Fashion has always had a soft spot for stripes. They show up everywhere—from pinstriped suits to Breton tees—because they manage to feel polished without being boring. Recently, that same idea seems to be translating to manicures. Over the past few weeks, while scrolling for nail inspiration, I kept noticing striped designs mixed in with glazed neutrals and gem-heavy sets: delicate lines over sheer pink bases, crisp white stripes across glossy nudes, and colorful bands layered together in ways that feel a little retro and fun.
Part of the appeal of this trend, celebrity nail artist Ramon "Prince" Duran tells me, is the balance the design strikes. Stripes are “a perfect mix of minimal and bold,” he says, which makes them easy to tailor depending on the colors and thickness of the lines. He also points out that the pattern feels like a natural evolution of another recent manicure favorite—calling stripes “the new version of polka dots,” which dominated nail art not long ago. For him, a big part of the fun is choosing color combinations, since swapping shades can completely change the look's personality.
