We have a lot of futuristic nail art designs (and we’re constantly looking out for more) but some classics just won’t quit. Vintage nail designs give your manicure a timeless and retro vibe that other styles sometimes lack. The vintage look never goes out of style and makes a strong statement without being overly flashy.
We went through thousands of these styles to find our favorites. From the simple styles you can do yourself to the intricate examples to show your nail tech, we’ve tried to cover a bit of everything. Some of these designs might be entirely new to you and others might remind you of classics you’ve seen before but that classic style can really work on nail art.
I’m digging these super retro nails! They definitely have that vintage vibe that I love.
We are starting this collection with a simple floral design on top of pink almond-shaped nails. These flowers, along with the colorway, really fit with the whole vintage theme.These black heart tips are gorgeous! It’s so beautiful and well-fitting on the nails, and there’s no doubt that these have been going around for ages.These floral nails are a little more vintage. I love the watercolor-looking flowers that are painted so realistically and beautifully. I like how the leaves around it make the look seem more cohesive.Here are some white almond-shaped nails topped with different flower arrangements. I love how this is a set that definitely shows a time in the past but can still be worn now.These nails are definitely trendy these days but mainly because of their retro design! This colorway and the layered wavy designs were definitely such a big thing in the past.Here’s another floral nail set that uses this shade of green which was very well-loved before. I also love how they used clear nails to display the flower designs.These blue and white nails remind me of Greece, but the prints remind me of these classic blue and white vases that were used frequently before.Here’s a design that isn’t strictly vintage. I love how the bow design makes it fit the vintage theme a lot more.We’ve got these pink and white flower designs that make me feel nostalgic. It’s definitely a print that a lot of people can recognize.This nail set is vintage in a completely different way. These nails remind me of the classiness of Church ceiling paintings. These nails look like actual stone.This nail set is similar to the previous one. I feel that this melted gold design is really what makes this set so classy and vintage-looking.These are nails that you can’t doubt are vintage. These look like the classic Shakespear book covers.Didn’t I just say that gold really gives off a vintage feel? These are beautiful and look so rich and real. I love how one looks like a mirror and a pendant.Here’s another retro-looking nail set. I love the layered waves and the dandelion. It definitely brings me back to the era of peace.There are plenty of vintage black and white nail designs. The simple colorway gives a sleek look and this set has a couple of different variations in alternating order. Fantastic look.This nail set reminds me of the classically patterned wallpaper that people used to have in their homes! It’s so cool to see them on your nails now.I love how these nails look like the little knickknacks you could find in someone’s house. It gives such an enchanting feeling!The color red was used to symbolize femininity and boldness, and I love how it’s mixed with the classic flower design.Flower patterns really never go out of style. Here’s one that looks more clean and classy. I love how it’s mixed with a light pink simple design. Here’s a lavender-themed nail set that’s also designed with these milky pink accent nails topped with flower pieces. These nails remind me of days when this colorway was used the most. I love how classy these nails look as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were actual stone!If we’re sticking to the flower theme, we might as well show you another set that reminds me of the flower wallpaper era. These are made with pink, purple, and blue flowers.We’re bringing you to an era when black and white patterns and designs were everything! I love how this color theme can be matched with both gold and silver accessories.There was a time when pink was everything! I love how well matching the gems are to the pink V-shaped Frenchies.How could we forget about the classic white French tips? This is definitely a look that will live on forever.Is no one going to talk about the polka dots era? Everyone wanted polka dots on everything! Here are a bunch of multi-colored polka dot nails, and they honestly look adorable!I’ve seen this nail set before, and I can honestly say it really perfectly fits this category! I love how classy this red nail set is, especially with the clear moons.We are never going to live down the animal print era, especially since people continue to love animal prints to this day!This nail set is painted with milky white polish and looks so clean and classy.We’re bringing you more flowers. I love how different times in the past, flowers were famous in different styles!Bright monochromatic nails definitely give off a vintage vibe. I love how these types of nails are so popular these days!Geometric patterns are definitely a more recent trend, possibly in the early 2000s. I love how the accent nail on this set only had an outlined V-shape tip which already levels up the look.Check out these red nails with the coolest futuristic-looking details. I really love the white moons and the thick outlines.This shade of pink was a huge trend for such a long time, and honestly, I’m still pretty obsessed with it!We’re bringing you some bright yellow nails which are simple yet bold at the same time. I really love how a lot of people really adored bright colors before.Here’s another intricate stone-looking design. This looks like a collection of different brown and gray crystals on your fingertips.This colorway honestly reminds me of Egyptian nail designs where blue and gold were the main colors used. I love the simplicity of this design and how it looks so complex at the same time. Checkered nail designs are a versatile look it can have a futuristic or vintage feel depending on the style and colorway.We’re bringing you another look showcasing everyone’s love for cow print nails. It’s crazy how this looks more like a set worn in modern days.Oh, I really love the days when classy nails like this were worn all the time. I love how the white embossed flowers remind me of the white pillars from the olden days.These nails look so regal. They definitely look like a nail set fit for a queen. I love how glossy the nails are and how they also seem to reflect such beautiful colors.Here’s some more animal print on the tip of your nails. These ones have a classic white base and are topped with a cheetah pattern.Something about this colorway just looks so vintage and classy. I love the minimalist design that the micro French tips give off.Here are some more groovy nails! We’ve also got quite the traditional vintage color theme going on. I love the white highlight, which makes the look seem a lot brighter.Here’s a look that’s been used a bit more recently. People really love to put glitter on everything, and these simple pink nails were definitely dressed up by it!Here’s a very famous color trend back in the day. These specific shades of red and white were found everywhere, even in the famous diners. I doubt that a time will come when we get sick of flowers. I love how this set was slightly modernized by adding some gold lining to the tips.I just can’t get over the written letter design trend back in the day! It’s definitely something I want to see more often.We’re ending this collection with a modern take on this classic colorway. These colors are so beautiful together, and I love how they look when they’re layered in curves and waves.
Vintage nail designs are still very much a trend. Whether you try one of these designs or you come up with something else, please let us see them! Our inspiration photos come from user submissions and open sources and we’ll always give credit. All of the fantastic styles belong to their respective owners. If we’ve got a credit wrong or you’d rather we don’t feature you – just drop us an email.
