Ralph Lauren logos, cashmere cardigans, Miu Miu polo dresses, and coastal towns engulfed in hydrangea blooms—these are all things that come to mind when we picture preppy style and the places you’d find it in. Whether you’re setting off on an adventure along the Eastern seaboard or simply experimenting with your style, a manicure is one of the easiest ways to immerse yourself in an aesthetic, and right now, preppy style is the trend taking over.
From social feeds to press junkets, celebrities like Rachel Brosnahan and Iris Law are embracing this trend with open arms. With gingham skirts, polo dresses, and itty-bitty polka-dot prints running amok among fashion people, we compiled a list of the best preppy nail ideas to fit this aesthetic, your upcoming vacation, collegiate events, and everything beyond. Keep scrolling for some seriously screenshot-worthy styles.
Butter Yellow
Yellow nails aren’t going anywhere, whether they’re buttery or lemon hued. This happy shade is a great way to experiment with color, as it shockingly goes with so many outfits. If you don’t want to go too yellow, try the sunny French trend, which is simply a yellow French manicure. “It’s a fresh take on something classic,” Brittney Boyce, celebrity nail artist and co-founder of Lost Angels, previously told Who What Wear. “Yellow feels light, happy, and unexpected without being too much. People want something that stands out but still feels wearable.”
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Tulle Tutu Pink
Nothing screams class like a sheer, milky shade of pink nail polish. There are a multitude of reasons why ballerina pink has transcended generations: It’s a universally flattering shade, it goes with just about any outfit, and it’s the simplest trick to make you look neat and put-together. Whether you’re hitting the tennis court or heading to a gala, this shade will elevate your look tenfold.
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Milky French
While French tips are always a reliable choice, this milky iteration of the well-known classic is a whole new level of sophistication. Ask for ombré French nails at the salon (or “frombé,” if you’re feeling fancy), and for maximum blur, request a layer of sheer, milky-white polish on top to make this set look extra chic. While this design works on a myriad of nail shapes, I love how elegant it looks on medium-length, almond-shaped nails.
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Short ‘n’ Square
If classic is the name of your game, consider trying a crisp French manicure on short, square nails. While nail shape is entirely up to personal preference, short, natural-shaped nails have been on the rise in 2025, and I don’t expect this to slow down anytime soon. To replicate this look, choose a neutral, pinky-nude base and swipe a defined, clean slice across your tips to exaggerate their shape.
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Summer Fruits
However, not all preppy nails are simple. Perfect for spring and summer (but still cute year-round), this fruit-adorned manicure is a simple way to elevate your everyday manicure. The pale-pink base balances out the colorful art scattered across each nail, which you can accomplish with nail stickers or a steady hand and tiny detail brushes. Can’t you just see this set fitting the scene of a hydrangea-lined East Coast beach town?
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Nautical Stripes
Nothing screams preppy like nautical stripes. Whether they’re on your sailboat or your button-down, preppy stripes will always be en vogue in coastal communities. A mismatched set of stripes adds a whimsical dose of color to this patterned paint job, but you can opt for neutrals or one accent color for something more basic. Paint these lines with a thin bottle of striping polish, or purchase a set of nail art brushes to dip in any color you already own.
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Martini Mani
What’s chicer than a dirty martini? For a fun take on a classic French, try these elegantly striped matcha-green tips with tiny (Or shall I say ‘tini? I’ll stop.) olive decals. Small details like these are a great way to ease into the 3D nail trend, but stickers are another easy avenue for re-creating this summery set at home.
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Seafood Tower
If you summer in Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, or Cape Cod, you’ll want to save this maximalist nail art for your next salon visit. Etched with painstaking detail by manicurist Hang Nguyen, this ornate set is a flurry of coastal blue and green with hints of red in the form of plaid print, cherries, and even a few crustaceans. With the fisherman aesthetic dominating summer style among the fashion community, there’s no better time to take this sea-inspired set for a spin.
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Coastal Grandma
Speaking of coastal style, I’m still channeling the essence of coastal grandma in my summer manicures. Whether you’re jet-setting to an Italian villa on your European summer getaway or livening up your nails for calm summer days at home, this mismatched manicure plays with so many of the preppy details I adore. Clean French tips, vintage off-white polish, subtle pops of color, and dainty fruits? Sending this to my nail tech ASAP.
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Elongated French
A French manicure looks especially chic when it’s thin-tipped, which gives the illusion of long nail beds. This look is easy to do at home: Simply swipe two coats of your favorite neutral-pink polish, wait for those to dry, and paint a thin white line across the tips to get that ultra-slim crescent.
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Vanilla Cloud
Though milky nail polishes are all the rage, I’m still a big fan of pigmented pale pink. This rosy ivory is timeless enough to wear any season, any time, and it looks especially pretty under a shiny gel topcoat.
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Picnic in the Park
There’s something about baby blue that feels so effortlessly chic. This classic color is the through line for this design, showing up in tiny stripes, gingham French tips, and regular polish swathes. Coastal color scheme aside, I love the tiny blueberries detailing the middle finger. Celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen found inspiration in “breezy coastal towns, lavender fields, and sun-drenched brunches by the sea” when creating this set—a vibe that feels all too fitting for the preppy Eastern seaboard.
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Pick a Pastel
If you can’t decide on a shade, then this is the manicure for you. This assortment of pastels reminds me of Rainbow Row in Charleston, South Carolina. (Trust me—it doesn’t get preppier than that.) Add a chrome finish to tie everything together and make your tips extra Instagram-worthy.
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Candy Tips
A daintier take on the idea above is this short-nail style with ultra-thin, colorful French tips. While this look might initially read “Easter,” I think this is a fun, minimalist way to play with color while still keeping things classic. The quick flash of color people will see when you talk with your hands will have everyone asking, “Can I see your nails?”
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Patchwork Florals
Another fun way to inject color into your set is with small, colorful florals. This multicolored wearable bouquet is balanced by its neutral base and tiny, sparkling rhinestones catching the light with every gesture. If you’re looking for a preppy manicure that doesn’t feel too traditional, this is the one to try.
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Citrus Chic
I love how versatile these nails are. Whether you’re going on vacation, refreshing your summer set, or heading to a tailgate, these chic citrus nails will capture everyone’s attention.
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