All the Best Nails at New York Fashion Week

Backstage at Marc Jacobs‘ ready-to-wear show, celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi was given strict instructions to keep the nails short.

Meanwhile, New York-based Japanese nail artist Mei did the opposite at Khaite and sent models down the runway with arrow talons twice the size.

It’s safe to say the shapes, sizes and designs varied across the fall 2026 shows in New York, but all were on par with trending aesthetics, from the return of the natural and naked to the continued obsession with aura tips. Here, WWD takes a look at the best of the best at New York Fashion Week.

Khaite — Maleficent Talons

For Khaite’s fall 2026 collection, Japanese nail artist Mei (@nailsbymei) imagined pointy talons à la Disney’s Maleficent. Some models were sent walking with inky tips, while others donned metallic extensions, with their pointers and pinkies noticeably longer.

Proenza Schouler — Clay Tones

Earth clay, sea clay and fire clay — such were the muted nail colors presented at Proenza Schouler.

Speaking with WWD before the show, lead manicurist and JinSoon founder Jin Soon Choi told WWD: “These colors are so popular. All these are good for all different skin tones. Some of them are sickly, some of them tulle in a sheer color, and then some of them chilling.”

Marc Jacobs — Naked and Unafraid

While Choi played with clay color at Proenza Schouler, the nail artist stuck to a kaleidoscope of nudes and neutrals for Marc Jacobs. She also ensured every nail was cut and filed to the namesake designer’s liking.

“I got yelled at by him [Jacobs],” Choi told WWD. “He told me, ‘It’s too long, cut it,’ five minutes before the show.”

Elena Valez — Rod Tips

At Elena Velez, sharp chrome tips were propped on metal rods by @sojinails and Mandy Pham. The result was something uniquely apocalyptic and straight out of the “Dune” stratosphere.

Ashlyn — Aura Nails

The gradient tips at Christian Cowan were reminiscent of the burgeoning aura trend, in which soft colors are airbrushed to create a cosmic effect. The buzzy design was brought to life by the expert abstract design nail brand, Chillhouse.