25 Coquette Nails Ideas for Your Sweetest Manicure Ever

June 12, 2023

By: Ariel Wodarcyk | Makeup.com by L'Oréal

If baby pink, delicate lace, bows galore and pops of cherry red sound like your thing, you probably already know of and adore the coquette aesthetic. If you don’t, allow us to introduce you: Coquette style takes the romance and femininity of 18th and 19th century fashion and gives it an updated, Pinterest-ready spin. In addition to coquette makeup and fashion, we’re also seeing plenty of coquette nails circulating on our Instagram feeds and our favorite Pinterest boards. Below, editorial manicurist and brand founder Jin Soon Choi helps break down the trend, and we present 25 coquette nail ideas that will send you rushing to the salon.

What Are Coquette Nails?

“Coquette nails provide a flirty, playful vibe with an almost child-like yet sophisticated cuteness,” says Choi. “I feel that the flapper era is representative of coquette nails in their use of long, almond-shaped nails with hot red, classic moon or silver metallic nails. The modern take on coquette nails employs white pearl or silver chrome on almond or round shapes and black ombre, all of which most certainly deliver this stylish coquette nail look.” Feeling intrigued? Keep scrolling for 25 coquette nails we have our hearts set on.

Coquette Nails Ideas

Lace-Up French Tips

Baby pink bows, lace-up detailing and classic white French tips converge to make the perfect coquette-meets-balletcore manicure. If you’re attempting to DIY this look, you’ll need bow nail charms and an opaque white polish, like Essie Blanc.

Pink Plaid

Match the gingham of a pleated tennis skirt to your nails with this dreamy pink plaid set. Bows, pearls and sweet heart and bear cutouts add extra whimsy.

Full Hearts

Puffy metallic hearts look lovely against subtle blush aura nails and a sharp square shape.

Peaches and Cream

These buttermilk-colored French tips feature a peachy-pink stripe and chunky bow accent nail. For a similar DIY look, try the shades Essie Expressie Busy Beeline and Essie Beachy Keen.

Cotton Tail

This set combines everything we love about the coquette aesthetic — an innocent bunny motif, flowers, ribbons, gingham and pearly details.

Maximalist Coquette

Don’t be afraid to shy away from maximalist mismatched sets when emulating the coquette aesthetic. This set is giving us flashbacks to the pastel goth posts all over Tumblr in the 2010s.

Bold Bows

Chunky white and nude bows make a playful statement against pale, blush-pink nails in an elegant almond shape.

Pearly Whites

We love the contrast of these black hand-painted bows against opalescent white polish. To DIY the look, you’ll need a nail art brush, a black polish like Essie Licorice and a pearly white like JINsoon Akoya.

Spring Roses

For nails that look straight out of a storybook, give this baby pink and dove gray manicure a spin. Bonus points for rosette rings and charming hand-painted bows.

Head in the Clouds

Between the dreamy ivory clouds and the oversize satin bow, this set is like a mini rococo painting for your nails.

Glitter Ombre

A whisper of pink glitter fades into nude on these square-tipped nails. If you prefer more subtle nail art, these are perfect for you.

Swan Lake

Delicate swan details and white glitter are unforgettably girly and sweet. If you don’t have a ballet on your itinerary, these would look equally dreamy at a summer picnic.

Cute Corsets

Love long, elaborate nails? This coquette set is for you. We’re hooked on the corset detailing and bubblegum pink base.

Hearts and Stars

For nails that look straight off a Pinterest page, try this blush set. They’re reminiscent of Korean blush nails, which nail artist Choi previously deemed one of the top nail trends of 2023.

Cherry Cola

What’s sweeter than cherry cola? A heart-stemmed and red gingham-checked mani, of course.

Strawberry Fields

Itsy-bitsy strawberries and a delicate scattering of pearls make for a girly yet refined manicure.

Tea Roses

Fit for an afternoon tea, these dainty rose-printed French tips are accented by a touch of gold glitter.

Pink Supreme

Can’t get enough pink in your life? Hit “save” on this rosy manicure with touches of glitter. The sweet bow accent adds an extra coquette touch.

Sheer Stilettos

Give coquette nails a subtle edge with an ultra-sharp, elongated stiletto shape. Glitter and pearls can only look so sweet with nails that are sharp as daggers.

Baby Bows

Short nails can get in on the coquette trend too — just add a strawberry milk-colored polish and some metallic bow accents.

Angel-Core

Pearls and cream accents give these coquette nails a sense of sophistication and luxury.

Princess Pink

Make your nail pics even cuter with pink French tips and subtle white accents.

Antique Touches

For nails that would look right at home applying powder in front of an antique vanity, look no further than this vintage-inspired set.

Black Lace

These nails are giving a mix of Y2K prom and pastel goth, with hints of black lace, pearly pink accents, bows and silver piercings.

Whisper Pink

Early 2000s-inspired freestyle designs get a modern update with chunky pearl charms and transparent butterfly decals.

Photo: @nailsbyalyk