The most striking nail art inspiration from New York Fashion Week
From pearl finishes to square tips, discover this season's most-anticipated manicure trends
Bad news for oval, round, and almond nail fans: square manicures are shaping up to be one of the biggest nail trends. But the runways during the spring/summer 2026 collections during New York Fashion Week provided plenty of other inspiration, including extra-long coffin nails, three-dimensional embellishments, sheer and pearl finishes, and a curved nail shape that calls to mind cat claws. All that's to say, there's no wrong way to paint your nails next season, but the trends ahead serve as a jumping-off point to push yourself out of your mani comfort zone.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best nail ideas from the runways.
Grace Ling
“I worked collaboratively with Grace to create the nail looks inspired by the theme of Future Relics. With nine nail looks, this is the most looks I’ve done yet for NYFW. From pierced details to the nails that are reminiscent of glass, every nail look was thoughtfully crafted and plays off the juxtaposition of the theme of the collection," says Coca Michelle, OPI Global Ambassador.
Grace Ling
Tiny hinges were glued to the nails at Ling, while the shade underneath was a mix of OPI Funny Bunny and Alpine Snow.
Kate Barton
Sheer, pale pinks are always on trend for spring—as seen here at Kate Barton, courtesy of artist Annabel Maginnis.
Head of State
The nails at Head of State looked glass-blown, with bubbles and three-dimensional elements.
L'Enchanteur
Nail artist Naomi Yasuda created the nails at L'Enchanteur, which are particularly stunning because of the claw-like, feline shape.
L'Enchanteur
A sheer nude set of nails by Yasuda, also done in the claw shape.
Christian Cowan
Nail artist Juli Russell collaborated with Sally Beauty on the nails backstage at Christian Cowan, where the mix of square-tip black lacquer and clear metallic dots celebrated "strength and individuality through unexpected contrasts," according to the brand.
Area
Pearly pink nails were also spotted backstage at Area.
Kim Shui
“Kim’s vision this season was very feminine and ethereal, so I wanted the nails to reflect that same spirit while also pushing design boundaries,” says celebrity nail artist Sojin Oh. “Kijibae strips gave me the opportunity to bring K-Beauty backstage and experiment with artistry and structure in a way that was still practical for the runway. Prep was incredibly efficient too—instead of spending hours hand-painting each nail, we simply applied the strips to the tips, which made the process seamless.”
Prabal Gurung
"For the show, we wanted to create a sheer, neutral yet empowering nail look that feels like sunshine on water—warm, natural, and universally flattering on all skin tones," says Sundays Studio founder Amy Ling Lin.
Alice + Olivia
Why not match your nails to your socks?
Alice + Olivia
Nail artist Miss Pop makes a strong case for gold glitter backstage at Alice + Olivia.
Kim Shui
Another square-tip and pearl-finish moment at Kim Shui.
Rachel Antonoff
Chillhouse's Chill Tips were the nails used backstage at Rachel Antonoff's show.
Alice + Olivia
Nail artist Miss Pop used Salon Perfect's suite of products to create this sporty stripe look backstage at Alice + Olivia.
Alice + Olivia
The final look at Alice + Olivia was this pearly white, which is shaping up to be one of spring's biggest nail trends.
Is mascara falling out of fashion?
10 classic, timeless red manicures to try now
Everything you need to know about the ‘Russian manicure’
Why you should try micro-crystal nails
