Some claim the nail-art trend is on its final legs. We beg to differ. It wasn't dying last season, and all signs backstage at the spring '17 shows point to intricate designs and 3D add-ons staying strong for months to come.
We say: Bring it on. Abstract shapes, layered ombré, color-blocking — the designs we saw at the past week's shows have us feeling downright giddy. We're not waiting until March rolls around to start test-driving the cool looks, and neither should you. The best part is, most are simple enough that you don't even have to be a professional to put your own spin on them.
Ahead, we rounded up the 29 manicures we loved most at New York Fashion Week. Click through to get inspiration for a long time to come.
Layer It Up
Start off the fall season strong with a metallic-ombré manicure, like the one seen at Michael Costello.
Photo: Courtesy of Sam Kim for Essie.
Consider this the no-makeup makeup look for your nails. This romantic mani is the perfect shade for every occasion and season. It looks simple, but it's the result of layering four different polishes.
Photo: Courtesy of Becky Maynes for ZOYA.
Nineties grunge is coming back full-throttle. Shiny black nails? S o 2005. Matte and ombré (yep, there's the tiniest hint of green at the tips), though? Sign us up.
Photo: Courtesy of Naomi Yasuda for INGLOT.
Create that millennial pink we can't get enough of by adding a soft blush polish over a bright to tone down the vibrancy.
Photo: Courtesy of ZOYA.
Welcome spring early with this floral-inspired style. If there's any time to grow your nails to that glamorous almond-shape, it's now.
Photo: Courtesy of Gina Edwards for Kiss Products, INC.
Rich colors like this aren't just for the holidays. Layer a candy apple red underneath a cabernet hue, and the result is more chic than Christmas.
Photo: Courtesy of Deborah Lippmann.
We've seen reverse manicures before, but the look Rose Velez-Miggins created at Taoray Wang's show is something else. Copy it by brushing on a shimmering white as the base, then lightly working icy-blue two-thirds of the way up.
Photo: Courtesy of Carissa Lancaster/Dermelect.
All In The Details
The Alice + Olivia show was whimsically colorful — from the eyelids to the hands. The "garden" inspiration was light, taking the form of a single forest-green stripe up the sides.
Photo: Courtesy of CND.
The Rainbow Brite manis at Creatures of Comfort are the coolest way to do a French. You can even add a sparkling triangle at the base if you're feeling extra.
Photo: Courtesy of Alicia Torello for OPI.
Sometimes the smallest details make the biggest difference. Keri Blair for MAC coated the nail with iridescent polish and topped it off with a bubblegum pink stripe.
Photo: Courtesy of Samantha Sasso.
Take a risk with this prismatic look. We love the juxtaposition of primary colors and the imperfect gradient. Tip: Keep a makeup sponge handy to blur the lines between the colors.
Photo: Via @maccosmetics/Instagram.
Miss Pop used vibrant OPI shades for Jeremy Scott's 80s-inspired collection. And to get that perfect dot? "You just dip your pencil eraser into the polish and onto the nail for the perfect big round circle," says Miss Pop.
Photo: Courtesy of J. Ryan Ulsh for OPI.
Inspired by Jackie Onassis' jet-set style, the nails at Christian Siriano evoked the "cool, modern, seaside look."
Photo: Courtesy of Kiss Products, INC.
Tracylee for Morgan Taylor presented the idea of glitter cuticles at Rodarte. Coloring outside the lines never looked so cool.
Photo: Via @rayn215/Instagram.
We dig these intergalactic manis with funfetti sparkle dotting the tips.
Photo: Via @mixedmakeup/Instagram.
Go Wild
CND went above and beyond your normal finger art for Libertine this season. It's bold, abstract, and made for cool girls. Most of us won't be able to perfectly recreate these distorted portraits of Victorian royalty, but that's what nail stickers are for, right?
Photo: Courtesy of CND.
How sweet are these surfboard nails? We don't suggest cutting your natural nails to create the sharp look, so stick to acrylics and go with a muted white polish to keep things from getting overwhelming.
Photo: Courtesy of Carissa Lancaster/Dermelect.
Uniform is boring. At least Gypsy Sport thinks so. The nails backstage were wildly mismatched, painted in flags, metallics, and glitter.
Photo: Getty Images.
Nothing says spring quite as literally as fresh flowers glued to sunshine-yellow nails.
Photo: Via @racheltoledomua/Instagram.
To give off major Terminator vibes, go chrome.
Photo: Via @mrluisnails/Instagram.
We thought the design looked like a lollipop; turns out, the swirling effect is meant to embody "the power of positivity and the beauty of nature." Trippy, man.
Photo: Courtesy of CND.
Fuzzy nails are a little out there — even for us. And yet, we're intrigued by this Libertine manicure that looks soft enough to cuddle with.
Photo: Courtesy of CND.
Color Block Your Heart Out
This twist on the classic manicure is minimal, modern, and elongates nails just like a stiletto.
Photographed by: Taylor Jewell.
At Proenza Schouler, the goth vibe got toned down with some peekaboo nude spaces — the work of Honey Nailz for China Glaze.
Photo: Courtesy of Mi-Anne Chan.
Pick out a few pastel polishes and get paint-happy. Don't plan, prep, or overthink it.
Photo: Courtesy of Samantha Sasso.
Minimalist cubism, anyone? Adding a couple pops of color to an otherwise forgettable nail changes everything.
Photographed by: Taylor Jewell.
A color blocked spin on the French? Check. Mix and match shades if you want to step out of the box, or follow this look exactly with crimson and baby pink. Tip: Keep tape on hand to make sure the lines are sharper than knives.
Photo: Courtesy of Michelle Saunders.
The colorful pattern at Nicole Miller was inspired by a Panamanian textile called Mola. Holly Falcone for ZOYA said the peach and green shades created a "maze-like pattern that was simple, yet intricate."
Photo: Courtesy of Becky Maynes for ZOYA.
Infuse some energy into your mani with asymmetric swirls. Focus on the top and bottom edges to create the illusion that there's movement between each nail. Now that's dreamy.
Photo: Courtesy of Gina Edwards for Morgan Taylor.
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