Classic, fabulous nails—that still work for a fancy event or night out—can be a tricky balance. On the one hand, you might be tempted to step out of your comfort zone with a pattern, color, or design that’s new for you.
On the other (and I know this pain firsthand) it’s deeply annoying to spend money getting your nails done…and then you end up hating them for a week or more. We have to use our hands a lot, which means we see our manicures a lot a lot. I know it sounds silly, but the right nails can elevate an experience and help you feel like the most polished version of yourself.
Selena Gomez
White doesn’t have to be basic—on the contrary, it can be a nice neutral when the rest of your look (pink sweater, black skirt, diamond jewelry) is made of statement pieces. Notice how the white on the nails complements Gomez’s jewelry, but also doesn’t fight with the rest of the look.
Rihanna
If you’re wearing a lot of gold jewelry, as Rihanna does here (and often does in her red carpet looks), yellow can be a nice complement. It helps the metal look shinier and more vibrant, and it helps your hands look even more adorned. Just note that the shade doesn’t work with every skin tone.
Hailey Bieber
What’s especially cool here is that Hailey Bieber is at a Tiffany & Co. event (get it? The blue color is thematic?), which means that she matches the decor. But a cornflower blue nail color is also a nice contrast to her black gown (or any black attire), without being so vibrant it clashes.
Lori Harvey
A French manicure is classic—to the point that it can sometimes look dated if you’re not giving it a necessary update. Making the white section longer and giving the nails a coffin shape help make this look like “the French manicure of the future.”
Zinnia Kumar
If you want to go with a French manicure but the white color feels jarring (or doesn’t go with your outfit), opt for black nail tips instead. Making the black portion long and chunky also helps the style be more intense and dramatic, but still classic and classy.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift often favors shorter nails with simple designs, so I especially love this green and red design (this photo was taken in December, so it’s holiday-themed!). Also, the Kansas City Chiefs have red and gold colors so now I’ve gone down the rabbithole trying to figure out if she was referencing Travis Kelce.
Jennifer Lopez
The French manicure’s sleeker older sister, Jennifer Lopez shows off the split glitter nail—with a thin gold line in the center and sheer gold polish on the top half above the line. You can play around with the length to see what suits your nail shape and jewelry.
