Behind the Nails: The GelBottle Inc at SS27 Fashion Week

From New York to London and Paris, The GelBottle Inc was backstage at SS27 Fashion Week, working alongside some of the industry's leading nail artists to bring designers' creative visions to life.

Spring/summer nails for 2027 are all about contrast: sheer neutrals, pearlescent finishes, high-shine chrome and sculptural 3D details, with unexpected pops of colour adding a statement finish.

From barely-there manicures to intricate metallic nail art, here's a closer look at the standout runway looks created using TGB.

The SS27 Nail Trends to Know

Three themes stood out across the season:

• Tonal minimalism: Sheer nudes and soft browns enhanced the natural nail for an understated, polished finish.
• Chrome nails with a twist: Pearlescent shine and precise metallic details added dimension without always covering the entire nail.
• Sculptural statements: 3D nail details, curved French tips and contrasting textures brought an experimental edge to runway manicures.

Mowalola SS27: Sheer Tones Meet Chrome Nails

Lead nail artist: Lauren Michelle Pires | London

For Mowalola, the brief was an ethereal, tonal manicure that blended seamlessly with each model's skin tone.

Lauren diluted Espresso Martini and Chocolate to create a sheer base, then applied Iced Chrome Pigment for a subtle shimmer. The opening and closing models wore Getaway, a deep metallic burgundy gel polish, adding a dramatic pop of colour. Every look was finished with Extreme Shine Top Coat.

Shop the look: Espresso Martini, Chocolate, Iced Chrome Pigment, Getaway and Extreme Shine Top Coat.

Selasi SS27: Sculptural Chrome Nails

Lead nail artist: Hannah Bent | London

At Selasi, Hannah Bent explored automotive and mechanical references through hand-sculpted 3D nail art details, curved French tips and precise metallic accents.

Rather than applying chrome powder across the entire nail, Hannah used Decade to highlight sculptural details with a brushed chrome finish, pairing it with shades including Double Denim and Dusk for contrast.

“Chrome was a big part of the collection, so I wanted to play with different finishes and textures rather than having chrome simply over the whole nail.” — Hannah Bent

Shop the look: Decade, Double Denim, Dusk, Clear 3D Studio Gel™ and Matte Top Coat.

Dreaming Eli SS27: Nostalgia Meets Rebellion

Lead nail artist: Nina Nguyen | London

Inspired by Dreamers in Exile, Dreaming Eli's SS27 collection explored the journey from childhood innocence to adulthood and self-discovery.

Nina reflected this through a palette that moved from soft, nostalgic shades to deeper, more rebellious tones. Au Naturel, Cacao, Suede, Vanilla, Milky and Daisy gel colours were balanced with Espresso Martini, Jet Black and metallic accents.

“We wanted the nails to reflect that same tension, starting soft and nostalgic before transitioning into something darker and more rebellious.” — Nina Nguyen

TGB products: Au Naturel, Cacao, Suede, Vanilla, Milky Hard BIAB™, Espresso Martini, Jet Black and Daisy.

Tolu Coker SS27: A Pearlescent Finish

Lead nail artist: Abena Robinson | London

For Tolu Coker, Abena created soft, luminous pearl nails using a thin coat of Truffle gel polish topped with a pearl chrome powder. The sheer base enhanced each model's natural nail bed, while the pearlescent finish added a subtle glow.

Each manicure was completed with hydrating hand cream and a nourishing cuticle oil.

“Truffle lent itself well to creating a tone that was sheer enough to enhance the colour of the natural nail bed of each individual model.” — Abena Robinson

TGB products: Truffle, Pearl Chrome Pigment, H2O Cream™ and Cuticle Essence.

More SS27 Nail Runway Moments

We didn't stop there. TGB was behind even more spring/summer 2027 nails...

• New York | Bibhu Mohapatra — @bygiorgia_
• New York | SHOWPONY — @naominailsnyc
• London | Chopova Lowena — @ellavivii
• New York | LUAR — @naominailsnyc
• London | Di Petsa — @_tylerphoenix_nails
• Paris | Pauline Blind — @couldbefanny

SS27 Nail Trends: From Catwalk to Salon

SS27 Fashion Week proved that the smallest details can make the biggest impact. Whether it's adding a wash of chrome to a sheer base, experimenting with sculptural 3D nail art, or creating contrast through colour and texture, this season offered endless inspiration for your next set.

Which SS27 runway manicure will you be recreating first?