NYFW Fall/Winter 2025 Nail Trends: A Look Behind the Scenes
New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2025 showcased a fascinating blend of minimalist chic and bold, earthy tones in nail trends. Having worked backstage at seven shows this season, I got a close-up look at the creative process and the key styles that emerged. It's always exciting to see how some trends evolve while others make a striking debut. This season, natural beauty reigned supreme, with a focus on healthy, understated nails, alongside the sophisticated allure of rich, autumnal hues.
The Natural Buffed Nail: Effortless Elegance
The most requested nail look this season was undoubtedly the natural buffed nail. Designers sought a clean, understated aesthetic that perfectly complemented their collections.
Marc Jacobs:
Exaggerated proportions transformed models into dolls. The collection was anything but restrained, embracing exaggeration of shape, structure, and reference, bringing forth a spectacle that played with the surreal and the theatrical. The brief for Marc Jacobs was "no color, no shine," aiming for a "paper doll" effect. Achieving this seemingly simple look required a touch of artistry. While bare nails felt too unfinished, a single coat of JINsoon Matte Maker matte top coat provided the perfect touch, creating a matte finish that captured the desired "paper doll" aesthetic.
JINsoon Matte Maker Matte Top Coat: A high-performance top coat that transforms any shade from shiny to matte.
Brandon Maxwell:
Brandon Maxwell's Fall 2025 collection showcased his signature look: a sleek, sophisticated, luxe, layered, and wearable aesthetic. The collection balanced sharp, sculptural pieces with everyday essentials, creating a modern wardrobe of luxury staples with unique details. This translated directly to the nail looks. He expressed a preference for a matte finish, and after seeing the effect on sheer white, sheer pink, and a clear base, he chose the clear base with a matte top coat. We achieved this look using JINsoon Power Coat as a base, followed by JINsoon Matte Maker. The result was a beautifully understated nail look that perfectly complemented the collection's elegant and effortless sensibility.
JINsoon Power Coat: A nail-strengthening primer infused with biotin, diamond particles, phycoCoral calcium, and methiopeptide (an amino acid derived from keratin).
JINsoon Matte Maker Matte Top Coat: A high-performance top coat that transforms any shade from shiny to matte.
Calvin Klein:
Calvin Klein's return to NYFW, featuring Veronica Leoni's debut collection, emphasized minimalism, a theme reflected in the nail look. I presented the team with JINsoon Matte Maker over sheer pink, sheer cream, and a clear base. They selected the clear base with the matte top coat (JINsoon Power Coat base coat + Matte Maker matte top coat), appreciating its natural yet polished finish. This choice perfectly echoed the collection's clean lines and sophisticated simplicity. Beyond the honor of contributing to the show, it was a privilege to witness Mr. Klein's presence in the front row.
JINsoon Power Coat: A nail-strengthening primer infused with biotin, diamond particles, PhycoCoral calcium, and methiopeptide (an amino acid derived from keratin).
JINsoon Matte Maker Matte Top Coat: A high-performance top coat that transforms any shade from shiny to matte.
Fall Earthy Tones: A Rich Palette
Designers this season seemed to be on the same wavelength, gravitating towards a cool, earthy palette that perfectly captured the fall vibe.
Christopher John Rogers:
Returning to the runway after a two-year hiatus, Christopher John Rogers presented "Exhale," a collection inspired by Spanish artist Angela de la Cruz and Californian designer Dorothy O’Hara. Described as "a celebration of our roots — playful occasion wear imbricated with declarative workwear and daywear," the collection, while typically known for bold hues, explored a sophisticated palette of browns for the nails. I was honored when CJR visited my Tribeca salon to personally select the shades from my 80-color range. He chose three: Earth Clay (a chic camel tone), Toff (a classic cocoa brown shade), and Risque (a sophisticated, almost-black cherry, which proved the most popular among the models). The color choices weren't based on skin tone, but rather on complementing the collection's overall palette, working beautifully on all skin tones either through contrast or as "mannequin nails" that echoed the show's color scheme.
JINsoon Earth Clay: A versatile blend of orange and brown, perfectly in line with 2025 color trends and flattering on all skin tones.
JINsoon Toff: A classic and elegant cocoa brown, inspired by rich cocoa beans.
JINsoon Risque: A bold and sophisticated, almost-black cherry shade, a timeless fashion staple.
Monse:
Staged at the Soho Grand Hotel, the collection drew inspiration from the venue itself—a chic take on lounge dressing and the idea of a stylish "staycation." Blending relaxed luxury with a playful twist on classic hotel aesthetics, the collection's palette of browns and pinks was complemented by an equally chic nail look. Earthy tones were chosen, but with an energetic spin. After testing several shades on a model, Fire Clay was selected for its universally flattering pigment. Applied in two coats, the color proved so popular that many models inquired about purchasing it.
JINsoon Fire Clay: A terracotta rusty brown shade of burnt sienna that resembles fired clay. This warm and cozy color offers a provocative earthen hue.
Sheer Cream: The Epitome of Clean Beauty
The sheer cream nail, particularly the shade "Dew," experienced a surge in popularity, thanks in part to a TikTok mention by model Victoria Massey. A single coat of Dew creates a fresh, clean, and effortlessly polished look.
Theory:
This NYC-based brand, under the direction of Dushane Noble (menswear) and Martin Andersson (womenswear), honed its signature style for Fall 2025. The collection featured sharper, sleeker versions of their classic silhouettes, emphasizing movement, minimalism, and functionality—understated yet striking details. Sustainability remained integral to Theory’s process, reinforcing their commitment to circular fashion. A super clean aesthetic was desired for the nails, and after reviewing several sheer options, the sheer cream nail (just one coat) was the clear winner, embodying sleekness and understated elegance.
JINsoon Dew: A dreamy, sheer white reminiscent of organza fabric (applied on the female models).
JINsoon Effortless Nail Buffer & Shiner: A salon-quality tool for effortlessly smooth and shiny nails ( thapplied on the male models).
Michael Kors:
Michael Kors' Fall/Winter 2025 collection featured a minimalist palette of black and camel. Presented with sheer and red nail options, he chose the sheer cream look. Demonstrating a coat of JINsoon Dew on four different skin tones confirmed its versatility and universal appeal, solidifying its place as the perfect complement to the collection's understated chic. "Dégage chic," as the show was titled, embodied the "laid-back elegance that imbues the spirit of our homes and our new Michael Kors Collection store on Madison Avenue. Timeless, warm, modern, architectural yet sensual," as described by MK. He aimed for a collection that exemplified "cozy modernism and hands in the pockets chic."
JINsoon Power Coat: A nail-strengthening primer infused with biotin, diamond particles, phycocoral calcium, and methiopeptide (an amino acid derived from keratin).
JINsoon Dew: A dreamy sheer white reminiscent of organza fabric.
JINsoon Top Gloss: An innovative top coat that penetrates through to the base coat to form a single, solid bond that extends the life of your manicure.
