As ’90s fashion and beauty trends continue their meteoric reascent back into our streamlined consciousnesses, there’s another category to look out for in the coming months: ’90s-inspired nails. Yes, your digits may already be irrevocably groomed with tortoiseshell nail art, droplet designs, and seasonally-appropriate holiday colors. However, this trend pulls back the reigns on intricate nail art and welcomes a more pared-down look. Enter: the ’90s supermodel manicure.
What Are ’90s Supermodel Nails?
The trend was dubbed by celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik, who shared a photo of Margot Robbie’s minimal nail look for the 93rd Annual Academy Awards — a simple, sheer pink base coat, and cleaned-up nail beds — which he called “the 90s Supermodel nude” in his caption. While the manicure is nothing new (in fact, it’s quite the opposite), the resurgence of the look is what every minimalist dreams of, especially after the popularity of more maximalist designs like chrome french manicures, dramatic smoky nail art, and glittery topcoats.
Why Are ’90s Supermodel Nails Trending?
We can’t exactly say we’re surprised that the trend has made its way back. While the last few years have seen manicures that were a bit more casual and subdued (hello, clean girl nails), we seem to have landed somewhere in the middle in recent months. Some people are indulging in more maximalist and girlish trends like coquette nails, while others are still in the minimalist manicure eras. If you fall within the latter camp, there is nothing more wearable than a sheer pink polish that lets your natural nail shine through. It’s the perfect elevated manicure that screams, “I didn’t try at all but I still look good.”
Keep reading to see some of our favorite versions of the ’90s supermodel nail trend.
