Sunglass Nails Are the Fashion Week Trend You Can DIY

DVF’s Return Brings a Sheer Nail Moment

Diane Von Furstenberg’s first New York Fashion Week collection in nine years delivered a beauty moment that extended beyond the garments on the runway. The manicures themselves commanded attention, featuring sheer, translucent designs inspired by sunglasses—a concept that distinguished itself from the traditional dark, opaque eyewear-inspired nails that had come before.

For readers already captivated by glass nails, jelly finishes, and semi-translucent manicures, sunglass nails represent the next evolution of that trend, combining the lightness of jelly formulas with the intentional color and shine philosophy of glass nails.

The Creative Direction

Read also: Taraji P. Henson’s Antique Gold Manicure Steals the Red Carpet · Allure’s Best of Beauty: Live Returns October 17 With Expert Activations · French Manicure at Fifty: From Hollywood Invention to Cultural Framework · Beauty YouTube’s Evolution: Where 2016’s Biggest Creators Are Now

Drawing From Harry Zankov’s Vision

Manicurist Miss Pop created the collection by drawing directly from Harry Zankov’s first collection for DVF. She extracted a specific color palette from the designer’s work—deep browns, vivid greens, and sheer fabrics—and translated those elements into nail designs. This approach ensured the manicures functioned not as separate accessories but as extensions of the clothing on the runway, reinforcing the collection’s overall aesthetic and philosophy.

Reframing the Sunglass Concept

Sunglass-inspired nails had taken two primary forms historically. The first drew from 1950s eyewear aesthetics, featuring dark nails studded with gemstones and serving as glamorous, attention-grabbing accessories. The second emerged from the paparazzi era, when celebrities favored solid blacks and deep browns—nails as protective, opaque shields. DVF’s interpretation rejected both approaches entirely, instead drawing inspiration from rose-tinted frames and the subtly colored lenses that defined early 2000s eyewear trends. The result felt nostalgic in its reference points but entirely contemporary in execution—modern while maintaining warmth and accessibility.

Miss Pop’s Design Philosophy

She explained her concept: “With the glass nail trend taking over, we wanted to give it a more sheer, modern twist.” The execution relied on a specific technique—light layering of Essie polishes paired with the brand’s Special Effects line—to create pearlescent, dimensional finishes that felt effortlessly cool. Backstage at the show, Miss Pop emphasized the scope of the shift: “We’re taking the sheer trend to the next level,” describing these nails not as a minor variation but as a meaningful advancement in how manicures could interpret the glass-nail aesthetic.

The Golden Brown Iteration

The first manicure centered on warmth and dimension. Miss Pop selected Essie’s Gel Couture Liquid Diamonds in Baby Carats and applied a single sheered-out coat, creating what she described as a “high-shine, dimensional finish.” The Gel Couture formula contains subtle iridescent particles that catch light and create depth, meaning the nail reads differently depending on lighting and angle. She sealed the design with a clear top coat, which locked in the shine and protected the pigment while maintaining full translucency—allowing the nail to catch light continuously without any visual heaviness or opacity.

The Rosy-Pink and Brown Combination

This design paired Baby Carats with Nail Art Studio Special Effects Nail Polish in Liquid Sunrise. Applied in layers, the two products created a “caramelized, pearlescent look,” merging warm pinks and soft browns into a single, unified shade. The technique demonstrates a key principle of the sunglass nail approach: layering different formulas and textures within a compatible color family introduces complexity and visual interest without sacrificing the sheer, modern aesthetic at the heart of the trend. Neither product dominates alone; instead, they combine into something neither could achieve in isolation.

The Jade Green Statement

The final design employed Nail Art Studio Jelly Gloss Nail Polish in Cactus Gloss, applied in two very light coats to create only a subtle hint of color. Miss Pop described the result as “perfectly jade and sheer. The nails look like sea glass,” capturing precisely how the translucent green evokes the ocean’s aesthetic and palette without the visual density that a traditional jelly manicure would impose. The restrained application means the color reads primarily as a suggestion, visible mainly through how it filters and catches light rather than through raw pigmentation strength. This approach to color allows the nail to work with virtually any outfit without dominating the overall look.

At-Home Recreation and Versatility

These designs translate remarkably well to at-home application, requiring only standard manicure skills and tools: a base coat, thin successive layers of colored polish, and a glossy top coat. Begin with your chosen Essie or Nail Art Studio polish and apply a thin first coat, then assess the translucency before adding additional layers until you reach your desired level of sheer coverage. Miss Pop’s strategy of using “light layers” is the foundational principle—restraint and patience matter more than precision.

During DIY application, minor imperfections and uneven coverage actually serve the overall design rather than detracting from it. They contribute to the light-catching, dimensional quality these nails require to feel interesting. The goal is not flawless opacity but rather the dynamic interplay between the nail bed, thin pigment layers, and shine—which makes sunglass nails significantly more forgiving than many other trendy manicure designs.

Miss Pop’s closing observation encapsulates the nails’ broad appeal: “Like a brand-new pair of shades, this mani style is easy, cool, and ready to pair with all your fave outfits.” The golden brown and rosy tones provide neutral warmth suited to fall wardrobes, while jade green transcends seasonal boundaries. Because these finishes prioritize shine and dimension over saturated color, the nails feel understated even when paired with bolder outfit choices—appropriate for professional environments, casual days, and formal occasions. The sunglass nail trend represents a fundamental shift in how manicures function within an overall aesthetic: rather than demanding visual dominance or commanding attention, these nails complement an entire look while catching light throughout the day.