Would I actually wear them? Probably not. Personally, I play with my hair too much for this to be a practical manicure; the idea of strands getting caught between the “clefts” sends a chill down my spine. But do I appreciate them? Absolutely. I love when nail art gets weird, edgy, or even a little unsettling. It’s called nail art for a reason, and because it isn’t permanent like a tattoo, it’s an ideal canvas for out-there ideas and out-of-the-box designs.
“It’s so different from what you expect from nails,” says Molly a.k.a. Maison Gel, a Melbourne-based nail artist who recently crafted a set of Tabi French tips for a client who came to her with the idea. She used a needle-nose diamond E-file bit to create the Tabi-esque split on a set of Après Gel X tips. And in case you had any doubts about the durability of the design, Molly notes that the client did not have any issues and came back four weeks later with the set still perfectly intact.
Molly recognizes that the Tabi shape is divisive, especially as a manicure. “There are a lot of mixed reactions to the design, which is fair enough!” she says. “I think most of the fun in nail art comes from silliness, and with nails [that were inspired by] shoes that are already polarizing, it was a lot of fun for us both,” Molly adds. “Nails have far surpassed the need to be polite and pretty. Women are already expected to adhere to so many beauty standards, let them have crazy nail shapes for a month!”
That’s the thing about art, whether it’s a couture gown, a painting, or even a manicure style; if it doesn’t create conversation, then what’s the point? There is beauty in things society deems “ugly”—just ask Margiela and fellow designers like Alexander McQueen, who have spent decades confronting the idea of ugliness and incorporating it into their work. Plus, in a sea of sheer “soap nail” manicures and classic French tips, Tabi nails are shocking, surprising, even a little subversive. They’re not asking to be adored by everyone—they’re just here to raise some eyebrows and have a little fun.