Meet the AW19 nail trends set to become future classics

The new season’s trends are at your fingertips thanks to some nail know-how. Nails are the easiest way to dip into the latest offerings from the catwalks without having to commit your credit card, or sartorial style, in earnest. And this season provided a veritable treasure trove of looks to plunder, from pearl-encrusted tips at Fashion East and Adeam to nails that resembled crushed rubies at Rodarte. For our take on the new season, we’ve decided to go classic but with a distinctly AW19 twist. Prepare to update your digits. 

There’s something about red nails that immediately sets the tone. They have the innate power to dress up jeans and a T-shirt without the provocative overtones of a red lipstick. At the extreme end of the Fashion Week scale were the savage, claw-like talons at Fashion East, where the models had trouble even holding a glass of water; while at Prabal Gurung, the beautiful half-red/half-natural odes to the 70s hippy trail through Europe looked anything but half-finished.

For a modern take on classic red, make like manicurist Michelle Class at the Ashley Williams show and go for a über-glossy finish. ‘Ashley’s collection is always out there so we decided on a super-bright red nail,’ Michelle explained backstage. ‘To bring it into AW19 we went for an almond shape but with added length to exaggerate the tip and elongate the fingers, giving them the illusion of being long and slender. It was finished with an extreme shine top coat for an ultra-glossy effect.’

Nail it with: Dior Vernis Nail Polish The Icons in Rouge 999, topped with OPI Infinite Shine ProStay Gloss Top Coat.

A good nude is like expensive underwear: perpetually flattering with any outfit while giving you an imperceptible boost. This season, the catwalks took buff love to the next level. We loved the exaggerated, glossy, putty-coloured nails at the Charlotte Knowles show at Fashion East, where nail technician Lauren Michelle Pires had hand placed tiny metallic beads to resemble atomic structures that matched the collection’s jewellery. Or, for those less steady of hand, Antonio Sacripante added a single chic black dot to the nails at Antonio Marras. The take-home? Go nude, but make it fashion.

Nail it with: Jessica Custom Nail Colour in Sweet Tooth applied as a base with any small bead of your choice – browse our haberdashery for inspiration. Stick in place with clear polish.

It may be a mani mainstay, but the French manicure can often feel a little twee and ‘proper’ for modern life. Cue Iceberg By James Long’s beautifully bold incarnations which were anything but demure. Manicurists Barbara Coroli, Chiara Scafuro, Giulia Zacconi and Catia Piazza set to work matching the nails to the models’ outfits and make-up using a riot of pretty, punky colours. We loved the fuchsia renditions, which were complemented with a baby-pink tip – perfect for brightening up those long winter nights. But for something a little more office-appropriate, make like nail technician Adam Slee at Preen, who added a subtle gold glitter half moon to a natural matte nail to stunning effect.

Nail it with: Nailberry L’Oxygéné Oxygenated Nail Lacquer in Pink Berry with Pink Tulip used for the tip. 

There’s something about warm, molten metals in winter that just works. But why stick to one precious metal when you could be sporting all three, à la Halpern? Nail guru Marian Newman opted for a triumvirate of gold, copper and pewter for a modern take on the backstage stalwart. ‘Halpern always calls for a nail look,’ says Marian. ‘You just have to look at the incredible array of colour and texture in the clothes to know that you can’t go out there with a nude nail. Despite always wearing black, I love looking at sparkle, shimmer, sequins and glitter, and ombre is such a current nail design at the moment.’

Nail it with: Nails Inc Powered By Collagen Nail Polish in Harper Road and Nars Nail Polish in Night Breed.

Main image: Getty Images