With the theme "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" and focus on menswear and suiting, the 2025 Met Gala delivered its usual spectacle of fashion, celebrating the history and influence of Black dandyism. For nail pros, the artistry was in the fingertips. Celebrity manicurists took their craft to new heights. From intricate pinstripes and elegant pearls to buttons, threads and dazzling bling, these designs expertly captured this year's theme. Whether you're looking for trend inspiration or technique insights, we’ve rounded up 20 of the most striking nail looks from the night to fuel your creativity.
1. Sabrina Carpenter's Threaded Nails
To pair with Sabrina Carpenter's custom, burgundy Louis Vuitton tailleur by Pharrell, celebrity nail artist Zola Ganzorigt (@nailsbyzola) created a threaded nail look that featured the Louis Vuitton logo, using the custom thread from her LV suit. On her almond nails, the nail threads provided a gorgeous touch against a sheer, nude base.
2. Jennie's Pearled French Tips
Ganzorigt created French tips for BLACKPINK artist Jeannie, which featured 3D rose charms and strings of pearls clipped to the middle and pinky fingers. The nail design seamlessly paired with her custom CHANEL two-tone jumpsuit accessorized with strings of pearls.
3. Sydney Sweeney's Chrome Tips
Sydney Sweeney dazzled on the MET Gala carpet in a custom Miu Miu gown, and naturally, her nails were just as radiant. Against a nude/pink base, Ganzorigt created gold chrome-lined, French tips with magnetic powder that added an extra sparkle to Sweeney's look for the evening.
4. Whitney Peak's Handsculpted Cigarette Nail Art
Nail artist Betina Goldstein (@betina_goldstein) gave Whitney Peak a gorgeous French manicure that featured a hand-sculpted and painted cigarette on her index finger. The nail design paired perfectly with Peak's Chanel tweed ensemble.
5. Ego Nwodim's Button Nails
Goldstein may have created some of our favorite nail looks from this year's MET Gala, as she also crafted SNL star Ego Nwodim's button nail art! Ego's nail design perfectly complemented the Christopher John Rogers cropped jacket she wore, which featured striking rainbow buttons adorning the sleeves. Goldstein shares she wanted to bring a piece of Ego's look into the nails and pay tribute to Christopher John Rogers iconic designs. Each of Ego's nails, which were polished with a black base, featured a different color button near the tip.
6. Sadie Sink's Soap Manicure
Sadie Sink turned heads in a custom, black lace Prada dress and sky-high platforms. To complement the classic ensemble, celebrity manicurist Emi Kudo (@nailsbyemikudo) crafted a refined soap nail manicure.
7. Janelle Monáe's Work of Art Nails
Created by celebrity and editorial manicurist Angie Aguirre (@shespolished), Janelle Monáe's nail art was out of this world and highly accessorized, featuring clock charms, buttons, pins, gear and striped nail art and rhinestone gems. You have to see it to believe it!
8. Sha'Carri Richardson's Floral Nails
Aguirre went all out for this year's MET Gala, also creating Olympic medalist Sha'Carri Richardson's glamorous floral nail art. The stiletto nails showcased bold, oversized floral designs and intricate charms set against soft, shimmering pastel hues.
9. Cardi B's Reflective Velvet Nails
Nail artist Coca Michelle (@cocamichelle) created a reflective velvet nail set for Cardi B that paired perfectly with her custom Burberry moat green floral-damask coat and trousers with beaded fringing. The look takes cues from Edwardian styles of the early 1900s.
10. Tyla's Tailored Pinstripe French Tips
Last year, Michelle created one of our favorite nail sets of the MET Gala for Tyla that perfectly embodied the Garden of Time theme. She did it again this year with her sparkling pinstripe French tips. Not only does the look give Tailored for You, but it pairs perfectly with Tyla's custom JACQUEMUS corseted poplin dress and oversized men's shirt, both finely pinstriped with sequined threads and transparent crystals.
11. Chappell Roan's Graphic, High Impact Manicure
Chappell Roan's outfit for the MET Gala was also perfect for the Pink Pony Club! Oscar-winning Costumer Designer Paul Tazewell styled the singer for the night in a fushia patchwork jumpsuit and a dramatic ultra-maxi coat with vintage materials sourced from eBay. According to Tazewell, the look pulls "from the boldness of 1970s Blaxploitation, funk and disco icons like Parliament-Funkadelic and Sylvester, who used fashion as cultural power."
With a look this powerful, the nails need to be just as impactful! Manicurist Dawn Sterling (@nailglam) created a graphic manicure using a shimmery base, layered with pink triangle accents and abstract chrome detailing for extra edge and dimension.
12. Cynthia Erivo's Glamorous Pinstripe Nails
If there's anyone who's going to rock a nail set on the red carpet, it's Cynthia Erivo. The Broadway sensation and "Wicked" star gave a nod to classic menswear in a maximalist and feminist way with her nail design by Mycah Dior (@clawzbydior_).
The nail design featured pinstripe detailing, jumbo custom handmade embellishments and miniature tie as a finishing touch. We always look forward to seeing Erivo's nails on the red carpet, and this look did not disappoint!
The larger than life style paired immaculately with her Givenchy custom Haute Couture back to front sliced jacket and corset embroidered with crystals.
13. Joey King's Dotted and Checkered Nails
For Joey King's first MET Gala, nail artist Thuy Nguyen (@thuybnguyen) created checkered and dotted hand-painted nail art. The abstract designs matched King's custom Miu Miu printed gazarres shirt and jacquard necktie.
14. Dwayne Wade's Skittle Manicure
Nguyen also created basketball star Dwayne Wade's manicure for the MET Gala. Pulling inspiration from the colors of his custom Prada jacquard dress shirt, she used a neutral, sage/mint green and silver chrome as the base colors for the manicure. For a fun pop, one of the silver chrome nails featured black, white and sage/mint green dots.
15. Lisa's Climbing Bag Nails
Taking inspiration from Louis Vuitton's climbing bag series, nail artist Juan Alvear (@byjuanalvear) created a bold nail look for BLACKPINK's Lisa that featured 3D black and white charms, pearls and gold beads against a shimmery base with red French tips. The nails also featured black and white designs that matched Lisa's LV bag.
16. Lizzo's Modern Sculptural French Manicure
To match Lizzo's custom Christian Siriano dress, inspired by Cab Calloway and some of the iconic band leaders of the cotton club during the Harlem Renaissance, Eri Ishizu (@eriishizu) created a modern sculptural French manicure with a white base and sleek tips. The look also featured sculpted dimensional gel balls that matched the detailing on Lizzo's dress.
17. Tessa Thompson's Beaded Nails
Wearing a Prabal Gurung ivory silk wool tuxedo gown and a black top hair, Tessa Thompson looked elegant on the MET Gala carpet. To add some extra glam to her look, Yan Tee (@yanpaintsnails) created a black beaded nail look with floral nail art.
18. Quinta Brunson's Sparkling Pinstripe Nails
Channeling Josephine Baker, Quinta Brunson was dressed in a custom Sergio Hudson hand-embroidered pinstripe corseted dress. To match her attire for the evening, Temeka Jackson (@customtnails1) created abstract pinstripe nails with a silver chrome accent nail adorned with bling.
19. Taraji P. Henson's Bling Nails
Famous for her bold, glamorous nail designs, Jackson didn’t hold back when creating Taraji P. Henson’s dazzling nail look for the MET Gala, bringing her signature touch of bling to the red carpet. Her coffin and almond nails featured custom-made 3D clocks, dangles, spinners, bling, chrome and more.
Dressed in a MONSE x Post Imperial bodysuit paired with a sleek white suit jacket, topped off with a stylish top hat and cane, Henson's nails added the perfect touch of glamour.
20. Halle Bailey's Half-and-Half French Tips
Inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, Halle Bailey wore a peak-lapel pinstripe evening jacket hand-embellished with over 10,000 individual tonal pavé crystals. The silk, satin corset underneath her jacket was also adorned with crystals.
Because her look was so dazzling, Johnson went for a complementary nail design — a half-and-half French manicure using white and navy blue against a rose pink base. The look was finished off with rhinestones and bling.
