“Indie Sleaze” Nails Are Back In a Big Way This Fall

Black nails were strictly off-limits in my household as a pre-teen. Perhaps to my parents, the shade signified rebellion, edginess, and hormonal teen energy. For me, short black nails felt like the ultimate cool-girl nail look. Hello, mom, haven’t you seen Miley Cyrus’ feathered hair and jet-black manicure in her “Can’t Be Tamed” music video? Looking back, their reaction to the very plain manicure is only proof that it was synonymous with the messy “indie sleaze” era of the early 2010s, and it’s finally due for a comeback.

Finally, the indie sleaze revival is here. Charli XCX’s Brat summer, studded everything, statement necklaces, oversized bags (specifically Balenciaga’s City Bag), bag charms, leopard print—the list could go on—are all part of the current fashion landscape, and were anchors of the aesthetic nearly a decade ago. Not to mention the fact that Madewell just teamed up with Alexa Chung for another iconic collaboration, 14 years after their first partnership.

Now that we’re all embracing the era, we’re going to need a mani to match. Ahead, we break down the indie sleaze nail trend, plus how to get the look.

What Is Indie Sleaze?

While it was not called indie sleaze at the time, the era typically refers to a period in the late 2000s and early 2010s that was defined by grungy party girl style and the indie rock music scenes in cities like New York and LA. Yes, the era involved a lot of partying, but it was really characterized by an “I don’t give a F” attitude and pre-social media freedom.

Icons of the time included the Olsen twins, Chloë Sevigny, Sky Ferreira, Alexa Chung, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, Dev Hynes of Blood Orange, and M.I.A., who all embodied the hipster, grungy, up-and-coming artist aesthetic. They’d wear ripped tights and a thrifted dress or tee, leave the club in the early morning with sunglasses on, and appear in the pages of Nylon with photos by The Cobrasnake.

There was a too-cool-for-school energy that was coupled with an edgy effortlessness that bled into the fashion and beauty looks of the time. And, nothing about it was really revolutionary—making normal things feel exciting or statement-making was the point. Think: brazenly applied glitter shadow, smudged eyeliner, a messy fishtail braid, and so on.

There’s lots of discourse on what the “true” aesthetic of indie sleaze was, but it’s hard to tell without the rose-colored glasses of today. Regardless of how you define of the era, one thing’s for certain: Everyone was wearing black nail polish. Un-fussy, short nails fit the undone feel of the aesthetic. It was simple and understated, but above all, it added a touch of edge that a concerned parent could spot right away.

The Trend

After a bit of a minimalist spell, fashion is turning to favor interesting textures and silhouettes. On the beauty side, it feels like the opposite is happening. Sure, there’s always a desire for playful eyeshadow looks and interesting blush applications, but in the nail department, minimalist manicures with no art or frills are having a moment. Celebrities like Selena Gomez, Hailey Bieber, and Bella Hadid have been spotted wearing more basic manicures, in contrast to the glazed, ornate styles we saw them (and everyone else) wearing last year.

All an indie sleaze manicure takes is painting on a quick coat of dark polish on your way out the door. If it gets chipped, so be it. The point isn’t so much the manicure itself, but how cool and mysterious you feel when wearing it.

How to Get the Look

The indie sleaze manicure doesn’t have to to be relegated to black. Any dark hue, whether it’s the celebrity-loved brown, a deep red, forest green, or navy blue, gives the same moody energy. Take Iris Law’s look for the Vanity Fair party as an example. Nail artist Emi Kudo created a mismatched short manicure of blacks, yellows, blues, and reds on her short natural nails that looked cool and easygoing, but still interesting. Kylie Jenner recently opted for short, square nails coated in OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark, a almost black purple shade that was popular in the late aughts. Dakota Johnson also gave the trend her stamp of approval, opting for a deep espresso shade on short nails for a New York Fashion Week event.

However, for a classic indie sleaze nail with a modern spin, there’s no one better to look to than Olivia Rodrigo. The GUTS singer has made a short black nail her signature, and it goes perfectly with her 20-something glittery angst.

Dr. Martens? Check. Party girl eyeshadow? Double check. Black short nails? Triple check—the indie sleaze look just isn’t complete without it. Try it for yourself, and don’t forget to do so while wearing a statement necklace and a pair of ripped tights.