Birkenstock Enters Nail Polish as Nude Shades Dominate Spring

Analysis

The week's biggest story is Birkenstock's move into colour cosmetics: the German footwear group has confirmed a nail polish collection, framed in its own announcement as "celebrating feet with a touch of colour" ^[1], with The Business of Fashion breaking the news as an exclusive on 24 April ^[2]. UK coverage has landed the launch squarely in the sandal-season context, with Grazia Daily pitching the polishes as shades to match your Birkenstocks just as pedicure season begins ^[3]. First-hand reviews are already circulating, with New York Magazine's Strategist publishing a hands-on test of the polishes ^[4] — useful signal for UK buyers weighing whether a footwear brand can credibly hold shelf space in nails.

On colour, the direction of travel is quietly neutral. The Zoe Report calls spring's biggest nail colour trend "barely a colour at all" ^[5], while Vogue's round-up of nude polishes is built around the "your nails, but better" finish ^[6]. Elle Canada's summer 2026 trend report suggests the conversation is already moving on to the next season ^[7], so expect nude-adjacent ranges to be merchandised alongside summer brights through Q2.

Heritage brands are still doing the heavy lifting in editorial. Both Who What Wear and Cosmopolitan ran expert-led rankings of Essie's most iconic shades within the same fortnight ^[8][9], a reminder that classic polish franchises remain reliable search and affiliate territory. At-home gel also continues to be sold on savings, with InStyle positioning DIY kits as an alternative to salon spend, starting from $36 in the US market ^[10].