As the leaves begin crunching beneath my feet and the air is filled with that fresh crispness, I always get the sense that it is time to change my nails. The time of summer brights has passed, but autumn requires richer colors, smoother finishes and a bit of drama on details. Did you ever feel like a matte manicure is immediately more refined and trendy? It is like putting on your favorite knit sweater only on your hands. The article will provide the fall matte nail ideas of 2025 that I am obsessed with and each has its own mood, palette, and personality. The question is: which one will suit your vibe this season?
Velvety Chestnut With Minimalist Gold
Deep chestnut brown is the colour of hot cocoa in a cold night, warm, comfortable and ever-flattering. Matte finish makes what would otherwise be a mere manicure a really sophisticated look and the small gold ring-shaped detail gives it a little touch of jewelry without overdoing it. It is uncluttered but eye-catching, a design that is equally effective when you are on a date at a coffee shop as when you are at the office.
To it, I would turn to OPIs chocolate moose or Essies take it outside in matte top coat finish. In case you like gels, DND has some beautiful cocoa colors that harden under LED. Jewellery could be substituted by a thin metallic ring on your nail with a decoration, or, you might want to adorn your nails with nail decals which are available in gold.
To achieve this appearance, I would always apply a smoothing base coat to my nails and then apply two coats of polish to make it fully opaque. A matte top coat is the secret to that velvety look once it is dried. Nail artists such as Jin Soon usually suggest extra thin coats of polish whenever dealing with a matte finish because the polish won’t clump or appear chalky – and she is right.
I personally love the fact that this style immediately helps to make my hands more sophisticated. It makes me think of that point in fall when you replace iced lattes with pumpkin spice and all is warmer. Will you wear this on your next night out?
Playful Pumpkins and Abstract Lines
This design does not scream fall in a cliché way. The combination of chocolate brown, matte black, and nude provide the ideal background to playful white pumpkin accents and thin abstract line art. It is playful, imaginative, but entirely wearable. I prefer that it has a sense of seasonality and has a minimalist feeling – holiday but not costumery.
To peel this off, you will need a nude matte polish such as the one Zoya uses as a base called Caitlin and a crisp white such as Essie used as the pumpkin art called Blanc. The small details will be made less difficult with a fine nail brush or stamping kit, particularly when you do not have a super steady hand.
I would begin by coating all nails with different nude, brown, and black colors. When dry, I apply a fine liner brush loaded with white polish and paint pumpkin-like silhouettes and thin swirls. Nail pro Betina Goldstein frequently reminds that asymmetry in nail art is trendy – hence, there is no need to stress over an ideal symmetry. It is the minor details that cause it to feel intimate.
The first time I tried this, my close friend commented that my nails resembled small fall postcards. That is precisely what I like about this design – it is like touching a story.
Sunset Gradient in Warm Tones
I find something about autumn skies, each year, to be inspirational. Such a design resembles those radiant horizons having a perfect gradient that deepens toward deep orange to soft golden yellow. The ombré effect has a matte finish that makes it appear to be velvet cloth stretched over the nails. It is daring, yet simultaneously very easy to wear in the form of sweaters and denim jackets.
In the case of the gradient, I would choose Gelish Tiger Blossom in combination with Arctic Freeze sponged on each side to achieve that cushion effect with a matte finish. A sponge makeup brush does miracles to blend when you do not have pro tools available at home.
The key here is time – absorb in appearance, dampen some towels in the light taps, one at a time, and in that manner until the mixture appears smooth. Celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec says that the trick to gradients is light scratching and always applying top coat to soften the texture. This is an important step because sometimes matte polish reveals defects.
Whenever I sport this fashion, I am asked whether it is created in a salon. I love to explain to them the way I did it when I was at my kitchen table with a sponge and nothing. Doesn’t it feel good that your nails have become pure art?
Teal-To-Ember Ombré With Gilded Leaves
A sullen teal fades into warm ember orange, and all is matte and blurred. The tiny gold leaf patterns resemble the dots of sunshine captured on a windy street, with a bit of glitter without becoming shiny. Its oval form makes it sophisticated, and its gradient gives it that home-cooked drama that we desire with fall matte nails 2025. It is somewhat seasonal, somewhat artistic, and entirely knit and leather-wearing.
I would mix a deep teal or dark green such as OPI Stay Off The Lawn with a burnt orange such as Essie Playing Koi or Zoya Arizona. To create the metallic touch, loose gold foil or ultra-thin leaf is best, along with a non-wipe matte top finish such as Aprés or OPI Matte. In case gels would suit you better, the teal and orange series of DND can be used in gradients and a silicone tool can be used to compress foil to flat.
I use base coat then two coats of teal at the cuticle end and sponge orange at the tip and push the orange towards the light tap till the fade is smooth. I use small pieces of foil on a small gluey layer and cover with matte top. Nail pro Tom Bachik frequently recommends using a silicone tool to cleanly adhere foils without tearing them – and this is the tip that made me change how I do it.
I adore the way it reads autumn almond or short alike and the gold makes a subtle glitter effect under matte that is soft but not high-end. Would you wear it with dark denim or a coat in dark green autumn?
Cocoa Skittle Gradient In Matte
Across the hand, there are five shades of brown that transition to caramel and espresso with a velvet matte finish. The silhouette of the long coffin is sleek, yet the palette can be applied on short nails as well provided you want to create the effect of natural, simple, and dark comfort at the same time. It is bare nail art that can still be considered a design concept – it is a color story not a graphic pattern.
I grab a planned assortment of browns: OPI Cliffside Karaoke, You Don’t Know Jacques, and Espresso Your Inner Self and Zoya Spencer and Louise as an extension. A brand family is effective as long as you maintain the undertones. Seal with a matte finish top coating to make the surface appear soft instead of chalky. Cuticle oil is necessary as Matte focuses on dry skin – Nadine Abramcyk of Tenoverten has long been a proponent of oil every day to ensure the entire style is in check.
I outline the order (lightest on the thumb, deepest on the pinky) and put on two thin coats per nail and seal with matte. When I have autumn short nails, I will tighten the contrast a little to see the gradient clearly. Shortcut pro tip: Shape and buff first and add color afterwards since filing will scuff the finish.
Color Pop Waves in Matte
The most whimsical autumn nails rest on a swirl of candy-bright colors meeting soft matte. The nails appear in various shades; each, the size of an almond, and is bordered with a fine lengthy black wavy line, mint, peach, cobalt, lilac and yellow. It is not too radical but in a cool way and it looks like an art class meets a fashion week. Although fall tends to lean towards neutral tones, this one demonstrates that color continues to flourish in the colder seasons.
This is the appearance I would suggest attaining with a bright polish palette, such as Orly breathable neons or OPI Summer Make the Rules, topped with a matte velvety top coat. Those wavy outlines would only be achievable with a fine striping brush (dipped in black polish) and, should those lines be difficult to keep, a nail art pen can be used to maintain uniformity.
I use the nude matte polish first and then I block the colored part diagonally on each nail. After it is dry, I paint the black wavy line at the intersection of the shades. Much of this playful mani spirit can be summarized by the words of celebrity nail artist Mei Kawajiri, who frequently tells people to embrace imperfection as part of the design.
I love this appearance since it is not what one anticipates during the fall, but would fit well when a big scarf and trench are used. It is a mood enhancer – bringing a small rainbow during pumpkin season. Would you have the effrontery to paint your autumn clothes with nails such as these?
Soft Neutrals in Gradient Matte
This manicure is fall fashion reduced to the bare bones. Every square nail is painted with a different color, starting with the creamy beige and then the terracotta and deep maroon. Collectively they produce a tonal gradient which is cool, discreet and multi purpose. It is a less-is-more nail design – the type of mani that looks natural and purposeful at once.
I would rely on the OPI classics such as Samoan Sand, Cajun Shrimp and Got the Blues to represent the variety. The shades of Essie such as In Plain View also blend well. Having a proper matte top layer is necessary in this case since it unifies the various tones and makes them seem as a single palette.
It is simply used in a row, working thumb to pinky with light to dark polishes. Use two coats on each shade and then glue it all with matte. Jin Soon Choi believes the gradient to appear professional is having nails with consistent shape after which the polish is applied, therefore I always file it in the same shape of a square before applying the polish.
Whenever I have this on, I receive compliments that my nails look expensive, even when I did them at home. This collection belongs to my top fall inspiration picks since it matches all of the items – both work and lounge. And how a simple location of colors can be design?
Rust Orange With White Botanical Art
The warm terracotta-orange nails become matte to give that authentic fall pumpkin-spice feel, then white leafy and flowery elements make the boldness seem softer. It is the ideal combination of seasonal vitality, and subtle art. The small square form makes it relaxed and cozy, and the art piece appears grown-up and expressive.
In the case of the base, I would apply Playing Koi by Essie or Autumn by Zoya, and then apply a white polish such as OPI Alpine Snow on top and over the base to represent the leaves and flowers. To save time, a nail art stamping plate that has botanical designs is possible, but the thin brush can be used when you want to hand-paint. Apply final finish over design to cement final finish.
My favorite way to paint all nails is in terracotta, followed by one or two accent nails to the white artwork. Nail artist Betina Goldstein usually recommends that even with a set of nails, you only accentuate the nails so they appear harmonious and not cluttered – something I take to heart.
This gaze is a wink to nature in its loveliest manner. I feel I am carrying a little autumn garden with me whenever I wear it. Isn’t that the most adorable way to celebrate the season but not to take things too seriously?
Pink Frosted French Twist
And this is the feminine, dreamy side of fall matte nails. A combination of raspberry pinks, cool whites, and light fades forms a romanticized version of French tips. The shape of the long coffin would add to the elegance, and the matte finish would make it chic instead of too sweet. It is contemporary, playful, and spring-summer-autumnal when you need a lighter palette.
To achieve this appearance, I would apply OPI Bubble Bath, Essie Ballet Slippers and a pure white such as Blanc on the tips. A gradient sponge would be useful to blend the colors and a thin striping brush would be used to bend the names of the French sides. Seal by using matte to maintain soft airy tones.
I tend to begin by applying nails in a neutral base which I mix either diagonally or at the end with pink and white. Celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec recommends using several light layers instead of one heavy pass to create a gradient and she is correct.
I personally like this since it makes me think about the first frosty mornings – the air is crisp but there is still some warmth in the light. It is glossy, it is multifunctional, and it is fall 2025 fresh. Is this something you would put on during a date night or a relaxing Sunday brunch?
Velvet Crimson Matte
Dark burgundy becomes non-shiny, and then instantly turns velvety to your fingers. This color is typical autumn – rich, dark, sophisticated. The coffin shape lifts it even higher and the matte texture makes the color appear even more enhanced. It is the type of manicure that conveys confidence without the need of embellishing it.
In this style, I would apply OPI Malaga Wine or Essie Bordeaux then put a smoothing matte finish. In case of gels, both of DND and Gelish have great deep wine colors that remain shiny until you mattefy them.
The trick here is easy two layers of deep burgundy, allow these layers to dry up, and seal the piece with matte. Celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann says that dark colours always appear best on nails that have been carefully prepared, which in this case means buffing and cuticle work.
I cannot prevent feeling unstoppable when I am wearing burgundy matte. It is quite Greek, but at the same time that can always be used during autumn evenings or even during the holidays. This is how I define a fall nail inspo, impressive, uncomplicated, and always fashionable. Would you wear this color next time you went out?
Plaid Meets Matte Olive
This ensemble combines autumn country-style with light-hearted modernism. Two nails have a smooth matte olive green color, the other two have a bright red-orange color, and the accent nails have a plaid pattern of lines with pink and red color. The mix is warm scarves and pumpkin patches into nail art. It is not only about the color – a combination of designs and solids makes this manicure both informal and stylish.
I would apply colors where the olive has OPI Suzi -The First Lady of Nails, the red-orange with Essie Fifth Avenue and a lighter pink shade, as seen with Zoya Rue at the bottom of the plaid. The thin plaid lines can be drawn with a fine striping brush or nail art pen. A matte top coat glues all the texture together.
To make this I would begin by painting two nails solid olive, and two nails solid red-orange. The plaid nails are time consuming: paint the base pink, then draw on thin, red, horizontal and vertical lines, crossing them to represent the flannel. Nail pro Julie Kandalec usually suggests breathing between strokes to maintain lines consistent – that is a tip that actually works.
I enjoy that this manicure gives you fall fashion on your hands. It matches with knits, jeans, and shoes so well. Do you think it is a cute allusion to fall but not too heavy-handed?
Embossed Autumn Leaves
Luxurious matte colors–burgundy, cocoa, beige, and mustard–are lively with stamped leaf patterns that make the colors richer and more lifelike. The sensation is like you are slipping off your nails in a cozy sweater. The elevated forms have a 3D look that is uncouth but wearable. It is the type of manicure that makes people wish to see more closely.
OPI Malaga Wine, Essie Sorrento Yourself and Zoya Honey are ideal matches regarding the palette. These embossed leaf patterns are frequently done using gel polish applied between uses, and in layers. This textured appearance is best suited to a thicker form of viscosity gel such as 3D gel paint.
It is done by painting nails with solid matte colors and filling in the shapes of the leaves with a fine brush in gel polish. Allow the lines to cure gradually then add another layer and gradually build the 3D effect. Nail artist Betina Goldstein recommends being patient when it comes to raised designs and that working in thin lines prevents the shapes becoming flattened.
I never feel less than a little bit more stylish with this set. It is artistic, but not overt, such as an unobtrusive detail that is revealed with some light. Do you consider textured designs next time you get a fall manicure, or would you rather keep it smooth and smooth?
Olive Matte With Golden Waves
Sweeping golden lines curve across each nail on a muted sage green base. The metallic accents stand out on the matte background, which makes this manicure look luxe and jewelry-like. It is contemporary, high-context, and surprisingly relaxing.
In the case of the base, I would apply either Essie Sage You Love Me or Suzi Talks With Her Hands by OPI. Nail foil strips, metallic gel liners, or a steady hand with a striping brush and gold polish can be used to accomplish the gold lines. Apply matte top coat that will not dull metallics – Apres Matte is a popular one.
To achieve this appearance, I would paint all the nails with sage matte, leave to dry or cure, and add free-flowing golden lines on the nail, in the direction of the natural curve. Nail artist Tom Bachik frequently says to let the brush dance when doing line art, i.e. do not give much thought to symmetry – it looks more natural when it comes naturally.
I adore the way this looks elegant using simple jewellery. It is one of those fall nail ideas that can be informal during the day and classy at night. Would this not go well with a khaki trench or gold hoops?
Celestial Emerald Matte
Dark green nails become magic when they are decorated with gold heavenly motifs – stars, moons, constellations, and a bright sun. The polish is matte, and it becomes a night-sky canvas, but with the use of gold. It is daring, playful, and most magical in the fall.
The base is a dark green such as OPI Stay Off the Lawn or Essie Off Tropic. With the celestial accents, I would apply gold stamping plates, decals or hand-paint with liners of metallic gelling. Seal using matte top coat to ensure that the background is velvety, but does not overwhelm the gold.
I would then put on two coats of emerald, cure or dry, and stamp or paint the celestial motives in various places on the different nails. This design reflects the energy of the seasonal colors that celebrity nail artist Mei Kawajiri likes to combine with astrology symbols.
When I put on this style I get a feeling that my nails are talking a story – something strange, strong, and somewhat mysterious. It is the ideal opening line to fall parties. Do you use cosmic nails this season or are you more earthly?
Olive and Neutral With Leafy White Art
Matte olive green and beige palette is brought to life with subtle white leaf accents on one or two nails. It is autumnal, earthy, and artsy, without cliched pumpkins. This is fresh and modern because of the balance of solid nails and detailed accents.
I would apply some polishes such as Essies Can’t Stop Her in Olive, which goes well with OPI Samoan Sand as the neutral base. White leaf patterns may be drawn using a thin nail art brush or a stamping plate. The design is held together by a matte top coat.
In the case, I would paint the nails in a mixture of olive and beige, and then some or two of the accent nails with leaf patterns. Jin Soon Choi tends to recommend keeping a painting simple to create the most impact and this nail polish goes to show the power of simplicity.
This design is natural and earthy. It is fall ramshack but by no means dull – a concept that can be applied to short nails or almond just as well. As long as I wear something such as this, I become tied to the earthy aspect of the season. Do you not just love the way calm green nails look in fall light?
Golden Mustard With Graphic Accents
It is a head-turner of a design, mustard yellow set off against soft nude and bold black swirls. The almond form is classy but funny, and the matte surface makes the colors appear even more prevalent. It is not overdone and can be worn without covering your entire look.
To produce a similar effect, I would use OPI, Sun, Sea and Sand in My Pants, as the base mustard and Essie, Licorice, as the black detailing. That velvety finish is provided by a matte top coat such as Butter London, Butter Finish Shine Free.
It is not as difficult as it looks to make those swirls at home. Nail artist Betina Goldstein frequently posts on Instagram that the thin striping brush is the key to clean lines. Apply your nude base and coat over with the yellow and black ribbons of color, and finish off with the matte top coating.
Personally, what this design reminds me of is falling leaves of gold, on a cloudy sky. It is contemporary and creative, yet something that can be worn daily. When you need something audacious, but not glittery or shimmery, this may be your fall 2012 signature.
Deep Terracotta Matte Coffin
Here we have one of our venturous ones, veneer coffin nails in a plain, hot terracotta. This is trust between manicure. The matte finish provides the appearance with a suede feel to it and makes the length less dramatic and more classy.
To reproduce I would lean towards shades such as DNDs Coral Worthy or Zoyas Cinnamon shades. Both bring that hearty red-brown that is so autumnal. And add a matte finish to get that velvet appearance.
It’s quite simple, you shape your nails like a coffin, put on two or three layers of the terracotta polish, then seal it all with a matte sealer. New York nail tech Jin Soon Choi suggests that you should always polish the nail surface a bit then apply matte polish to a smooth finish–and I mean it makes the color look much more upscale.
Putting on this shade is like grabbing your favorite leather jacket. It is risky and classic, getting everything right when you are!
Pumpkin Patch Gradient
This screams home-rendezvous Thursdays in autumn. The nails are interacting with warm orange tones and two accent nails having subtle pumpkin shapes. It is celebratory without being corny due to the matte finish which tones down the brightness into something to be worn.
With the pumpkin colors, I would recommend the Sunset Orange by DND and Have Your Panettone and Eat it Now by OPI. Those lines around a pumpkin are best sketched in crisp white with a fine detail brush.
Alternatively, achieve this on your own with an orange base, then apply solid ombrew effects in between with a makeup sponge. Once it is dry, paint the outlines of the pumpkins using a thin nail art brush, topped with matte top coat. Nailpro Magazine suggests that ombré is not as challenging as it appears as long as you use a wet sponge and dab rather than drag.
I really want to snuggle with hot cider over this set. It is seasonal, entertaining, and a quick topic-starter, particularly during a brunch in the fall or at a Halloween party.
Earthy Tones With Gold Accents
This manicure is a combination of natural muted terracotta, olive green and beige with subtle gold studs at the cuticle. The rough surface helps the down-to-earth colors to shine, and the small metallic elements make the surface just glam enough.
I would apply Essies All Checked Out just in the muted red-brown, Olive and June WKF in nude, and Zoya Wyatt in Olive green. In the case of the studs, there are dozens of nail art wheels available on Amazon and easy to apply with a drop of nail glue.
Balance is the trick: alternate shades over your nails, apply your matte top coat, and then stick your studs on there before the polish is completely dry so they attach. Celebrity manicurist Sarah Bland has observed that combining the textures matte and metallic makes the nails feel up-to-date without being over the top.
This is the best fall minimalism to my mind. It is the elevated and stylish type of manicure, the type of manicure that matches perfectly with warm coats and gold accessories.
Chocolate Swirl Coffin Nails
Dark chocolate brown polished nails with marble accent swirls- this appearance is streamlined, refined, and fits the season. The shape of the coffin is also an edge cutter, yet the colour palette keeps things on the ground.
I would replicate it with: Espresso Your Inner Self by OPI as the base and a nail art brush with taupe or white swirls. The chocolate is covered with a matte top coating to make it a velvet finish.
The effects can be marbleed by drawing a fine brush and even a tooth pick over wet polish in a cursory manner. This is a technique that nail artist Chaun Legend demonstrates frequently to make that natural stone-like pattern. It is important to remember that it should be fluid but not too uniform.
I adore this collection as it is luxurious and easy to wear. Chocolate shades are flattering to all skin tones and the swirls provide the right amount of craft work. Like drinking a mocha latte on a cold fall morning, it is rich and warm and definitely enjoyable.
Bold Black and Orange Statement
This manicure is autumn night bottled into nails. Matte black collides with hot orange in sharp geometric forms, and the accent nail is made alive with an ornate flower design topped with gold studs. The coffin shape makes the drama more dramatic, and the matte finish makes the appearance more elegant, rather than too many glosses.
In the case of such a combination, I would recommend the black to be Orly Liquid Vinyl and the orange base to be OPI Suzi Needs a Locksmith. Nail rhinestones or studs can be easily designed using nail decoration kits that are readily available online or across brands such as Swarovski that offer the added luxury of the sparkle. This is where a matte top coat will be needed to soften the contrast and make it velvety.
This is a project that takes patience and accuracy to produce at home. Start with the initial base colors, and cut out those sharps triangles using a piece of tape or stencil. You will do the floral detail with a fine art brush. Celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik reports that adding a layer of metallic details to matte polish allows those details to reflect light without appearing gaudy, and this is why the studs here look so deliberate.
I adore this style on a nighttime fall outing when you need your nails to act like accessories. It’s not shy or over the top, and the combination of smooth and glossy detailing is just sufficient to pass through changing seasons.
Warm Brown Almond With Leaf Accent
Are these almond-shaped nails, of that quiet and jostling matte brown, such a quiet loveliness, and one nail of the accent one carries a fine work of leafy shapes in black and metallic copper. The outcome is natural, bare, and, still, undoubtedly autumnal. It is the type of design that looks fashionable when you are going to work or meeting with friends over coffee.
As a matching tone, Zoya Cinnamon or OPI Chocolate Moose would be a wonderful base shade. On the leaf detailing, a metallic striping polish such as the Essies Penny Talk will provide that look of copper. Combine it with a matte top finish to hold all together in that soft-touch feel.
To replicate this design, paint all nails with your brown color, then with a thin brush, draw long leaf patterns on a nail with black understating. With professional manicurists, it is recommended that you work in thin layers so that the details do not appear thick and bumpy after being set in place. Jin Soon Choi has indicated that in matte art, it is usually a good idea to apply a final layer of matte top coat after applying all the colors and textures so as to blend the various colors and textures so that they all fit together.
I believe that this set strikes the right balance between the simple and the sophisticated, in my personal opinion. It whispers fall, rather than yells it, which is perfect when you are not into seasonal nail art that feels costume-y.
Golden Leaf Autumn Squares
This pattern has soft square ends in matte terracotta with two nails each having clear bases covered with glittering gold foil leaves. The impression is lavish yet friendly, as though a reference to a fall leafage in glass.
I would use OPI’s Have Your Panettone and Eat It Too to achieve the terracotta matte base. Daily Charme and Born Pretty use foil flakes to create nail art, which would be great to use in the case of the gold leaf accents. A matte top layer will give you that velvety finish on the colored nails, and a glossy one can be applied to the foiled accents as a fun texture contrast.
At the house you could begin with two layers of your terracotta base, then polish off the accent nails with a clear polish, carefully adhering bits of gold foil. A little silicone hand tool facilitates the foil pressing on tacky polish. Allure Magazine noted that combining matte and glossy textures on the same hand has been one of the most potent nail art trends since it adds more depth without additional clutter.
It is one of those manicures that are nearly jewellery-like. I would be very happy wearing it to a fall wedding or a homey dinner party, it is trendy but not too festive.
Earth-Inspired Matte Gradient
This collection embodies all the colors of autumn in a single manicure. The nails are painted in various shades of matte that go between warm brown to soft taupe, earthy olive and deep chocolate. The almond shape makes it feminine, and the matte finish adds to the muted colors so beautifully.
To achieve this appearance, select a set of fall colors such as Essie’s “Clothing Optional” (brown), OPI’s “Sage Simulation” (green), Zoya’s “Emilia” (deep chocolate) and a light beige such as Butter London’s “Yummy Mummy”. Seal with a matte sealer on all nails.
The process is simple because each nail has its shade. The trick here is to pair the complementary colors that make it appear deliberate rather than accidental. Even celebrity nail expert Deborah Lippmann has frequently stated that to make a multi-color manicure seem unified, not disjointed, it is important to select shades of the same undertone.
To me, this design would be a fall cozy. It feels a bit like putting your hands into the surfaces of autumn: knits, leathers, earthy colors. The ideal choice when you would prefer naked nails in a seasonal manner.
Wine and Plum With Jewel Accents
This design combines deep burgundy, plum, and gray in a smooth matte gradient across almond-shaped nails, with some tiny gem decorations around the cuticles to add an additional glitter. The deep tones immediately remind of glasses of red wine before the fire.
In shades, OPI has its Malaga Wine, which, combined with Essie’s Warm and Toasty Turtleneck and Zoya’s Genevieve, would also have a similar palette. The jewel effect is achieved by using small flat-back rhinestones, which are readily obtainable in nail supply shops, and are not too flashy.
In order to recreate at home, to apply the gradient tones over various nails, simply apply the gradient tones, then apply the gems with a dot of clear nail glue before applying the matte top coat around the gems. Nail artist Sarah Bland has also indicated that adding tiny gems around the cuticle has a luxe quality without compromising day-to-day use.
I am amazed at the sophistication of this appearance. It is romantic, atmospheric, and reminisces of fall evenings out in a wine bar. The small jewels are a reminder that the little things matter sometimes.
Autumn Leopard Accents
This manicure is consist of seasonal colors with fun touch. The background is warm matte orange and deep charcoal, and one accented nail adds a fun leopard print, which is both fashionable and elegant. The shape resembles almond, and the matte finish brings it all together with that cozy and velvety feeling.
In the case of shades, OPI has the orange shade, Have Your Panettone and Eat It Too, which suits on the black base and Essie has the black shade, Licorice. To create the leopard spots, I would suggest a brown polish such as Zoya polish Louise and detail using black. This plush finish cannot be compromised with a matte top coat.
It is all about layering to recreate this at home. You can do this starting with your base shades and then place dots of brown using a dotting tool on the accent nail. Draw some of them in black polish and leave the figures jagged so that they resemble natural leopard spots. Nail artist Julie Kandalec has stated that animal prints are best when not too uniform, and thus are friendly even to novices.
As an individual, I find this appearance audacious but easy to wear–the kind of design that gives your fall enclosures the carefree twist it needs. Wear it with a jacket made of leather or thick knit and you will be drawn in.
Minimal Hearts on Gradient Browns
This manicure is the simplification of the concept of fall romance. The nails are matte painted in different deep chocolate and soft beige colors, and small black hearts are placed at the cuticles. The shape of the almond makes the design feminine and flattering and the little motifs give a gentle touch that is almost a piece of jewelry to your nails.
To replicate this palette, use the darker shades of Zoya, in her shade, Emilia, OPI, in her shade, Samoan Sand, Essie, in her shade, Bold and Boulder. The small heart shapes are painted in black using a fine nail art brush or dotting pen. Coat all with a matte top coat as a unifier.
It is easy to apply, and you would follow the same procedure as when you are applying your base shades, except you would draw small upside-down triangles with rounded edges to represent the heart outlines and fill them in. Nail artist Betina Goldstein frequently recommends a toothpick to make a complex shape when a professional tool is not available, and this is an easy tip that actually works.
I think this design is so functional. It is romantic but not too much and the hearts are a nice personal touch. The best one to have when you like minimalists nails but can still use a small detail as a topic of conversation.
