Margot Robbie's American manicure for the Oscars is all the nail inspiration you need this spring
It's softer and chicer than the traditional French mani, and much more wearable.
She may have skipped the red carpet, but Margot Robbie made an elegant appearance on stage at the 2023 Academy Awards to present alongside Morgan Freeman. Wearing a black column sequin-coated dress by Giorgio Armani Privé, she opted for a similarly minimal but purposefully polished beauty look, comprising neutral toned monochromatic make-up, sleek loose waves, and a glossy American manicure.
Her nail look was the handiwork of Hollywood's coolest nail artist, Betina Goldstein, who also collaborated with Julia Garner, Lily James, and Laura Harrier ahead of the Oscars on Sunday evening. As is her hallmark, this manicure for Robbie was both understated and exquisite.
"An American manicure is a much softer version of the traditional French manicure," Metta Francis—London manicurist and founder of Nails by Mets, tells Bazaar. "A milkier white, as opposed to a stark white, is used to paint the tips, then a more natural colour is painted over the whole nail, including over the tip." Together, this makes the American manicure much more subtle, "as the off-white tips looks very natural". Indeed, "from afar, it may not be obvious that the tips are even painted," she notes.
For Robbie's manicure, Goldstein explains via Instagram that you can get the look by first defining the free edge of the nail with the Chanel Le Vernis in the shade Harmonie, using a detailer brush. (She used the Doublemoss Arte Arte 2 Detailer Brush which is part of a collection she designed herself; as this is only available in the US, we recommend something like the United Beauty Products Ltd. The Fine Liner Brush.)
Once your tips have been painted, "go over the entire nail with Chanel Le Vernis in Ballerina to add a veil over the tips," Goldstein continues. Finally: "Finish off with Chanel Le Gel Coat to protect and add glossy finish."
Francis feels that the American manicure, like Robbie's, is a progression of the 'clean' aesthetic that has snowballed in popularity this decade, being "great for those who want the 'no make-up, make-up' nail look".
As she concludes of the American take on the Frenchie, "the subtly of such natural coloured tips makes it a really wearable, chic manicure for all". We concur.
This piece originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar UK.