From Cable Knit to Velvet, We Can’t Get Enough of These Fabric-Inspired Manis

January 13, 2023
Jordan Julian
By: Jordan Julian | Makeup.com by L'Oréal
one hand resting on top of another with a brown and tan plaid manicure with cable knit accent nails
We’ve matched our nail polish shades to our outfits before, but this season’s hottest manicure trends take coordinating your nails with your closet to the next level. Since last fall, our Insta feeds have been dominated by textured or fabric-inspired manis that remind us of some of our winter wardrobe essentials. From 3D cable knit patterns to the shimmery illusion of velvet, these trending nail art ideas are as cute as they are cozy — just like your favorite sweater. Keep scrolling for fashion-inspired design ideas to show your nail tech next time you’re at the salon.      

Cable Knit

This chic brown mani incorporates two different knitwear-inspired elements — cable knit accent nails on the ring fingers and an argyle print. The chocolate and nude shades, complemented with a hint of metallic bronze, make the perfect color palette for winter.

This blue gradient take on cable knit nails is still understated, but adds a bit of color. The icy blue and gray shades remind us of a cold, snowy Sunday afternoon, and we mean that in the best way. Essie’s To Me From Me shade from the brand’s (Un)guilty Pleasures collection is one of our favorite new blues this year.

When in doubt, keep it simple. This nail art idea lends itself really well to neutral colors like creams, whites and beiges because it is meant to replicate knitwear. Match your mani to your sweater or scarf by opting for a light polish color.

Don’t worry, you can still rock a cable knit manicure even if you prefer more colorful nails. This pastel rendition of the trend is so pretty and playful. Choose baby pink, lavender and mint green shades next time you head to the salon.    

Patent Leather

Black nails for winter are nothing new, but this high-shine manicure channels two of our go-to accessories for the season — leather jackets and boots. Simple and stylish, a patent leather-inspired manicure looks stunning on any nail shape or length. 


Here, you can see how patent leather polish looks on square-shaped nails. The effect is as striking and sleek as the above example, but with a little extra edge. This is the manicure for neutral nail lovers who tend to stay away from light colors during the winter. 

Velvet

Velvet nails were everywhere last fall, and we’re keeping them going in 2023. Essentially, this festive mani trend uses dimensional sparkles or magnetic polish to mimic the appearance of the fuzzy, luxe texture of velvet. Here, the velvet effect elevates sophisticated sage green polish.  


For a special occasion, try a velvet manicure in a classic sparkly shade — champagne, gold and silver all work great! These nails are eye-catching, but they’re still neutral enough to match whatever outfit you have on.

One of the best things about this nail art idea is that you can really use any polish color your heart desires. This example puts a girly spin on the look with a pretty, rosy pink shade. We’re bookmarking this for Valentine’s Day nail inspo.  

Denim

Fashion and beauty risk takers, these distressed denim nails are the daring mani you should ask for at your next appointment. These medium-wash denim nails have ripped knees and frayed hems, just like your favorite worn-in pair of jeans. You’ll probably need to go to a nail art expert to achieve this intricate look, but we think it’s totally worth it.

 

Photo: @_iwnails; Design: Juliana Campisi

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