The clothes and FROW may steal the show at London Fashion Week but we love getting down to the details. A good look is made great with nails, hair and makeup, perfected by a slew of backstage professionals manicuring every last nail and ensuring not a hair is out of place. For AW18, we kept an eye on emerging nail art created by the innovative nail techs behind the scenes. Here are three nail trends we liked and how to recreate them at home.
Power Polish
Statement-making nail art, as seen at Gareth Pugh, Ryan Lo and Vivienne Westwood, celebrated bold women who are unapologetically vocal. At Gareth Pugh, nails were long and dark with sharp pointed tips.
Photo: Ian Gavan/BFC/Getty Images
Red nails make a statement. Try this maroon shade from butter London – apply two coats for maximum opacity and seal the colour with a high-gloss top coat.
butter London Ruby Murray Lacquer, £8.95, available at Nail Polish Direct
(Vegan)
Add some length and sparkle to your look with this red and black instant manicure designed by House of Holland.
House of Holland Luxe by Elegant Touch Stiletto Nails in Ruby Tuesday, £14.99, available at ASOS
Get ahead of the futuristic fashion trend with these iridescent falsies.
Elegant Touch Holiday Nails in Bora Bora, £7.95, available at Elegant Touch
Orange Crush
This season, orange accents were seen in clothing, makeup and nail art at Manish Arora and Sophia Webster. From bright hues to softer corals, the versatility of orange brought energy and freshness.
Photo: Nicky J Sims/Getty Images for Sophia Webster
To achieve the two-tone ombré design at Sophia Webster, apply Vinylux Electric Orange from the base to mid-nail, then blend yellow from the middle to the tip of the nail with a small fan brush.
CND Vinylux in Electric Orange, £6.90, available at Just My Look
If you’re not one for neon, try this sweet coral-toned polish from Zoya.
Zoya in Cassi, £9.95, available at Nail Polish Direct
(Vegan)
Get salon-quality gel nails at home with Red Carpet Manicure (you'll need a UV lamp).
Red Carpet Manicure in Summer Peach Coral Crème, £12.95, available at Look Fantastic
This Orange Punch has a matte finish that will give your nails an understated sophistication.
ORLY in Orange Punch, £11, available at Graftons Beauty
Nail Couture
Maximalism and minimalism continue to compete to be the defining aesthetic of the moment. But why can’t we have both? The collections from AW18 combined minimal apparel design with dramatic nail couture. The crystal-covered manicure was a trending look at Manish Arora, while Libertine went avant-garde with fringe accents and three-dimensional nail art.
Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for CND
This nail art kit from Gems & Jewels has everything you need for a straight-off-the-runway manicure. Sprinkle some glitter or carefully place rhinestones onto wet nails. Apply a glossy top coat to seal the gems in place. The gel polish starter kit is sold separately.
Gems & Jewels Platinum Ice LED Gel Polish Nail Art Kit, £25, available at Beauty Bay
For a subtle sparkle, try this silver glitter varnish on top of your favourite, go-to shade.
Nailberry in Star Dust, £14.50, available at Nailberry
(Vegan)
These nail stamps from Moyou London are great for a unique, geometric design.
Moyou London Crystal Clear Stamper & Scraper, £9, available at Nail Polish Direct
Dress up any look with this glitter polish from Smith & Cult. Layer a few sparkles from base to mid-nail, over a solid jewel-tone polish.
Smith & Cult in Shattered Souls, £19, available at Cult Beauty
Read These Next:
The Nail Polish Trends That You'll Be Wearing Well Into 2018
The Best Dark Nail Polishes (That Aren't Black)
The Wild Runway Nail Art Ideas You'll Actually Want To Copy
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The Nail Art Trend That's Perfect For Minimalists Going To Coachella