We all know the standard fall colors — burgundy, olive, navy — but for those that want to step out of their comfort zone, these are the manicure trends you can expect right now, according to Kana Kishita, a New York-based editorial nail artist. And they all pair perfectly with the nail shape she is seeing take center stage for fall: almond round.
“September is a new season, and it’s always related to fashion and beauty. There aren’t really any trends right now that I don’t like. There is so much excitement going on in the industry, and I think it’s great to see so much experimentation,” she says.
Nailing the Print
Abstract: Look no further than the fall Chromat runways for your fall mani mood. The blue and purple marbleized polish stands out — but the best thing about abstract is that you can choose your attitude. “Abstract is more of a representation of your mood,” says Kishita. “This can range from multicolored geometric patterns to almost a liquid or fluid effect, but there’s really a lot of creativity in the different types of abstract prints artists are using today.”
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Animal: Animal print might be becoming as basic as a PSL, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. And Kishita says that the midi-skirt pattern is here to stay for fall. “Animal prints will always be in and out of style. It’s a print that will never disappear.” Instead of leopard, try an out-of-the-box print like tiger or cow in unexpected colors.
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Negative Space: The barely-there nail look is taking over — Kishita says it is one of the most common requests from her clients. You can take the Prabal Gurung route and pick a bright color, swiping it from the left to right corners of the nails, or go more simplistic like nail artist Betina Goldstein.
Pop Art: “Nail art is starting to become more like traditional painted art,” she says. Nicole Miller displayed grunge thumbs with pop art eyes, while at Jeremy Scott, models debuted black and white Andy Warhol-esque nails (he also continued the trend in his Spring Summer 2020 show with 90s-style carpet nails reminiscent of Zany Brainy).
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A Fall Color Story
Earth Tones: According to Kishita, there are three colors that will be popular for fall — and none of them are dark. Instead, she calls out rose quartz, khaki and cosmic latte. A clear spin off from fashion week, these muted colors were found on the fall runways of Staud and Khaite. “In the summer, we saw a lot of neon and colors that really popped, so I think these colors are a great transition into the more subtle colors of fall and winter,” she adds. “Also, these colors are mostly earth tones, which are always great colors for the fall.”
Holographic: “Holographic reflections that change color from warm to cold depending on the angle … it’s more of a new type of bling being brought back from the 80s,” she says. Test the trend using Deborah Lipmann’s Never Never Land. Or if you don’t want to go full hologram, take a cue from the Tibi runway and do a matte color on top with a holographic polish highlighting your half-moon.
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Adornments: At Adeam, models sported nails adorned in pearls. And at Christian Siriano, nails were covered in Swarovski crystals. But it doesn’t stop at the nails, Kishita says. “Crystals and hand painting are becoming more popular. Compared to a few years ago, custom nail art is expanding a lot and more clients are requesting embellishments. Nail art is really starting to be viewed similar to getting your hair and makeup done. It’s becoming a must for fashion and beauty, and it’s part of the complete beauty package,” she says.
Press-on: Attention: the 90s are calling. Press-on nails have somehow made their way back into the mainstream — but with an upgrade. “It’s literally shaped hearts, stars, etc. in the nail tips. You can have piercings in them as well … it’s the newest thing in the nail world.”
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Texture: It is not just about the color you choose, she says, but it’s also important to think about the top coat. “Matte nails are good for fall and winter. It provides a really nice texture, especially when you use dark colors that are typical of these seasons.” Take inspiration from Maryam Nassir Zadeh’s fall show, and use JINsoon’s powder blue polish, Aero, followed with their Matte Maker top coat to give the soft color added grit and edge.
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