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Prepare to be swept away by the enchanting allure of coquette nails! Vogue has declared it the “year of the girl,” and there’s no better way to celebrate then to try out the coquette aesthetic – a type of style that represents everything idyllic and feminine. Think: Balletcore, pastels, pearls, hearts, & bows. Ahead, we rounded up some of the cutest & most viral nail ideas from Tiktok and Instagram to inspire your next manicure!
But first, What actually is the coquette aesthetic?
Drawing inspiration from all things girly and flirty, the coquette aesthetic revives the romance and femininity of 18th and 19th-century fashion, giving it a modern, Pinterest-ready twist. The word coquette is taken from the 17th century, where it was used to describe “a flirtatious woman,” or “a woman who likes to win the attention or admiration of men but does not have serious feelings for them.” We stan
The hyper-feminine rabbit hole that is coquette nails isn’t just a passing fancy; it has firmly embedded itself into fashion’s mainstream, gracing TikTok and runways alike. For months now, fashion is completely wrapped up in its coquette bow obsession, & this nail trend is set to be huge for 2024. Recently, Hailey Bieber, Lily-Rose Depp, and Sofia Richie have worn elements of this trend, but the queen of the look is singer Lana Del Rey.
The trend is all about embracing your most fanciful, romantic side whenever and however you want with bows, hearts, soft pastels, delicate lace, and pearl-inspired designs (because fashion and beauty should be fun).
Whether you’re stepping out for a cute picnic or cozying up on the couch with “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” we’ve curated 25 coquette nail designs that bring romantic luxury to your fingertips. Be prepared to say: “Alexa, play Let the Light In by Lana Del Rey”, and let’s put a bow on it.
Your DIY Mani Essentials:
If you like to DIY your nails, here are some tools we recommend having in your kit for the most flawless manicures ever.
- Nail Polish Remover
- Nail File and Clippers
- Nail Strengthener
- Hand Cream
- Cuticle Oil
- Nail Polish (including base coat and top coat)
Table of contents
01. Your DIY Mani Essentials
02. Nail Trends To Know
03. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
04. Why Trust The Gloss Gurus
1. Put a bow on it
Soft, light-toned colors are a go-to (expect to see a lot of pink manicures on this list), but the coquette aesthetic can also work with dark shades as well. It’s all about adding the right amount of feminine details – so don’t be afraid to add a bow or two to your next set!
2. Pink French
This pink French manicure embraces the distinctive color palette of the coquette aesthetic. Muted tones of soft pastels like pink and lilac add a whimsical and idyllic touch.
3. Pink Maximalist
Jelly nails are another ’90s trend that’s made it back into our hearts (and our nail inspo Pinterest boards). Adorn these maximalist translucent acrylic nails with rhinestones or painted-on ribbons, bows, flowers, or some little heart decals to bring the romance.
4. Just girly things
Coquette nails are all about embracing your inner maximalist — take Overglowedit’s sexy-sweet pearl-pink mani for example. This set incorporates tonal soft pink Frenchies alongside 3d embellishments like a pretty bow and a gemstone heart surrounded by a halo of pearls.
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5. Feminine French manicure
Simple but oh-so-femme, this delicate French manicure is a perfect choice for your next appointment. Tiny pearls, rhinestones, and bows take these nails from traditional to coquette effortlessly.
6. Coquette Glitter
The more the better! For nails that look straight out of a storybook, give this glittery milky pink manicure a try.
7. Lana Del Slay
A cute pastel pink mani is super pretty, and the perfect choice if you prefer more subtle nail art. Longer nails give you more space for decoration, but this mani proves coquette details can look just as adorable on short nails, too.
8. Ombre Tips
If baby pink pops of cherry red sound like your thing, try this adorable ombre set and let your nails tell a story of flirtation, fun, and feminine allure.
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9. Pearl Hearts
Nothing screams 17th-century France quite like a string of pearls, so load up your nails with as many baubles as possible, take for example this Tigertipz mani featuring hearts and bows on top of a French mani. This nail design is not only great for everyday wear but can also work as wedding nails on your big day!
10. Pink Blush Nails
Tigertipz’s nails have a gorgeous blushy gradient, with pink in the center radiating out to a soft cream color. You can rock any nail shape when doing a coquette ombre theme, but we suggest a softly pointed or oval tip to really tap into the look.
11. Queen of hearts
When in doubt, add some silver chrome details on each fingertip. Chunky white bows also make a playful statement against blush-red nails in an elegant almond shape.
12. Purple Set
While a rosy pale pink is popular for coquette manicures, it doesn’t mean you can’t expand to other hues. To stick with the coquette color palette, opt for other pastel shades, like lavender.
13. Cherry cola
What’s sweeter than cherry cola? A heart-stemmed and bow mani, of course. For nails that look straight off a Pinterest page, try this set.
14. BalletCore
Love long, elaborate nails? This coquette set is for you. Baby pink bows, lace-up detailing, and classic white French tips converge to make the perfect coquette-meets-balletcore manicure. We’re hooked on the corset detailing and bubblegum pink base.
15. Edgy
We love the chrome bow detailing and airbrush stars on these coquette nails.
16. Tiny Hearts
In a coquette world, every day is Valentine’s Day. Even without gems and pearls, you can embody coquette nails’ sweet, sophisticated aesthetic using pastel polishes. Negative space heart designs are stunning and allow you to feel the love in a way that doesn’t feel too Valentine’s Day.
17. Strawberry Fields
Sometimes, the best kind of sweet treat is one you can gaze at for days to weeks on end. These Itsy-bitsy strawberries and a delicate scattering of pearls add an extra touch of decadent whimsy.
18. Feminine French
We love an accent nail; after all, it’s a pretty low-effort way to give a plain manicure more personality. If you want nails that also work for your fairycore, grunge, or dark academia outfits, this black-tip French nail design featuring bow accents will do the trick.
19. Sweet Pink
A cotton candy blend of pinks and stars offers up dainty-delicate combos, silky-soft polishes adding airbrushed hearts and cutesy clouds that add femininity. This sweet mani is guaranteed to make you smile
20. Pink French tips
Another gorgeous French manicure look, these pink tips are even more coquette than their classic white counterpart. If it feels dreamy and girly — or like something you’d spot at a glamorous tea party — it totally counts as coquette.
21. Ribbons & Hearts
Bows are pretty much iconic to the coquette aesthetic, so it makes sense to incorporate them into your manicure. Painting on a ribbon design with pink polish is always an option, but to really nail the coquette trend, consider gluing on an actual ribbon.
22. Pink Milk & Chrome
Tap into the divine feminine and hit “save” on this translucent pink manicure with silver chrome accents. We love how this nail artist gave this coquette nail set a subtle edge with an ultra-sharp, elongated stiletto shape.
23. Cherry
Coquette nails don’t have to be pink. You can go wild with chrome polish, translucent jelly, or even red tips. The coquette style has similarities with plenty of other popular aesthetics — ones that aren’t so pink but still embrace feminine elements – making it easy to style regardless of your outfit.
24. Angel Core
If a pearl necklace or bracelet isn’t dramatic enough when planning your next coquette outfit, you can always add pearls to your nails. Pearls and cream accents give these coquette nails a retro vibe, using vintage inspiration to express an idyllic version of femininity.
25. Pearl milky nails
Love some good almond-shaped gel extensions, and if you’re looking to add an extra touch of luxe, try adding cute little pearls all over the nail. Your coffee snaps have never looked more decadent.