicures feature little pops of color over a bare nail, so that the focus is on the design, rather than the base coat. This style would be great for times I want a bolder nail, but not the hassle of creating one over layers of polish.
This trend has been around for a few seasons now, but it’s only recently that I’ve wanted to attempt it on my own. To create it, I’d use a super-fine brush to outline where I want the color to go, then slowly fill in the space. A perfect manicure will have clean lines and complement the natural shape of your nail. I personally prefer the negative space closer to the cuticle.
I have always been a proponent of finding your signature color and sticking with it (mine’s been Essie’s Flashed for years). Consistently wearing a polish is equivalent to having your own go-to lipstick and gives the impression that you truly know your style. On Phillip Lim and Armani’s runways, the manicurists went for a simple, but memorable uniform shade of polish, whether a periwinkle or a statement red.
Nail artists are always coming up with new ways to recreate the classic French manicure—and this season was all about bold stripes, simple framing, and dripping metallics that complement the nail bed. Some of my favorite examples were shown at runway shows for Kith and Monse. I’m definitely going to recreate these looks with OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark.
What nail trends are you most looking forward to trying? Let me know in the comments, and check out my best tips for an at-home manicure here!
