Cozy season is upon us, which means cashmeres, soft wools, and fluffy sherpas are either already in rotation or making their way to the front of your closet. The woven textures that dominate fall and winter aren’t only reserved for your clothing, though. Let the knit patterns from your fall favorites inspire your next manicure. “Sweater nails were inspired by the timeless texture of cable-knit sweaters, bringing cozy feels and effortless warmth to your fingertips,” manicurist Gina Eppolito, who has painted the nails of Sarah Jessica Parker and Anne Hathaway, among others, explains to ELLE. You can do the look with any polish color, but Eppolito says it’s just right for colder months in warm browns, rich winter reds, and snowy whites, adding, “Really embrace the depths of the nail surface as well as welcoming the toasty season.” If the 3-D effect of a cable-knit sweater is too maximalist for your manicure taste, try creating a classic sweater pattern like argyle or the ombré effect of a Marni mohair sweater.
Creating this intricate cable-knit pattern might seem difficult at home, but Eppolito says it’s doable with a few specific tools and notes in mind:
Consider your nail shape. This look is most flattering on mid- to long nails, where you can really see the pattern details, keeping the warm, cozy feel and adding a touch of understated sophistication.
Get the right polish. According to Eppolito, you’ll need a gel polish, liner brush, and a dotting tool. To truly get the sweater-like effect, the manicure should look 3-D when you’re done, so a thicker, buildable polish is best. “Gel polish is thicker than regular nail polish, creating more dimension,” she says. To create the look with regular nail polish, she says to build the texture as you go, with multiple layers using a gel-effect top coat for thickness.
Mix finishes. A matte top coat alone adds a very specific textural element to sweater nails, but Eppolito says, “The beauty of this look is in the mix of matte and glossy finishes on each nail, adding dimension, contrast, and an elevated twist to the overall look.”
Sweater nail inspo
Sweater nail shades
