The stigma attached to the treatment based on a 2002 study has been hard to shake.
The nails at this year’s New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025 shows were giving in all the best ways. This season’s runways presented great manicure inspiration: from a cosmic jet-black manicure at Rachel Antonoff x Susan Alexandra, to hand-painted star nails spotted at Christian Cowan, floral French tips at Alice + Olivia, and clear gloss nails at Phillip Lim.
Here, we’ve rounded up the very best manicures from the runway we’ll be saving to take to our next salon visit, plus tips on how to recreate the looks easily at home on your own (spoiler alert: press-ons and stickers were aplenty!).
1. Moody Blue
Seen at: Proenza Schouler
Nail artist Jin Soon Choi created a dark blue manicure for this year’s Proenza Schouler SS25 show that fulfills our every craving for moody fall manicures. The deep blue hue paired well with the collection’s powerful structures and textures—and it was complete with a high-shine glossy topcoat to catch the light.
Get the Look: Opt for a deep blue shade like Jinsoon Abyss ($18) or OPI CIA=Color is Awesome ($12) and finish with a high-shine topcoat like Londontown High Shine Glossy Top Coat ($20).
2. Floral French Tips
Seen at: Alice + Olivia
Floral manicures don’t have to be so hard to execute— and nail artist Miss Pop proved just this with her take on floral French tips at the Alice+Olivia SS25 presentation. Her secret? Floral nail art stickers, which she recommends applying with a tweezer to get your desired look.
Get the Look: To recreate the look, apply French tip press-ons like the Salon Perfect Glazed French Tips ($7) that you can find at your local drugstore. Next, apply the Salon Perfect Pressed Flora Nail Art Stickers ($5) in clusters for a bouquet-like effect.
3. Handpainted Stars
Seen at: Christian Cowan
Nail artist Julie Kandalec created minimalist stars for the Christian Cowan SS25 runway show. She started with a nude polish for the base and then used a detailed art brush to hand-paint a black star on each nail for an edgy finish.
Get the Look: Use a creamy nude like CND Vinylux Longwear Nude Nail Polish in Silk Slip Dress ($12) for the base of each nail. Next, paint on the stars with an inky black polish like Essie Licorice ($9). Don’t have time for hand-painting? Use black star stickers instead, like the ones found in this Star Nail Art Sticker Set ($7).
4. Quartz Nude
Seen at: Prabal Gurung
Manicurist Gina Edwards created this nude quartz nail set for the Prabal Gurung SS25 collection. The look was created in collaboration with the designer and was inspired by the texture of smokey quartz on a natural nude finish.
Get the Look: Start with nude press-ons like the Kiss Bare But Better Press On Nails in Nude Drama ($8), a white polish like OPI Alpine Snow ($12), and a top coat of your choice. Mix the white polish and top coat together for a soft white hue and use a striper brush to brush a line from the tip halfway up the nail in an ‘S’ motion. Repeat until you get your desired finish.
5. Seeing Chrome
Seen at: Theophilio
This funky chrome manicure at Theophilio SS25 is one to copy, and it’s a lot easier than it looks. Nail artist Miss Pop relied on glitter and chrome polishes to master the look in just a few coats.
Get the Look: Opt for a polish with glittery reflects like Zoya Apple ($10), or ILNP Opal Sunset ($10).
6. Clear Gloss
Seen at: Phillip Lim
There’s something about a clear topcoat that just reads classic—and that’s exactly what the artists at Mazz Hanna were going for at Phillip Lim SS25. The transparent gloss look gives your natural nails a plump, gel-like finish that’s both timeless and chic.
Get the Look: Use a high-shine top coat like the Dazzle Dry Top Coat ($22) or the OPI Infinite Shine Top Coat ($15).
7. Sparkles + Gemstones
Seen at: Sandy Liang
Nail artist Holly Falcone created two eye-catching manicures at Sandy Liang SS25: a sparkling glitter silver and a clear coat with colored rhinestones. We can’t decide which one we like more—both are playful, yet elevated.
Get the Look: Try a sparkling hue like the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Holo-Glow in Euphoric ($9) for a silver glitter mani, or opt for the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Accents in Sweet Life ($7) for the colorful gemstone look.
8. Powder Matte
Seen at: Jason Wu
Lead artist Jin Soon Choi used a creamy ivory polish with a matte top coat to create a sophisticated powder matte set for Jason Wu’s SS25 show.
Get the Look: Opt for an icy ivory polish like JINsoon Prim ($18), or Essie Going Steady ($10). Next, add a powdery matte top coat like OPI Matte Top Coat ($12) for extra texture.
9. Cosmic Black
Seen at: Rachel Antonoff x Susan Alexandra
Okay—we love cosmic black manicure with holographic glitter that Holly Falcone created for Rachel Antonoff x Susan Alexandra SS25. The best part? The nails are adhesive strips that stick onto your nails, so no fancy artistry skills are required for recreating the look—just peel, press, and go.
Get the Look: Apply the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips in Big Tipper ($8) to get the look.