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When we think about beauty trends straight off the runway, most people tend to focus on the hair and the makeup. (Who wouldn’t take notice of a look that features glitter-coated eyebrows and structured ponytails with neon hair extensions?) Still, year after year, there’s a tinier detail that gets overlooked: the nails.
But finally, people are paying attention to the small things. As you’ve probably learned this year — thanks to countless fruity art and jelly press-ons — nail art is cool. In fact, almost everyone we know is trying some form of an Instagram-spun nail look for fall. But what if you want something fresh and new?
3-D Texture
If there were a volume dial on nail art for fall, consider it turned all the way up. Sure, your bank account and lifestyle won’t allow for over-the-top, bedazzled nails at home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try and recreate the 3-D texture with some chic press-ons.
The Blonds’ spring show was inspired by Disney’s worst best villains. While the rest of the models on the runway got a mix of avant-garde bleeding hearts, daggers, and deep-sea tentacles, Paris Hilton was blessed with a set of her own custom nails. Covered in Dalmatian spots (Hilton walked down the runway as Cruella de Vil), this sequin-packed mani from CND was one that took center stage.
At Libertine, CND took one morbidly romantic trend from the Victorian era quite literally. Inspired by the sentiment of keeping a strand of hair from the head of a deceased loved one in a locket, models nails featured — yes! — real hair. Spun into gel polish and cured several times over, there were a least five iterations of this one design. The thought is creepy, but, surprisingly, easy to do yourself at home — if that’s your thing.
Not-So-Basic Art
Not comfortable mixing fabrics in your wardrobe? Try the trend first with your nails and your accessories. Nothing matches clashes quite like a leopard print clutch and a twisted zebra nail — just ask manicurist Gina Edwards, who created this wild design for Christian Siriano’s summer collection. Bonus: She used press-on nails that you can get at home for less than $8.
If we ever got a passport to Wonderland, we’d certainly need a protective eye watching our every move. (Remember those sweet-turned-sour, talking flowers?) The make-believe escape was the theme of Alice & Olivia’s spring show, so Miss Pop, lead manicurist for KISS, created this protective design.
It’s not unheard of for a nail artist to pull inspiration from the fabric in the designer’s collection. Case in point: Julie Kandalec’s gingham-printed manicure at Opening Ceremony, which used two classic Essie polishes Licorice and Marshmallow. If you’re looking to try this at home, make sure to invest in plenty of striping nail brushes.
French Tips
We know the French manicure as the classic, natural nail trend that, frankly, every girl we knew in high school got for prom. And after several decades, it’s about time it got a makeover. Alicia Torello created this double French tip for Kith, and the color choices automatically take it beyond boring.
At TOME, we spotted a similar take on the old trend, created by Edwards for Zoya. Here, the clear nail was replaced with a nude polish. And the tip? A bold shade of pink.
However, the reverse French manicure might just be our favorite, especially when considering the subtle juxtaposition of color seen at Veronica Beard. Nail artist Betina Goldstein created these vibrant nails pulling inspiration from the extra-long tips seen throughout the ’80s. Copy the look by painting each nail in two coats of Essie Really Red polish, then rimming the nail (just below the cuticle) with Essie Bachelorette Bash.
’80s Neons
We’ve been noticing it for weeks, but it’s official: ’80s nail colors are back. In Alice & Olivia’s Wonderland, the throwback trend came in the form of fluorescent KISS press-ons.
If neon yellow isn’t your thing, then perhaps you’ll try the hot-pink polish seen at Sandy Liang. Holly Falcone created the electric manis backstage using Zoya’s nail polish in Paris.
Falcone took a similar approach at Nicole Miller, but with a fiery twist — literally. Using Zoya nail polish in Ali (a slightly more blinding shade of pink than Paris), Falcone painted a neon flame at the tip of each model’s nail for just one version of the show’s manicure. (You’ll see what we mean ahead.)
Negative Space
Inspired by the bits of skin showing on the runway at Oscar de la Renta, Miss Pop decided to take two trends — half moons and negative space — and turn ’em into one. It’s sophisticated, sexy, and eventually, saves you money on frequent manicures because you’ll be able to go weeks before removing.
Back at Nicole Miller, Falcone created a second design for the show: a manicure with attitude — and plenty of negative space. Using Zoya polish in Willa, Falcone painted the word “bad” across the ring, middle, and pointer fingers.
Last but not least, the one manicure faux pas you never expected to become its own trend: chipped nails. Old, cracked nail polish has been a thing since 2008, but it wasn’t until Jin Soon mixed purposefully chipped polish with a glittery accent nail at Tibi that we considered trying the so-called “trend” for ourselves.