Nails are the perfect finishing touch. Whether kept simple or fully decorated, they complete the whole look. Every season, New York Fashion Week gives us plenty of nail inspiration.
This fall, the 2024 nail trends feature creative takes on ombré and French manicures. The looks are bold, expressive, and far from basic. Here are the top five trends to watch for the rest of the year.
Inspired Ombré
Ombré nails usually fade from the tip to the base, but at two shows this season, Jason Wu and Retrofête, the style got a fresh twist.
For Jason Wu, manicurist Jin Soon Choi went for a reverse ombré. Instead of the usual direction, the design started at the nail base with a dark black cherry shade, fading into clear polish at the tip. Choi blended the colors with a small sponge, creating a soft, feminine look that elongates the nail.
At Retrofête, Miss Pop, a celebrity manicurist, did a side-to-side ombré with four shades of red from essie. She blended them directly with the brushes, giving the design a chic, refined feel.
Big Decals
Over-the-top nail trends art took center stage at fashion week.
At Sergio Hudson, celebrity nail trends artist Gina Edwards created bold designs with KISS. She used large, colorful gems and gold accents, inspired by the glam style of the ’70s icons Diane Carroll and Diana Ross. The nails featured stones surrounded by gold, like vintage jewelry, incorporating the colors and textures of the collection, such as denim, velvet, and bold shades.
Cherry Reds
At Luar, nail trends artist Naomi Yasuda made super-long statement nails with resin decals and OPI’s Glitzerland polish. Inspired by baroque art, the nails combined luxury and urban fashion.
Cherry red nails were featured at Retrofête, Prabal Gurung, Christian Cowan, and Bronx and Banco. Jason Wu added a unique ombré twist using three shades to balance between dark and sophisticated with JINsoon Risque.
At Prabal Gurung, Edwards designed a velvet “cat eye” cherry nail. This magnetic effect reflected the idea of fragmented memories, showing different shades in different lights, blending past and present.
Fun Frenchies
The French manicure is here to stay, as seen at shows like Sergio Hudson, Christian Cowan, PatBO, and Tiffany Brown. But these aren’t your usual French tips—think bold colors, unique shapes, and creative designs.
“For 2024, French nails are still trending,” says Edwards. “I’ve seen so many people rocking twists like brown tips, rhinestones—it’s a ’90s style with a modern twist.”
At Sergio Hudson, Edwards paired colorful gem nails with champagne double French press-ons. For PatBO, she used simple French tip press-ons, sticking to a classic but fresh look.
Reflective Metals
It all started with the viral glazed donut nails, but now metallic manicures are in the spotlight. Chillhouse’s “Chill at the Disco” press-ons were used at Lapointe and Bronx and Banco, featuring silver cat-eye nails with white swirls.
At Prabal, Edwards showcased the magnetic look in cherry red and silver. Magnetic nails are evolving with designs like the French cat eye, offering a fresh take. These nails reflect light and match various outfits, adding unique colors.
