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Sculptural, retro-inspired hairstyles proved to be a major trend at the 2025 Met Gala, as Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Quinta Brunson, and more stars sported sleek, extra-polished updos. Lipliner and eyeliner were some of the biggest makeup trends of the night, drawing linear inspiration from the theme “Tailored for You.” Nails, meanwhile, acted as an extension of the celeb’s sartorial choices. While there were plenty of neutral, clean fingertips on the blue carpet, it was the intricate adornments on more expressive nail designs that caught our eye.
When crafting last night’s nail art, manicurists were clearly inspired by both the theme of the evening and the clothes themselves. Ego Nwodim opted for a multicoloured button manicure to match her Christopher John Rogers ensemble, while Lupita Nyong’o’s shimmering aquamarine nails were a nod to the shine in her Chanel hat as well as the “innovation and multidimensionality of Black style,” shared her nail artist, Vanessa Sanchez McCullough, on Instagram.
Elsewhere, Zendaya’s ruby red coffin nails lent a welcome pop of color to her all-white Louis Vuitton suit, while a hint of pink brought an appropriately spring-like feel to Mary J. Blige’s look (it is the first Monday of May, after all). Subtle touches such as Sabrina Carpenter’s thread-inspired nail art also beautifully referenced the tailoring theme without overpowering her outfit.
For spring nail trend inspiration, peruse our edit of the 15 best Met Gala manicures below.
Ego Nwodim’s Button Nails
Multicoloured buttons on glossy, jet black nails mirror actor Ego Nwodim’s Christopher John Rogers ensemble. Her manicure was designed and executed to perfection by nail artist Betina Goldstein.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Tailored Manicure
As a nod to the tailoring theme, nail artist Zola Ganzorigt went with a stitched motif and a Louis Vuitton logo complete with a loose thread for Sabrina Carpenter.
Sydney Sweeney’s Pastel Gold Manicure
To offset Sweeney’s black dress, Ganzorigt painted a soft pink base and added delicate gold accents. She used a coat of OPI Bubble Bath and a coat of OPI Bare My Soul, before topping it off with gold chrome.
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Jennie Kim’s Pearl Chains
A custom Chanel ensemble calls for a custom nail set, and a very busy Ganzorigt rose to the challenge with this pearl chain manicure that mirrors Kim’s look for the evening. It makes for an excellent bridal manicure, too.
Yara Shahidi’s Metallic Tips
Shahidi’s half-moon metallic nails were created by nail artist Mo Qin. The sleek design perfectly offset the actress’s tailored Fear Of God ensemble.
Sha’Carri Richardson’s Maximalist Embellishments
Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson doesn’t do things by halves. She embraced the evening’s glam with maximalist, three-dimensional nail embellishments and extra-long stiletto nails.
Zendaya’s Classic Red Coffin Nails
On the other end of the spectrum, Zendaya kept it classic with a shiny red coffin nail set to bring a pop of color to her immaculate, white Louis Vuitton suit. Her nails were designed by celebrity manicurist Caroline Cotton (@1.800.nailme) for Aprés Nail.
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Lupita Nyong’o’s Aquamarine Mani
At first glance, Nyong’o’s aqua nails might look simple, but there’s more to her manicure than meets the eye. “The iridescent sheen nods to the innovation and multidimensionality of Black style, and this nail look becomes a subtle, shimmering form of self-styled opulence,” her manicurist, Vanessa Sanchez McCullough, says.
Halle Bailey’s Monochrome Extravaganza
A dramatic design in a simple monochromatic colorway lent a refined yet fun feel to Bailey’s Met Gala nail art.
Mary J. Blige’s Pink and Gold Tips
To add more glam to an otherwise sweet bubblegum pink manicure, Mary J. Blige opted for metallic gold tips to complement her statement jewels.
Cynthia Erivo’s Queenly Nails
The Wicked star told Bazaar that her look for the night was “very queenly, very stately, very dandy,” and that carried over to her nails, too. Her signature stiletto nail shape was adorned with black, white, and red embellishments, designed by nail artist Mycah Dior, that played off her Givenchy jacket.
Quinta Brunson’s Metallic Stripes
Celebrity manicurist Temeka Jackson called the look she created on Quinta Brunson “tailored to perfection.”
Lisa’s LV Logo Nails
Celebrity Manicurist Juan Alvear (@byjuanalvear) was behind Lisa’s LV-inspired look.
A$AP Rocky’s Pinky Embellishment
A$AP Rocky loves to rock nail art, and last night was no exception. “I used Aprés Nail Diamond Gel to place delicate gemstones and pearls on both pinky nails—introducing a touch of understated luxury that elevated the look without disrupting its minimalist vibe,” says celebrity manicurist Kim Truong (@kimkimnails).
Jodie Turner Smith’s Burgundy Mani
Jodie Turner Smith’s manicure matched her Burberry look of the night in both color and texture. “Jodie’s nails for tonight’s Met look was serving textured burgundy with a blend of shine and sparkle,” says celebrity manicurist Thuy Nguyen.
Read More from the 2025 Met Gala:
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How Lupita Nyong’o Became an Aquamarine Dream for the 2025 Met Gala
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How Cynthia Erivo Got Ready for the 2025 Met Gala
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The 25 Best Beauty Looks at the 2025 Met Gala
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All the Highlights From the 2025 Met Gala
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“Everything Is Romantic” About Charli XCX’s Makeup and Hair at the 2025 Met Gala
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