~ Chapter 15 ~ Gothic nail fashion (Women’s Edition)
In the darkness, goths rule the nightworld so it’s time to shine some light on the newest trends and dust the webs off our inner goths. In this series of chapters, I will be exploring the emergence of the latest trends in fashion’s underworld.
I’ve always wanted to dress in a gothic wardrobe fulltime but as I grow older the demands of the workplace require a much more modest approach to fashion and everyday life just doesn’t allow it as often.
So here’s my approach to the latest gothic trends that you can wear at work, in public, and even abroad. Dress how you want to dress. Gothic trends are emerging more elegant and mysterious than before and it’s time to add some new styles into the mix.
Every Women Has Their Claws
Perhaps the most overlooked in fashion and the hardest to maintain are nails. We’re always working and moving causing them to chip, break, peel away so we just tend to leave them painted with black polish. Having great nails can make hands look and feel more feminine or attractive to our eyes and are a great way to express your individual tastes in art. Whether you’re debating to treat yourself to a full nail makeover or perhaps you’re just wondering where to start on the basics, I’m here to help you get started in the basics of gothic nail art.
The Common Shapes
With so many shapes trending, I chose the top few to narrow down your search for a style you’d like to try. Gothic trends usually choose stiletto for a more dramatic vampire type look while more subtle choices can range from square, oval, and almond. If you find it hard to achieve the shape naturally you can get press on or professional acrylic nails to achieve the shape you want. (As a side note: I’ve tried press on and even glued them with nail glue. To my frustration they don’t even last half a day. If you’re rough with your hands then it might not be worth your money. Instead, invest in nail polish, gel, or acrylic style nails.)
Shapes such as Oval, Squared Oval/Squoval, Rounded, and Almond shape are all very complimenting and currently trending styles. They are clean shapes and will make the hands look more feminine. Since they are the most natural of shapes, they can easily be worn long or short without making the hands look strange or distracting.
Square shape can be a great style but take notice that if you make them longer they can make your hands look heavy, wide, and boxy. While short square nails can be a great way to give your hands a cute tomboy style, I suggest keeping these short to mid length and you can also try to slightly soften the corners for a more smooth edge.
Too long and big can make the hands look heavy 
Medium length nails square shape are still elegant 
Short and natural can look very feminine and delicate
Stiletto and Coffin shape are great styles if you’re looking to draw extra attention to your nails or want to have an artistic flair. For these you’ve been warned. Make sure you’re prepared for a daily struggle as you try to maneuver these long nails! There are no right or wrong way to wear these as they’re a clear expression of your style so take a look below for some inspiring looks. Luckily, these shapes can be both short and long so those who like them can still enjoy it at a more tamed functional length.
Stiletto Styles ~
Coffin Styles ~
Nail Basics
I don’t believe there are mistakes when it comes to choosing a type of nail that suits you best. Do what you like to your own nails, but if you’re wanting to stick to the rules of trending fashion then follow these simple suggestions.
Functionality: First think about the function of your nails in your daily life. If you use your hands like I do for activities that require you to be harsh with your hands liking playing an instrument, long nails may not be the best of ideas. Always start short and then if it works for you you can try going longer later. Even simple tasks such as opening jewelry clasps or zipping the front of your tight jeans can become a battle. This can also apply to overly decorated nails that will snag and pop off easily. Choosing the right style for your daily life should be considered in the design and function of the nails and also don’t forget to make them match your wardrobe too! They could end up looking oddly out of place.
Style choice: Think of a shape that compliments your fingers. Longer nails make your fingers look longer, but too long can be distracting to those around you. If you have thicker fingers stay away from rounded short shapes or square which can make them look wider. If you have big boney knuckles like I do, square only makes them look shorter. Go for a nice almond to make them appear slimmer. Still not sure? Almond works for almost all kinds of hands or even stiletto styles if you want something a little more daring. The best way to find the right shape for your fingers is to try them all. While growing them out and naturally changing their shape can take more time, you can easily find the various shapes for press on nails and try those out for a day. It’s more expensive than your natural nails, but easier to find the right shape quickly. Always ask a friend for a second honest opinion just to make sure!
Upkeep: Depending on the type of nails you have from painted, gel, acrylic, and so forth the maintenance time will be different. It’s important to upkeep nails for a cleaner appearance and also to have nails that are healthy. For nail polish, I recommend redoing them at least once a week with fresh nail polish. Gel will last about 2 weeks before they pop off or you can see the growth. For acrylic, unfortunately, I don’t have much advice to give since I’ve never tried. The damage to the nail after they take off the acrylic seemed too much for me to try them. Nails can take a lot of care and time, but they are worth it in adding that extra creativity in our style. Always be sure to keep them moisturized!
And there you have it! The basics in nails to get you started on your way to choosing you new unique style. Nails are a lot of fun and are worth the extra time in choosing their style. You can change them for any occasion and the choices are endless. Just have fun with it and see what you can create.
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