We’re headed into fall and making space in the closet for cool weather outfits. But the design houses are way ahead of us. In New York City, they just revealed the spring and summer styles for next year. Nail pros like Jin Soon Choi and Julie Kandalec took part in the sixty NYFW fashion shows because every detail counts, right down to the models’ fingertips. We explored their new manicure ideas to highlight the best nail trends from New York Fashion Week 2024 just for you.
Best Nail Trends from New York Fashion Week 2024
Not Boring Nudes
Let’s begin with a basic style: nude nails, sometimes called mannequin nails. Models for Phillip Lim walked the runway with clear gloss manicures while Proenza Schouler chose a sheer pink. Monse had them in creamy taupe and Jason Wuu asked for a matte finish on ivory nails. Obviously, sheer nudes and clean neutrals are still having a moment and will be a safe choice in the months to come.
But Prabal Gurung asked manicurist Gina Edwards for something a little more. The result looks like pink quartz with misty white tips, a fanciful reimagining of the classic French manicure. The artist used KISS press-on nails and sharpened the tips. The pink shade is the stock nail color, but the white smoke is a custom mix. InStyle reports that Edwards used blooming gel to thin white polish, then alternated thick and thin “smoke” lines.
LDS 188 Western Sand - LDS Gel Polish 0.5oz
LDS Gel Polish Nail Art Liner - White 02 (ver 2)
DIY Delicate Details
If you love feminine touches like flowers and lace, you’ll be glad to know cottagecore was alive and well at the Alice+Olivia show. The models wore almond-shaped nails with a soft white shade. The blue floral details were courtesy of nail stickers. This is a playful, simple look anyone can whip up at home.
In fact, nail stickers were a handy go-to tool for various artists at the shows. The most popular ones were textured or 3D, like puffy petals or rhinestones.
DND DC Gel Nail Polish Duo - 056 White Chalk
Nail Stickers
Metallics in Many Shades
Chrome aficionados rejoice because metallic nail art continues hot. In Luar’s show, models wore bronze nails with an iridescent orange cast. Miss Pop’s manicures for Theophilio also included colorful metallics in jewel tones.
Besides sleek chrome, we also saw minimalist designs with a hint of shimmer similar to the glazed nail trend. Our attention was also captivated by textured metallics or combinations of various shades and finishes.
When Libertine took over the runway, they went for captivating looks like these silver chrome nails with bright yellow moons. Celebrity artist Julie Kandalec created the look based on the show’s location in a garden. It stands for the moon at night or the sun that shines as a hopeful guiding light.
Over-the-Top Is Not over Yet
Kandalec was also the artist behind the dramatic Christian Cowan show’s nails. She painstakingly carved soft gel tips, leaving a crescent moon opening. Then, in each hole, she mounted stars. Everything was coated in glossy black gel, but even so, the delicacy of the design required that the models dress before donning the tips.
LAVIS Coffin Long - 12 Sizes Clear - Soft Gel Tips
LAVIS Gel Polish Super Black - 0.5 oz
Moody Hues
Lastly, we saw dark-colored nails in abundance. Jin Soon Choi provided models with midnight blue manis while Dawn Sterling created a customized wine shade on square nails. Although this was a spring and summer preview show, we felt satisfied seeing so many autumn colors on display.
JC15 - Classic Chrome Nail Powder - Purple
Sparkly Extras
Many artists included tasteful amounts of sparkle on models’ nails. A few styles were as simple as holographic stickers. Others required pasting on chromatic glitter or rhinestones. Even the sheer manicures sometimes benefitted from these perky extras.
Brief Bios of the Artists
So many nail experts are involved in the NYFW shows and they all deserve congratulations for a beautiful turnout. We selected a few of the biggest names behind the looks so you can get to know them better:
- Jin Soon Choi is the legendary nail artist who founded the Jin Soon Hand & Foot Spas in New York City plus her own nail polish line. She has a minimalist yet sophisticated style that you can see in her chic polish palette. She has worked together with many high-profile designers and her work frequently appears in top fashion magazines.
- Miss Pop, whose real name is Simcha Whitehill, is a perky, creative nail artist famous for vibrant, playful designs. She works with major fashion houses, so her designs often appear on the runways of New York Fashion Week.
- Holly Falcone from Los Angeles trained under another notable nail genius, Gina Edwards. Before her metallic design for Sandy Liang at NYFW 2025, she was admired for a collaboration with ORLY for a 2020 show. Not only that, but her work has been featured in The New York Times and Vogue.
- Gina Edwards studied psychology but shifted into nail artistry when her part-time job became her passion. She has provided stunning looks for Vera Wang, Kim Kardashian, and Bella Hadid, among many other celebrities. Moreover, her nail designs have appeared on the covers of Vogue and on the runways of major fashion shows worldwide.
- Julie Kandalec is a celebrity artist and educator with a keen eye for detail and a passion for nail art. She does celebrity manicures, and her creations have graced the covers of fashion magazines. Julie founded the Masterclass Nail Academy, where she also shares her expertise with aspiring nail artists.
- Dawn Sterling is a standout figure in the fashion industry because of her innovative nail art. Models wearing her designs have walked the runways of NYFW, Milan, and Paris. Her celebrity manicures brighten fingertips at the Met Gala, BAFTAs, and Oscars. And as a queer, Black business owner and mother, she inspires many new nail artists to follow their dreams.
Conclusion
Will the nail trends from NYFW inspire you to try something new? If you need supplies, check our home page first for the best deals on polish and tools. And if you love to see what’s trending in the nail world, browse our new arrivals to see what’s hot.