Kate Middleton just elevated her chic and simple manicure with this stylish nail shape
The Princess of Wales' pared-back nails had an elegant, modern twist
The Princess of Wales will always be a source of timeless and elegant beauty inspiration. Her makeup looks are radiant and classic; her hair is simply iconic, and we'd give anything to delve into her skincare collection.
When it comes to nails, Kate Middleton is someone to look to if you love a manicure that whispers instead of shouts. Princess Catherine isn't one for out-there nail designs, bold colours or long talons. Instead, she leans into barely-there colours and nails that are perfectly shaped and preened.
While we do occasionally see Kate sport a striking tone, like a shiny, rich red, there's nothing she does better than pared-back manis - and we've been taking note of her latest twist - a short squoval nail design.
The "clean girl" nail trend is only growing in popularity - but Princess Catherine has been doing it perfectly for years. Take her recent red carpet appearance at the premiere of Tom Cruise's new film, Digger.
Kate had her nails flawlessly filed into a shape that toes the line between square and oval. The curved silhouette of the nail allows her mani to be short and cleanly shaped, while remaining supremely elegant. This is a particularly appealing shape for anyone who wishes to elongate the look of their fingers and flatter their hands without unnecessary length.
Sticking to her usual shade for the glam night out with Prince William, Kate wore a wash of beautifully sheer and milky-pink polish.
Shop chic barely-there manicure essentials
Ballet Slippers by Essie is a shade that has long been popular with the royals. The late Queen Elizabeth II was a fan, Meghan Markle wore it on her wedding day, and Kate is believed to be a fan, too. A few swipes of the sheer pink polish are all you need for a clean-looking milky mani.
The secret to flawlessly fresh-looking nails is keeping them preened and cared for. Whether you're a nail salon goer or a DIY manicure, a cute kit like this is essential for keeping talons in check all the time.
Rimmel's Nail Nurse is a bargain 2-in-1 product that strengthens and cares for nails, while giving them a pretty wash of sheer pink. It acts as a base coat too, so it can be used under other neutral polishes or worn alone for a delicate touch of colour.
Fiona McKim, beauty channel editor at woman&home, is all for the chic, short and effortless manicures Princess Catherine does so perfectly. "Squoval is such a perfect choice of nail shape for anyone who likes to keep their nails neatly trimmed, but still wants a touch of style and elegance.
The rounded corners create the illusion of a more curved nail shape, such as rounded or almond, which in turn elongates the fingers, without the need for an impractical length."
Barely-there varnishes are perfect for creating a neutral manicure - but not too natural. Think of it as your nails, but better, with a silky shine and faultlessly even coverage.
And Catherine proved the versatility of her go-to manicure as she stepped out just two days after the glitzy premiere for a day spent gardening.
Arriving in Southend-On-Sea in Essex for a visit to The Forward Trust, Kate got stuck into some horticulture with the same short, simple nails. This time her manicure was teamed with a checked Max Mara blazer, sleek black trousers and loafers - and looked just as chic as on the red carpet.
