The biggest takeaways? The coquette trend isn’t going anywhere, while purple is moving beyond soft pastels in favor of bolder, more vibrant shades. Stripes are also having a moment, whether you lean toward preppy patterns or animal-inspired prints. And if feathers and hair extensions are any indication, maximalist nail art is officially back.
Of course, there’s plenty for minimalists to love, too. At Calvin Klein and Michael Kors, naked nails proved that sometimes the best manicure is one that barely looks like a manicure at all. Meanwhile, 7 For All Mankind made a strong case for cherry red as the ultimate neutral. In other words, whether you want your nails to quietly complement your outfit or steal the entire spotlight, the NYFW runways offered plenty of inspiration.
Ahead, discover the biggest nail trends from the NYFW Spring/Summer 2027 shows worth bookmarking for next year.
1. Striped Sets
Striped nails at Alice + Olivia.Courtesy of Dazzle Dry.
Zebra print manicures at Sergio Hudson.Getty / Dia Dipasupil / Staff
Manicures earned their stripes at NYFW, literally. At Alice + Olivia, celebrity manicurist Pattie Yankee created an alternating red-and-baby-blue set that came with a matching striped tie. Meanwhile, models at Sergio Hudson went a little wilder with metallic cat-eye zebra manicures. Different approaches, same idea: nails that are impossible to ignore.
2. Sunglass Nails
3. Pops Of Purple
Bright purple nails at MONSE.Courtesy of Dazzle Dry.
Cat-eye manicures at Christian Cowan.Daphne Youree
Forget pastels — purple is getting punchier this spring. At MONSE, celebrity manicurist Pattie Yankee pulled from the collection’s floral inspiration with vibrant violet manicures, courtesy of Dazzle Dry’s Epiphany. Christian Cowan took the color in a vampier direction, with manicurist Gina Edwards layering graphic black lines over purple cat-eye press-ons from KISS.
4. Bow Accents
Look past the ribbons and ruffles at LoveShackFancy and you’ll find one more girly detail in the mix. Using Salon Perfect’s Milky Rose, manicurist Miss Pop topped milky-white nails with sheer pink bows, tying the whole whimsical look together.
5. Satin Finishes
Satin finishes at Sandy Liang.Instagram / @celissenails
Pearlescent manicures at Anna Sui.Getty / Dia Dipasupil / Staff
Another way to embrace the coquette aesthetic? Look to Sandy Liang and Anna Sui, where pearlescent manicures delivered a soft, light-reflective finish reminiscent of satin ribbon. At Sandy Liang, nail artist Holly Falcone, co-founder and creative director of Celisse Nails, looked to the satins and moiré textures of Versailles for the sporty-princess manis, using lustrous blues, whites, and pinks. It’s a subtler take on bow mania — no nail art required.
6. Off-Kilter Extensions
Feather manicures at Kim Shui.Instagram / @studeaux
Hairy extensions at Showpony.Instagram / @naominailsnyc
The clothes may take center stage at NYFW, but every now and then, a manicure manages to steal the spotlight. At Kim Shui and Showpony, wonderfully bizarre nail extensions turned heads, with feathers and long strands of hair transforming extra-long nails into surreal works of art. As for whether they’re practical beyond the runway? That remains up for debate.
7. Naked Nails
Barely-there manicures at Michael Kors.Annis @anniskamara for Michael Kors.
Naked nails at Calvin Klein.Courtesy of Jin Soon
On the opposite end of the spectrum from avant-garde extensions are naked nails—natural manicures that look glossy, healthy, and perfectly groomed. That was the approach at Calvin Klein, where celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi skipped color entirely, instead buffing models’ nails to a smooth shine. A similarly stripped-back manicure appeared at Michael Kors, though with a glossier finish courtesy of JINsoon HyperRepair and HyperGloss.
8. Cherry Red Manis
Red nails are a classic for good reason—they complement almost any look. At 7 For All Mankind, cherry-red polish fit perfectly with the collection’s low-slung jeans, aviator sunglasses, skinny scarves, and signature indie-sleaze styling. Consider it another reason to keep this timeless shade in your nail rotation.
Daniel’s expertise in beauty and his sharp eye for runway details create an unmatched combination for readers seeking the latest makeup and style inspirations.