In a recent interview with Vogue, Marc Jacobs chose to steer the conversation away from fashion rumours and runway collections to focus on something unexpectedly trendy: his nails.
Jacobs has been making headlines for his extra long nails and elaborate nail art that he regularly shows off on Instagram.
The iconic American designer, who has wowed audiences from New York all the way to Paris with his groundbreaking fashion shows, is now making waves with his unique nail art.
With fans like Naomi Campbell and Janelle Monáe, Jacobs has always been at the forefront of sartorial innovation. But these days, it’s his own creative flair that’s in the news.
His bold and stylish nails have become a hot topic, proving that his influence extends far beyond clothing.
Jacobs’ interest in manicures began at home as a young boy, inspired by his mother’s classic pink-and-white nails. “My mom and her girlfriends always had long French manicures, like Barbra Streisand-ish. I remember being very envious and wondering, ‘Why do women get to do this? It’s not fair,” he tells Vogue. Jacobs shares a similar childhood connection to nails, recalling trips to the nail salon with his mom.
Marc Jacobs also acknowledges the profound influence Black women have had on his nail art. He notes that this form of expression originated with incredibly talented and creative Black women in the seventies and gained mainstream attention through hip-hop artists in the ’90s, such as Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim. He emphasises the importance of recognizing and respecting this cultural history. As he beautifully expressed in an Instagram reel, “Thank you Flo-Jo, Lil Kim, Missy, Sha’ Carri and all the beautiful, creative black women who paved the way. Flowers, admiration and infinite respect to you.”
Jacobs crediting the inspiration behind his nails to notable black women on Instagram (@themarcjacobs)
These days, Jacobs keeps his nails looking fresh with the help of Yulenny Garcia, the owner of Muñeca Nail Salon in The Bronx, bringing his unique style to every manicure.
“Marc is very passionate about each set we create,” Garcia shared with Vogue. “He designs each set himself.”
However, Jacobs’ stunning nail art remains a personal statement — he has no plans to feature it in his runway shows just yet.
As of right now Jacobs asserts that his manicures and nail art are personal forms of self-expression, simply enjoying the look of long nails without any deeper intention behind it.
