I've always liked vintage, but my move to Austin—and proximity to some of the coolest vintage shops, estate sales, and antique shows (Round Top, anyone?)—has solidified me as a total devotee. Thankfully, the vintage revival is here to stay, and it's not just coming for your home and closet—your nails are also getting the vintage treatment, thanks to the resurgence of half moon manicures. "There’s a renewed interest in clean lines, architectural shapes, and refined minimalism, and half moon designs fit perfectly into that mindset," says nail artist Valeriia Telemaniuk. "The trend is quietly reclaiming its place."
The stylish, retro design emphasizes the natural crescent at the base of your nails (called the lunula) with contrasting color, glitter, or negative space, and was popularized by Hollywood starlets like Jean Harlow and Marlene Dietrich in the '30s and '40s. "The half moon design is actually one of the very first nail designs in the history of the nail industry," says Telemaniuk. "It appeared before the French manicure, back in the early 1920s, and was truly the starting point of nail art as we know it today."
