From classic and simple sets to trendy, opulent manis, we’re always here for nail inspo. And while we often glean it from our social feeds and the red carpet, twice a year, we get to add New York Fashion Week to the list. Not to say these sources are at all exclusive: Often, runway trends make their way to the ‘gram, and vice-versa.
So which trends will we see all over #NailTok this spring—and which manis already beloved by social media made their way to the catwalk? Read on for the standout manicure trends spotted at New York Fashion Week S/S 2024.
Frosted Finish
If this season has been any indication, glazed donut manicures aren’t going anywhere next year. But 2024’s iteration will feature a more subdued, frosted finish. Backstage at Alice + Olivia, Sundays Studio created frosty, snow-capped manicures that let the nail tips shine through for a subtle, muted French.
At Sandy Liang, manicurist Holly Falcone used KIKI World’s Pretty Nail Graffiti in the shade Pearl ($29) to give the models ethereal nails that are also surprisingly easy to recreate: To get the look, she applied two coats of polish, then randomly placed dots of eyelash adhesive to the nails and fingers. After the glue dried for a few seconds to a tacky texture, she added crystals.
Inspired by designer Patricia Bonaldi’s (AKA PatBo) love of embroidery, celebrity nail artist and KISS brand ambassador Gina Edwards used the brand’s Glazed Donut Nails in Frosted ($12) as a canvas on which to create stunningly detailed accent nails with real lace and crystals.
Magic Chrome-nts
Prabal Gurung hit three mani trends at once: Futuristic silver chrome, sculptural 3D accents, and unusual French tips. Edwards added the chrome-powdered gel accents to the brand’s Bare But Better Nails in Nude Drama ($10).
Among the many manis @sojinails created for the Priscavera show were drippy silver stilettos, white croc prints, and chrome sets in silver, gold, and purple.
The Yukie Beauty team crafted silver chrome French tips to pair with the metallic looks Laquan Smith sent down the runway.
Think Pink
Balletcore was alive and well at Christian Siriano’s 15th-anniversary show, where celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec used essie’s Gel Couture in Polished & Poised and Birthday Girl ($10 each) to create dainty pink chrome manis.
Coquette style was on full display at Mirror Palais, and the nails were no exception. The models wore chrome manicures in shades of delicate pink and metallic silver.
Logomania
At Helmut Lang, JinSoon Choi topped off bare, short nails with decals that spelled out “Lang,” making for perhaps the most minimalistic take on the logo nail trend to date.
For the Kate Spade New York presentation, Kandalec used essie’s expressie Quick Dry Nail Polish in the shade Now or Never ($10) to hand paint the brand’s Noel print on select models’ nails.
Fine Lines
Neutral, your-nails-but-better bases were topped with chic, horizontal lines in shades of white and blue at the Staud show.
To create the architectural manis at Jason Wu, Choi used the JINSoon Nail Polish in Absolute Black ($18) to draw straight lines and chic dots.
Crystallized
At Luar, Naomi Yasuda (for OPI) created what were undoubtedly the most extravagent manicures of New York Fashion Week: chrome sets emblazoned with bejeweled, brooch-like flowers.
Among the three sets of nails Juan Alvear created for The Blonds were misty, gradient stilettos topped with KISS Nail Art Rhinestones ($9)