The 13 Best Manicures I Saw at New York Fashion Week

Much like the venue and the playlist, manicures contribute to setting the mood during a fashion show. Whether they're glossy, short, and clear complements to minimalist ensembles or long, chrome talons that pair perfectly with shimmering party dresses, nails help tell the story.

Fashion week manicures also help inspire our trips to the salon. After all, what better place to find the next big thing than the runway? Ahead, we've rounded up the standout manicures of New York Fashion Week F/W 2024. Get ready to see them all over your feed come September.

Iridescent Chrome at Lapointe

The Queen Bees that sauntered off the school bus and onto the runway at the Lapointe show are always on the go—so it makes sense that they'd opt for Chillhouse's Chill Tips in Chill At the Disco ($16).

Naked Ombré at Jason Wu

At Jason Wu, deconstructed garments were paired with deconstructed manis. Nail artist JinSoon Choi created sponged-on, ombré-esque manicures that started deep at the cuticle before diffusing into clear toward the tip. According to Choi, the key to the look lies in the final step: "Without a top coat, it doesn't really look finished," Choi said backstage. "But with [a] top coat? Voila—smooth and very finished."

On Red at Prabal Gurung

The claws were out at Prabal Gurung, where nail artist Gina Edwards created long, dramatic manicures using KISS Salon Acrylic Natural Nails in Crystal ($9) topped with magnetic polishes in red and silver.

Total Naturals at Helmut Lang

The manis were made-to-order at Helmut Lang, where models got to choose their desired nail shape, and polishes were customized based on complexion: JinSoon Nail Polish in sheer pink Whisper for lighter skin tones, the smoky gray Serenity for medium skin tones, and blackberry shade Risque ($18) for darker complexions. (Whisper and Serenity will hit shelves later in the year.)

Pearlescent Princesscore at Sandy Liang

Sandy Liang's FW 2024 collection told the story of a schoolgirl who grows up to become a princess, and nail artist Holly Falcone, working with OPI, followed suit—literally. Toward the beginning of the show, the manicures drew from the suiting fabrics in the collection (including red, brown, and navy). The final look was more whimsical, with Falcone topping two coats of the Nail Lacquer in Verified ($12) with one coat of the pearlescent pink Nail Lacquer Glazed N' Amused ($12).

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Short and Chic at Tiffany Brown

For Tiffany Brown's F/W 2024 collection, Nailing Hollywood nail artist Tara Haye went small. Using Dazzle Dry Lacquer in Cashmere Taupe and Lunar Love ($22 each), she created milky manis with barely-there gold micro French tips.

Fiery Chrome at Bronx and Banco

Bronx and Banco's shimmering party girl 'fits were complemented by equally flashy manis: Specifically Chillhouse's Chill Tips in Tipsy Tinsel ($18), Chill At the Disco ($16), and She's On Holiday ($18), a glistening red chrome.

Glossy and Brown at Anna Sui

Drawing inspo from 1930s England, Anna Sui's collection featured plenty of classic prints and neutral tones, all with Sui's signature playful approach. The manicures had an equally heritage-but-make-it-grunge attitude with a solid wash of brown polish.

Black French Tips at PatBo

"The nail inspiration for PatBo displays a sense of vulnerability intertwined with strength," Edwards said of the sets she created for the designer's F/W 2024 show. "A bold black French tip... was the perfect choice for the collection." She used imPress' No Glue Mani in For the Night ($10) without the accent nails.

Long, Glossy, and Neutral at LaQuan Smith

A LaQuan Smith, the smoky makeup and sexy ensembles were complemented by long, glossy, neutral manicures. Consider them the loud luxury version of "Rich Girl Nails."

Opulent Gems at Sergio Hudson

Inspired by icons like Diana Ross and Diahann Carroll, Edwards topped a few of KISS's Voguish Fantasy Sculpted French Nails in Party Crasher ($10) with gemstones to create opulent accent nails fit for a disco diva.

Going for Baroque at Luar

Name a more opulent NYFW manicure (we'll wait). Nail artist Naomi Yasuda, working for OPI, dreamed up baroque-esque statement nails, drawing inspiration from vintage picture frames. She created the resin decals with molds, then topped them with OPI's Nail Lacquer in Glitzerland ($12).

Coquette Bows at LoveShackFancy

The coquette trend isn't going anywhere, as the manicures at LoveShackFancy proved. The playful, girly sets were crafted with Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Perfect Manicure Press-Ons in On Pointe ($10), Salon Effects Nail Accents in Bubbly & Pearls ($7), and little black and pink bows.

Up Next: New York Fashion Week's Biggest Beauty Trends Include Huge Hair and '60s Glam

Read the original article on Byrdie.