Sometimes the most wearable idea at fashion week is not on the clothes. At Diane von Furstenberg’s Spring 2027 show, Henry Zankov’s debut, presented on the High Line on September 10 according to Wallpaper*, the manicure was one of the most practical takeaways. Marie Claire reports that the nail look was called “sunglass nails.”
What it is
The look was created by New York editorial nail artist Miss Pop, using Essie’s Special Effects line. It is a tinted take on the glass nail. Instead of an opaque color, a sheer, jelly-like polish goes under a high-shine top coat so the nail looks like tinted glass or a sunglass lens. Miss Pop explained the thinking to Marie Claire:
“It’s effortlessly cool, like your favorite pair of sunglasses.” — Miss Pop
According to Marie Claire, the colors followed the collection’s palette of rich browns, bright greens and sheer fabrics. The Essie shades included a chestnut brown with golden shimmer, a pinky-beige with a duochrome finish and a sheer green jelly. This matches the reviews. Wallpaper* noted a green checked wrap dress on the runway, and Zankov told the magazine that “clothes feel modern today when they feel light.” The sheer nail follows the same idea.
How to wear it
The technique is simple, which is part of the appeal. Based on Miss Pop’s guidance as reported by Marie Claire:
- Use a sheer or jelly-finish polish instead of a creme. Transparency is the point.
- Start with just one layer of polish so it stays sheer, adding a complementary shade on top if you want more dimension; the whole look takes two to three coats.
- Don’t skip the top coat. Miss Pop calls it the most important step, because the high shine creates the glassy effect.
- Pick a color from your wardrobe. Browns and greens tie back to the DVF runway.
Part of a larger trend
Sunglass nails are part of a broader shift toward translucence. In a separate September trend report, Marie Claire and Miss Pop pointed to chocolate shimmers, “glassy glaze” as the next step after cat-eye nails, chrome and pearly metallics, and see-through sets. Miss Pop put the last one plainly:
“If you can’t see through the nail color you’re using, are you even paying attention to trends?” — Miss Pop, via Marie Claire
She is enthusiastic about brown in particular. “I love every shade of brown,” she told the magazine, adding that the shades feel especially right for fall.
Why it matters
Runway beauty often does not translate well to everyday life. This look does. In IOM’s view, sunglass nails suit clients who find nude polish too plain and bold color too strong. They are polished enough for work, interesting up close, and quick to update as the season moves from sheer green toward chocolate brown. It is a low-risk way to wear something straight from New York Fashion Week.
See all sources
- NYFW Nail Trends Are Off to a Shady Start, Marie Claire, 2026-09-10
- I’m Swapping My Cat Eye Nails for This Elevated Fall Alternative, Marie Claire, 2026-09-10
- Henry Zankov’s Diane von Furstenberg debut was all about ‘body language’, Wallpaper*, 2026-09-10
Lead image: illustrative photo by Chelson Tamares on Unsplash.
