The ‘Brouge’ Manicure: The Chicest New Nail Trend Taking Over 2025
If last year’s nails were about glazed shine and hyper-girlish maximalism, this year’s are about mirroring the elegance of our incoming winter wardrobe. Enter the brogue manicure…
Just when you thought we’d seen it all, from glazed donut nails, velvet tips, to chrome powders—the fashion world has unearthed yet another style revival, this time borrowing from menswear. Enter the ‘brogue’ manicure, a nail trend inspired by the timelessly elegant brogue shoe. Yes, the same Oxford-inspired footwear with immaculate detailing and subtle stitching has now made its way onto our fingertips.
Its a polished blend of brown and rouge, where earthy warmth collides with a glossy red kissed by brown undertones. The result? A sultry, sophisticated nail look that sits perfectly between classic and contemporary.
The style of the manicure is in its name, ‘Brouge,’ a combination of brown and rouge, instead of opting for the typical orangish-red nail polish, the It-girls of the season are spotting red with a hint of brown. Think of it as a modern update on red nails, smouldering and understated yet undeniably chic.
It’s also a refreshing departure from the hyper-feminine, candy-like nail trends of the past year. Instead of glitter and neon, the brogue manicure favours earth tones, matte finishes, and understated metallic — a nod to the neutral palette dominating runways from Milan to New York.
Nail artists are embracing this aesthetic in different forms: some opt for delicate, symmetrical perforations along French tips, while others go bolder with metallic linings and color-blocked sections. The result is a manicure that feels sophisticated, architectural, and editorial.
It’s no wonder beauty insiders are calling this the summer-to-autumn nail, the perfect transitional nail colour for August. The colour reflects the season’s mood: warm, indulgent, and deeply romantic. Whether worn on short, neatly squared nails for a refined finish or on longer almond shapes for added drama, brogue is a hue that we can all add to basket now.