Beige, sheer, and casual, neutral nails were the main nail trend at the Met Gala red carpet. They were chosen by Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, and many other stars of the evening. It was quite expected that the Met Gala, with its “Fashion is Art” dress code, featured a lot of sheer looks.
The dresses were translucent, almost weightless, inspired by linen, decorated with lace or made in a futuristic aesthetic. There were many options for reading the theme. But if the outfits attracted attention with their drama, some beauty looks gravitated towards restraint. The stars abandoned rich eye makeup, left their hair naturally loose, and lightened eyebrows turned their faces into a blank canvas. The completion of this mood was a manicure in natural shades – transparent, milky, beige or almost invisible. For the first time, the so-called “naked” manicure got its big moment on the red carpet – and it was chosen by the main heroines of the evening.
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“Naked” nails are the main trend of the Met Gala 2026
Kendall Jenner — short square nails in beige
For her twelfth appearance at the Met Gala, Kendall Jenner chose a dress from Gap, created by the brand's creative director Zac Posen. The look was inspired by the famous ancient sculpture of Nike of Samothrace, which welcomes guests to the Louvre. The palette of the look was built on delicate tones of sand, pearls, oyster, shades of gray-brown and beige. The manicure fully supported this aesthetic: cold cream-beige on short square-shaped nails.
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Margot Robbie – French manicure in peach tone
Margot Robbie once again confirmed her status as the main fan of metallic strapless dresses. For the Met Gala, she chose a Chanel look with a long train decorated with hundreds of golden petals. The manicure was no less elegant: a transparent coating with a light peach shade on softly rounded nails. The semi-gloss finish created the effect of natural well-groomedness.
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Paloma Elsesser — long “bare” nails
Paloma Elsesser appeared in a vintage dress made from over thirty items purchased on eBay. Designer Francesco Risso complemented it with handmade metal details. In order not to distract attention from the outfit, the beauty look was kept restrained: makeup in terracotta and reddish-brown shades, slightly emphasized eyes and delicate blush. Manicure – long rounded nails in a milky beige tone.
Kim Kardashian — long matte nails
Kim Kardashian was one of the most striking guests of the evening, wearing a bust-like design that looked like it had been borrowed from a contemporary art gallery. Her look, created by Allen Jones, consisted of an orange sculptural corset shape and a cape skirt in caramel brown tones.
In contrast to her usual short manicure, this time the star chose elongated almond-shaped nails in a pastel nude shade with a semi-matte finish. It was this discreet detail that balanced the spectacular look.
Why “bare” nails will be the main trend of the season
“Naked” nails are a new aesthetic of luxury, where instead of complex design, the main role is played by well-groomedness, shape and natural shine. Such a manicure suits any style, has an expensive look and is always appropriate – from the office to an evening out.
Based on material from: Vogue.mx