With the air becoming crisper and days beginning to vanish into longer nights, a question inevitably arises during this period, what will our nails be this season? Fall-winter 2025 is introducing everything cozy classic and everything bold too–think warm neutrals, moody berries, unexpected pastels and shimmering celestial accents.
However, this is not a question of trendiness, but doing what you feel is right to you. Whether you prefer short and minimalist gels or elaborate seasonal designs, I assembled designs that inspire, flatter, and completely raise your mood. Time to discuss the texture, tone, and tiny details, as it can be changed in every way simply with a single touch. Are you willing to fall in love with your next manicure?
Maple French With a Twist
Muffled nudes collide with light-hearted maple leaf touches and bright French tips in strong amber, pumpkin and burgundy finishes – this manicure practically screams of the arrival of the fall. Something homesick and comfortable about this appearance. It is sharp, neat, and yet it carries this little twinkle about it due to the small leaves. The almond silhouette is sleek and elegant, and the tonal variety of red, orange, and ochre on the tips provides major late-fall foliage zest. These nails are such as take a cider when under a warm throw – they give that sort of thing.
The following supplies are required to produce this appearance: a neutral pink base gel (such as the OPI Bubble Bath or Essie Mademoiselle), very concentrated oranges and deep reds on the French tips, and individual fall leaf stickers or stamps. Find maple or oak figures in autumn colours – or paint some yourself with a fine nail art brush, when you are not too shy. A nice high finish top coat will seal it all in and put this glassy finish on it.
Begin with a clean polished nail. Use two coats of your neutrine base. Once healed apply your fall shades to paint the French tips either freehand or with a guide. Use your leaf decals sparingly and do not crowd. Top coat generously. Says celebrity manicurist Betina Goldstein, nail art with minimal negative space makes it appear elevated – and this nail style levels the playing field.
I wore a variation of this design to a fall wedding and so many people complimented it even strangers in the bathroom line. It is womanly without being coy, ornamental without being overstated. It is a good place to start with seasonal nail art.
Molten Cinnamon Chrome
Want your nails to appear forged in the the luxury chocolate factory, or drizzled with molten cinnamon? This one. This almond-stiletto combination has a high-shine chrome finish in a lush coppery-brown swirl, nearly a caramel marble. It is fancy and yet down to earth – the type of manicure that takes a knit dress to the next level and a basic coffee shop run to the luxury level.
To achieve the contrast, you will need a copper gel chrome powder (such as the Daily Charme product, called Cinnamon Swirl, or the Holo Taco product, called Bronze Punch) and a chocolate-brown gel base. You will have a silicone chrome applicator to press the shimmer just right. Nail techs also recommend applying a velvet top coat before buffing on the chrome, so that it applies evenly and is less likely to wear off.
Chrome nails are hard to work with, particularly when swirled. Paint your base, cure and then take your thin detail brush dipped in a slightly light or darker color and swirl in your design before you apply no-wipe top coat. then only polish your chrome powder. Always leave out a rubber bottom coat when your nails are long, advises Brittney Boyce of Nails of LA – it will hold the structure together when chrome is added.
I like it when I am in need of something slightly mysterious yet undeniably glam. It has that I see you, fall, spicy, rich, and slightly luxe energy.
Mocha Matte Gradient
This matte mani is so slick, you will feel like you are holding a warm latte of oatmilk when you look down. A combination of cocoa, caramel, soft taupe and warm pumpkin hues in a no-shine finish – it tastes like fall in your fingertips, but make it less fussy. There is the richness and silent opulence about this appearance which is ultra-modern and does not shriek.
The key here is balance. You will need a matte top paint (I recommend Zoya VelvetTop) and a curated palette of neutral gel colors: think: choco-latte by DND, terracotta by Bio Seaweed Gel or even press-ons by Static Nails in case of time constraints. Attempt to mix tones with a sponge when doing a real gradient – or just switch colors to make a gentle ombré.
It is by far the simplest one that can be done at home. Prepare your nails, and put a base-coat on, then use one shade on one finger, then two shades on another finger, then one shade on another, and so on… or sponge-blend a gradient on each nail. Paint with two layers of matte top coat which dries between. You can add a shiny tip or a small piece of gold foil to make it higher – contrasting textures make it stand out.
Such nails at an air that crisps. They are subtle, yet somehow… opulent? As its nails are wrapped with a cashmere throw.
Bold Pumpkin + Glitter Pop
They are not ordinary October nails. We have high-gloss cement gray, firecracker orange and two nails that have been soaked in confetti glitter, that look like a party in Times Square. They are bold, graphic and so much more wearable than you would imagine – particularly with denim or cozy neutrals. Something oddly harmonized in this industrial/playful mixture.
In order to recreate this, you will need a gel polish in matte gray (such as the Olive and June color, Charcoal Smoke), electric orange (use OPI, My Chihuahua Doesn’t Bite Anymore), and an iridescent flakey glitter topcoat – imagine large pieces of confetti by Lights Lacquer. This manicure borders on maximalism, so you should not hold back.
One color per finger, glitter nails placed in alternate places to get a balance. Apply a thick bottom and top layer over glitter so that it does not have a rough texture. DIY this with pre-glittered tips and still achieve the same effect, even if you are using press-ons.
This is the type of appearance that I use when I feel like being playful, yet presentable. It is also childish without being juvenile – the type of nails that will put strangers at Trader Joe in awe of you.
Cinnamon Sugar Matte
Everything I love about fall is captured in a single glance about this mani: matte shades of cinnamon, milk chocolate and terracotta, topped with sort of very glittery microglitter accent nails. It is comfortable, warm and celebratory simultaneously – like having your favourite sweater in nail shape. The contrast between the matte and glitter gives it the sense of being elevated without being overly sweet.
The matte nails are Louise and Aubrey by Zoya, and the glitter is the copper glitter gel by Spiced Cider by Le Mini Macaron. Then you will definitely want a good matte top coat to seal this off without making the glitter accents dull.
This is a simple home appearance as well. Paint your solids, dry, and then put two coats of glitter on your accent fingers. To get that plush velvety appearance matte top all but the glitter nails.
I had the same appearance picking apples last year, and it was right. My outfit was incomplete until my nails fitted the vibe. That is the type of information that makes a good look a great one.
Champagne Rose Chrome
Something in this one is undoubtedly classy–a kind of gentle rose-gold chrome, which glitters in the light like a mirror. It straddles the border between cool and warm, so it is ideal in the transitional fall-winter looks. The almond shape maintains a sophisticated look, and the chrome finish provides that futuristic high-gloss look that has been all the rave on the runways and at holiday parties. It is sparse to the point of being extreme in its aesthetic.
To do this finish, I would begin with a neutral gel base–such as You Blushing” by Kiara Sky or Bare My Soul in the Infinite Shine line by OPI. When healed, finish with a rose-gold powdered chrome such as Daily Charme, Rose Mirror and rub it in lightly with a silicone applicator. Apply a no-wipe top coat to ensure the chrome powder is applied in a uniform manner and add one more coating of top coat to achieve that ultra-slick look.
Begin with a simple base coat and two layers of the neutral gel on your nails. Full cure is followed by rubbing your chrome powder with circular movements. I have discovered that the smoother your surface, the sharper will be the reflection of the chrome. According to nail educator Julie Kandalec, the only way chrome can pop is to have a perfect foundation. That has been a real tip-changer.
I always use this as a fallback when I feel like I need to appear like I have my life together- even though I may not. It is impeccable, classic, and celebratory in an unobtrusive way. I once used it at a Thanksgiving dinner and did a mini nail tutorial at the table due to the questions asked about it.
Matte Leafy Terracotta
This collection takes whole-hearted autumn narration into your fingertips. We also mean warm sweater-brows, pumpkin-matte finishes, cable-knit nail art texture, a touch of hand-written fall. It is adorable and reminiscent, almost the nail version of drinking a maple latte and walking down a leaf-lined path. The combination of tones; deep chocolate, burnt orange, and creamy taupe, is deep but does not sound loud.
You’ll need a matte top cover (Matte About You by Essie is a cult) and gel polishes in warm terracotta, chestnut brown and ivory to achieve this appearance. In the cable-knit look, you are going to need a 3D gel or a builder gel of a similar brown color, but with a fine detail brush. Nail stickers or stamps can be a good option in case you do not feel confident about your ability to draw the script and leaves with a free hand.
It is a stratified process, but a worthwhile one. Once you have your base colors down and dry you can add the sweater pattern by thick lines of builder gel using a dotting tool or fine brush, and then cure again before matifying the entire appearance. On the accent nail, apply paint leaves and the fall text with an extremely fine liner brush or use decals to keep it clean. Seal the top of all but 3D with a matte finish to maintain that texture.
I would never need to look farther to find this design when fall actually arrives (when it gets chilly but not yet winter). It is a hands-on version of a seasonal gratitude list.
Pumpkin Spice Swirls
This set helps you feel like you are biting into a pumpkin spice donut just like you have always wanted your nails to. Swirls of creamy burnt orange, vanilla white and spiced cinnamon glide over each nail like latte art with a glitter side. It is fat, it is flashy, and it shouts cozy glam. The form of the almond makes it elegant, whereas the playful pattern makes it inventive.
You’ll want gel polishes in burnt orange (such as Hot Tamale by DND), white (such as Alpine Snow by OPI), and a cinnamon-bronze glitter such as Spice it Up by Orly. The trick here is to use a fine nail art brush or detail liner in order to do those wavy lines. Add a shiny top layer to make the glitter really shine in contrast to the creamy background.
Start by applying a universal nail base (a clear transparent base). Then with a fine brush, draw curving, flowing lines in alternate shades. Apply the glitter last to ensure that it is at the top and provides texture. As Allure reports in their recent trend report, nail art that mimics natural motion, such as marble or swirl, is expected to dominate well into 2025. Here the two nails should not be similar, that is one of the beauties.
I wore this type of thing to a local farmer market in the fall and I will tell you every single person that was selling me a cider or another baked good commented. It is not too high-impact or too high-maintenance.
Earthy Playful Neutrals
This mani is a fall capsule wardrobe – it has a bit of everything, but it actually works. Warm brown to olive green, beige, polka dots, retro stripe, citrus orange, white, this design bears testament to the fact that playful can be stylish. The matte texture makes the fun a little less wacky and does not push it too far. It is a Pinterest board in person.
In this combination, you can use gel shades, such as, Olive You by Lights Lacquer and tiramisu for two by OPI and orange pop with Sunset sneaks. The polka dots only require a dotting tool and to get the stripy lines (when you want the side-stripe nail), you can use striping tape. Last but not the least use a soft matte top coat to blend the appearance.
The trick to removing this is equilibrium – switch between solid and patterned nails and stick to a balanced palette. Don’t leave out any details or it will seem disheveled. According to Natalie Minerva (an Euphoria nail artist), she recommends that, when mixing several trends, one always begins by choosing a neutral shade that grounds the look.
I enjoy the fact that this design is playful yet deliberate. I put it on one time on a weekend outing to the mountains, and it was my favorite piece of jewelry–why go out and get rings when your nails are already doing this much?
Snow Knit Neutrals
Light white-on-cream colors, combined with a lightweight chevron knit texture– this ensemble is the nail version of a fuzzy throw blanket and a warm vanilla chai. It is short and rounded and bends toward quiet luxury. It is the type of manicure that neither screams nor makes a statement but somehow makes one at the same time, and it suits those transitional times between late fall and early winter when the cozy is a full-time style.
To achieve this appearance, use soft whites such as, CND Shellac, Cream Puff, or OPI, Samoan Sand. A velvety top coat is provided by a matte. When it comes to knit, a sheer builder gel is the best choice- apply with striping brush or stamping tool to press the chevron pattern gently and then cure.
Paint two layers of your creamy base and allow to cure, then apply the chevron detail in either a stencil or with freehand lines. Allow each layer to dry and then polish with soft top coat. Make that shape short and rounded to create that intrinsically easy feeling. One of the tips offered by celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik: Negative space in soft neutrals should make nails look longer, healthier.
When I get a little tired of bright colors, I pick this one up. It is cool and refreshing and frankly speaking it matches with anything. Perfect on work weeks, early evening holidays or just sitting with a nice book.
Tortoiseshell Aura
This manicure gives a trendy twist to the traditional tortoiseshell with a distinct glow in this rich green. It feels like a contemporary artwork: smooth and clear patches of espresso brown and amber over neutral ground, with color in a delicate frame. The combination of structure and fluidity is what makes this look high-tech but cool enough to be worn in the later fall when the clothes begin to lean more in the moody direction yet you want to add a bit of unexpected flair.
You will need a jelly brown polish such as Cirque Colors “Tortoise Shell” a sheer nude base (use OPI bare My Soul) and a fine nail brush to recreate this. The green outline you can use a colour such as sage advice by DND or you can even use gel striping gel in emerald to provide a sharper outline. The point is translucency–do not make it muddy.
First apply the nude base and then cure. Next, then dot on the tortoiseshell spots in other brown shades, mixing with acetone to smooth over edges. When dry, paint the green line right around the outline of the design or sketch the outline of the nail. Finishing top coat to hold everything in place: Nail tech Savannah Walker insists on adding depth with sheet colors: Jelly polishes are a watercolor look that she says feels dimensional.
I tested this design last November, and it seemed like the adult version of animal print. Cool, a bit edgy, and yet completely wearable even when paired with an oversized cardigan or structured blazer.
Architectural Taupe Lines
This is the appearance of the minimalist who is still fond of detail. Slick neutrals in an ideal curated taupe color scheme are raised with exceptionally thin black lines running horizontals and verticals to bring with them an ultra-modern feel. Its short rounded form keeps it low-key and rooted to the ground, yet the accuracy makes it seem like wearable architecture. It is making clean girl design school.
To do this, you will need polish in colors such as Essies Clothing Optional or Olive and Junes TT, a polish top and striping polish or nail art pen (black). To get the neatest lines, striping tape or a very highly pigmented nail art brush with a steady hand is used. Everything is about such minor geometry.
Once the base shades have been applied, allow them to dry or cure, and then trace in your lines–some running in the middle of the face, others running vertically–just sufficient to attract the eye. High-end finish on the top of the coat to pop. As nail artist Jin Soon Choi suggests, to make it appear more editorial, you can do a matte top over the bottom and then only dot the lines with gloss.
I use it all the time when I am going into a hectic working season. It is minimal and yet effective, refined without being gaudy. It is also extremely convenient to go with any outfit in your wardrobe, which, frankly speaking, is half the battle.
Velvet Plaid in Merlot
This manicure is entirely cozy-core and has a cool character. Layered plaid patterns in white, teal and mustard yellow are applied on deep wine red. It is nostalgic and upscale–like your favourite tartan scarf redesigned as your nails. The color mix and rounded short shape make it wearable and too traditional.
To make it soft, you are going to need a matte top coating, and deep colors such as the burgundy base, which is In The Cable Car-Pool Lane by OPI or Wicked by Essie. Then put in striping polish in white, gold, and teal–or ultra fine nail brushes. This is one that takes time, and is well worth the stroke.
Begin on the base of your plaid with a matte base colour and apply your plaid pattern on top of the base. Place one line at a time and give it a little time to dry before placing the next line because it can smudge. Plaid, according to manicurist Betina Goldstein, is all about spacing: to create dimension start with the lightest line first.
This is my cold weather love design. I took it on a snowy weekend drive upstate, and each time I got a glimpse of my nails in a mug of hot cider, it was the ideal fall image in a bottle.
Clueless-Inspired Yellow Plaid
This yellow plaid manicure is an aggressive, glowing, and completely fall-coded Cher Horowitz redesign that you can channel in 2025. Sunshine yellow is plaided with pink, black and white stripes and laid off in a crisp glossy finish. It is the manicurative equivalent of saying, Yes, I am cute–but I am also organized. Made fun, kid friendly, and surprisingly in-season.
Begin with a creamy yellow gel such as Bio Seaweed Gel in the shade Copacabana and make your plaid lines with striping brushes or decals in pink, black and white. The vibrancy is enhanced by a high-gloss top coat and a small amount of edge makes this appearance less preppy and more pop culture cool.
You can use your yellow base and just leave it to dry and then place your lines in order of thin end up with the heaviest to give it some dimension. Clean edges are fundamental, and so it is advisable to use some sort of tape or guides when freehanding is not your strength. To make the finish look really shiny, you can add a gel top coat with more UV time.
I was smiling whenever I saw this look. I wore it in the pumpkin patch-to-brunch transition period when it made heads turn in the most appropriate way. Well, it was like fall, but wink.
Golden Maple Gradient
These nails are the direct translation of leaves changing to gold in the afternoon sun. An absolutely sterling mixture of golden yellow and spicy red in a two-color design–this design is in-your-face, funky, and somehow yet beautiful. The almond shape provides it with that high-end look, whereas the colorful palette implies, Yes, I am the lead character this season.
You will desire highly pigmented polishes such as Sunshine Be Mine by Orly, and Cirque Colors, Cayenne. The deal is closed with an overcoat of gel making colors pop. Apply two coats of each color to keep the intensity, but not too much of the look.
The use is gloriously naive. Switch between the colors or do color-blocking on each nail to be more adventurous. According to nail artist Julie Kandalec, yellow with a touch of coral should be warmed in the fall: “This keeps the color more wearable but still on-trend at the same time.
I used this ensemble when I felt like I needed to get in a good mood – and I did. There is something about these colors that leads to an immediate improvement in confidence. It is sunshine that is captured in a bottle to use when the days turn shorter and darker.
Spiced Pumpkin & Glitter Glow
It seems that in every case bright orange comes back as soon as the fall begins to play with the rest of summer. This appearance elevates that stereotypical citrus punch and balances it with that posh glitter and whimsical highlights. The glossy tangerine nail does not seem to be too outrageous, and the single nail with glitter on it reflects the light resembling a warm candle flicker at golden hour. And then there are the little pumpkins – white underneath, little orange gourds, green stems – it is cute but not kitschy. The overall vibe? Cold sweater season with some bling, such as a hot toddler in the form of a PSL with whipped cream and cinnamon on top.
In order to do this at home, you would desire a gel based orange polish, such as the OPI polish called My Chihuahua Doesn’t Bite Anymore or Lights Lacquer Slice of Life. In the case of the shimmer accent, it is better to use something thick and foiled – think of Champagne Supernova by ILNP. The pumpkin nail? You will require a fine detail brush or stamp set, and creamy white gel as a base – we recommend Beetles Gel in Snow White and a small set of orange, green and black.
LA nail artist Sarah Bland is a firm believer in placing glitters on a matte base to make them sound metallic. I applied a silicone dotting tool and a small liner brush to achieve that clean pumpkin finish without making the look overly sharp, yet still hand-drawn. Spray all over with a glossy finish.
It is the type of manicure I put on when I am idealizing a grocery store shopping in October – big cardigan, cinnamon broomsticks by the checkout, and my nails taking the center stage as I text with one hand and hold my latte with the other. It is spring happiness, in 10 small canvases.
Midnight Magic with Celestial Gold
This is the magical quality about fall nights, a little chilly, a little sparkly, and unpredictable. That’s exactly the mood here. The blue ombré is so deep as it fades away into twilight sky, into the soft nude background. The true star (literally) is the starry golden foil – shimmering stars, sprinkling sprinkles, and an ideal gold gradient on the ends. It’s dramatic but wearable. Imagine cool sophistication that runs brunch to cocktail hour without a break.
You would base this design on a neutral bottom such as Essie Sheer Luck or a sheer jelly nude. One can make the ombré blue using a makeup sponge and mixing powdered blue such as the Russian Navy by OPI, or the Besties by Olive and June. The stars come to live with the help of gold foil or nail stickers. Find celestial nail decals (as in Zodiac set by Maniology) or gold foil flakes and a dotting tool.
Celebrity nail technician Betina Goldstein even suggests using a foil or decal and making sure that they are stuck on prior to curing your top coat so they will melt perfectly into your polish. In that manner you can bypass that sticker effect. I know it’s 30 seconds, but it is worth it.
I had a similar thing last November at a wedding and not a single person missed my hands. Something about gold on navy is just luxurious and airy, as if you are wrapping yourself in a cashmere scarf when the sky is full of stars.
Monarchs in the Moonlight
In case you are somebody who has black nails the moment it falls below 60 o C, then this one is for you, but this time it goes higher. There is all drama in the matte black background, but the butterflies? They’re soft, almost floating. It is a late fall change-of-direction look. The butterflies are glittering with orange, peach, and white and they extend over each nail as though they are about to fly away. I enjoy the paradox here: daring and heavy, and yet so gentle and alive.
You will need a decent matte black polish – I use Essie Matte About You polish over licorice polish. With the butterflies, you can either paint them manually with ultra-fine brushes or take press-on decals. Search Butterfly sticker kits on Etsy or stamping plate in case you feel like doing nail art on your own.
To pop the butterflies, draw a line sketch of them using a trace of metallic gel or sprinkle the top cover with a little glitter paint. New York-based nail artist Miss Pop regularly discusses contrast and balance – here the stained-glass look of the butterflies is created by the matte base.
This appearance provides me with creative power. It is the manicure I would use when I am getting out of a seasonal rut, and I need something that is motivating but stylish at the same time. It is end-of-fall poetry on your fingertips.
Playful Stardust & Whimsy
This manicure? Pure fun. It combines both future-fairy and retro 2000s. The undercarriage is lavender chrome with iridescent flashes – the type of polish that appears different in each light. Then there you have brassy stars and glittering golden decals – the kind of thing Sailor Moon would put on when it was cold. It’s not trying to be elegant. It means, go roller skating or make cookies in the form of stars just because.
A multi-chrome polish such as KBShimmer’s Flip Flop Fantasy or Holo Taco in Purple with Envy is good. The stars? Apply nail stickers or nail vinyl stencil that has already been cut. You can go up to yellow acrylic paint when you are crafty as well. Seal the glitter with a clear gel top finish.
It is one of the designs which can be totally freestyle. Nail artist Julie Kandalec is urging people to use foil and stickers, as instruments of their creativity rather than guidelines. I did as she suggested and experimented with the spacing and placement until it seemed to have a balance.
I would wear this because I want my nails to say, Yes, I take care of myself and I believe in magic. It works best during those winter doldrums when we all need some glitter to see us through the darker days.
Golden Moon & Glitter Eclipse
Soft neutrals and heavenly elements still rule the day during the season. This manicure is in the form of a lullaby. It feels costly and not flashy with its translucent nude bases, little black starbursts and sprinkles of glitter. A craftsmanship here, nothing is exaggerated, but everything has its dreamy role. This type of design is equally home in late November when the nights are long and hot tea is an accessory.
The first step towards achieving the appearance is a clear nude base – either Zoya’s Bella or Lights Lacquer Clingy. A star and moons can be painted on in gold nail paint or purchased as foil decals. To get that gold foil glitter effect, use Gold Leaf Topper by Cirque Colors. It is important to have a fine detail brush to help with placing, particularly on shorter nails.
Celeb nail artist Tom Bachik (who does nails on JLo) pro tip: Thin coats of glitter should always be applied and built upon to achieve a more professional appearance. I have been doing exactly that since I read it on Allure.
It is a whisper not a scream of fall winter luxury. It works best when you are at a holiday party and you want your nails to be seen, just a little – a silent flex, covered in glitter.
Starry Midnight & Lunar Luxe
There are certain colors that belong to a season, and the deep navy is the velvet cover of winter. This nail design covers that deep blue base with clusters of golden stars, icy moons, and small dotted galaxies. The design is clear yet ethereal – almost as though one is wearing a silk scarf adorned with stardust. Every nail is a variation of a section of the night sky, and the rounded square form gives the space theme a small classic polish. It is mysterious, magical and surprisingly comfortable to wear – at least when you are attracted to the deep tones when the daylight is slowly fading at 4.30 PM.
Any cat-eye gel polish will work, such as Born Pretty “Magnetic Galaxy Blue,” to achieve this cosmic look. A good strong magnet will be required to push that glitz through before it sets. Write your stars and moons with metallic polish or gold foil stickers and a fine brush. Daily Charme crescent moon decals are currently very popular in nail art circles and add a more professional touch to the entire design.
Celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec frequently focuses on layering when creating celestial designs: base, shimmer, decal and to give it depth, she applies it all over. I used her overlay technique and witnessed how each piece became more prominent with a top coat than when worn flat.
This design makes me look like I am carrying the secret of winter in my hands. I have worn it to a New Year dinner, and even in my leggings on a Sunday afternoon. It carries a certain other-worldly assurance – gentle, but glittering in the proper light.
Falling Leaves & Cinnamon Sweaters
This manicure image embodies the very idea of unzipping your favorite knit sweater and crunching leaves under your feet. Warm, high-quality matte brown anchors the look and two accent nails bring the autumn to its full glory: the first one with a knit texture raised over chocolate, and the second with a few small leaf silhouettes sprinkled with warm cinnamon, rust, and burnt gold. The matte finish is what makes it all work and creates the impression of having just made the fall Pinterest board energy.
You also need a warm matte polish palette – consider: Cliffhanger by Olive and Junes, Espresso Yourself by Essie, a matte top coat such as OPI Matte Finish. With the knit texture, apply a thick builder gel or 3D gel paint to bring up the design. A dotting tool and striping brush will be used to produce the woken cable-knit pattern. The leaves? The mini nail art brush is used or print decal can be used to apply easily.
One of the most recent tips that I read in Glamour fall nail trend round-up: combine matte with texture to add depth, particularly in neutral palettes. It does not feel as flat as it can be with plain matte nails and has a more tactile quality to it.
This look is for my cozy girls. The people who are burning vanilla candles at 5 PM and are wearing fuzzy socks on Zoom calls. It is cozy, cool, and communicates that you understand how to match your nails to the season without making it too hard.
Minted Lines & Retro Geometry
Unexpected color combinations are in fashion this fall-winter 2025 and this design does not hold back. Subdued tips of mint green collide with muted neutral pink bottoms, cut with smooth vertical lines of black that evoke serious retro-modern feelings. The graphic striping and squared-off design makes me think of retro package design or mid-century interior – minimal, clean and cool enough to last forever. The dusty hue of the mint makes the slight burst of color winter appropriate.
To re-create it, I apply a neutral sheer pink such as the base of the Nude Beach of Orly, and the tips with Lights Lacquer Mint Condition. The line work is easier with the use of tape or striping guides, or you can do it by hand with a striping brush and black gel polish (I use the black mirror of Modelones). Apply a shiny top coat on the seals to make the lines appear sharp and clear.
This design may appear salon level, however I have done it twice at home. My trick? Apply thin coatings and allow one coat to dry first and then apply the same to the other. It is easy to spoil the entire geometric feel with sloppy lines, which is why being patient is a good idea here.
Whenever I put this on people always say that I must have had them done at an expensive studio. It is new, daring and not so different that it makes one look fashion conscious. Smoothly designed to work or to walk in the gallery.
Lemon Gold & Luxe Contrast
It is a bold, quiet design of soft lemon yellow combined with creamy beige, jet-black and opulent gold foil. The nails are all different stories but they all go well together like a creatively-worn winter outfit. The foil sprinkled over the nails is gold, which gives it a little metallic drama, not too, so to speak, holiday. The accent nail palette is balanced by the black base, which provides the entire set with a high-fashion contrast. Consider warm and high – such as putting on a cashmere sweater and gold jewelry.
Begin with a lemon pastel polish such as Yolk at Holo Taco and a nude such as Samoan Sand at OPI. In the case of the black base, an Essie Lizorkice would be a very good match. Before the top coat is laid, gold foil flakes may be put on and pressed in lightly with an item of silicone, or tweezers. It is not in foiling the foil too thick – less here is more.
Celebrity manicurist Naomi Yasuda suggests contrasting soft pastels with harsh colors (such as black or navy) to avoid the look being washed out in winter light. Here I obeyed that rule, and fell in love with the sharp-yet-gentle effect.
I put this design on a random January weekend and received three compliments as I was running errands. It is one of those glances that imply, “Yes, I consider details, even though you are simply taking almond milk in a hoodie.
Berry Bold Meets Neutral Chic
Minimal, smooth and strong – the set features a two-tone palette that can easily switch between fall and winter. The colour gradient of soft blush to deep berry gives a minimal, high impact feel. The pinky and thumb are an intense shade of mulberry that adds the vampy glam touch but the light shades at the center balance it out with a neutral softness. There is no glitter, no decals, only pure color, glossy shine, and work of art perfection of an almond. This is the type of manicure that would be applicable to any environment.
I enjoy blending polishes to achieve this effect of a gradient. You may go with Essies, Eternal Optimist, or Kiara Sky, Blush Teddy, and finish with Berry Naughty on the darkest fingers. Stick to the gel when you desire durability in shine or just apply regular polish over the seche vite top coat to achieve that salon finish.
One of the insider tips Refinery29 included in their fall nail report is that two-tone color blocking is poised to be a fall 2025 trend since it is loud but not overwhelming. The trick here is easy transitions and similar undertones to create the appearance of a considered palette as opposed to a chaotic one.
This is when I need something that I can trust but which does not require much of my time. It is the sort of design that helps my entire outfit look more put together, even when I am wearing sweats. Grown-up girl-child energy with an overture.
Pastel Frost & Soft-Touch Ombre
Who is to say that winter is not colorful? This pastel manicure is so dreamy that it gives a new twist to late-fall and early-winter appearances in a way that is unexpected. The combination of cotton candy pinks, icy blues, and warm neon yellow immediately picks you up, as does a frosty sunrise when there has been a snowfall. The matte finish makes the entire palette very grounded, and that velvety texture feels luxe, but not loud. The gradient on two of the nails is very smooth and creates strong airbrushed effects, whereas the solid pastel accents keep everything minimized and simple.
To replicate this set you will need a nice pastel gel set such as the Ice Cream series by Modelones or the Sweet as Summer series by Lights Lacquer. The ombre effect is done using a sponge or blending brush and tapping the colors against each other and letting them dry. Here a matte top coat is a must – I recommend the one by Kiara Sky as it gives a perfect, non-shiny finish without making the colors less vivid.
In the pastel ombre case, a clue I learned after reading Elle Gerstein (the nail technician who has done the nails of J.Lo) is to apply white base first – the pastels will show better on darker or medium skin. That additional step is worth the difference particularly when going in low winter light.
This is what I use when I need to break the winter-neutral cycle. It is comfortable, imaginative, and surprisingly multipurpose – I have worn it with big knits and faux-leather trench coats, and it has never failed to attract a complement. Frozen rainbow never injured anybody.
Cocoa Lines & Minimalist Sweater Weather
Something very chic about this manicure is undeniable. It is very neutral, smooth and clean with just the right amount of visual interest to cause a person to look again. The smooth almond figure combined with the beige color gives a soft ground where the accent nails are used to add rich cocoa lines in modern structured designs. The deep half-moon arc and plaid grid remind us of oversized scarves and winter coats – it is the fall layering, but on your hands. Peaceful opulence meets architecture.
Begin with a light pink base such as Essie, in a shade called Ballet Slippers, or OPI, in a gel line called Bare My Soul. To do the cocoa detailing I prefer to use a high-opacity chocolate brown gel polish – “Brownstone” by Apres is a perfect fit. A super-fine liner brush will be required to achieve those sharp lines, or you can apply nail art striping tape to act as a guide in case you are new to linework.
Nail artist Tom Bachik repeatedly mentions that the trick to beautiful nail art is in the spacing and balance – giving the design a moment to breathe. That is precisely what I did to this set. I also drew out the plaid grid with a dotting tool prior to actual painting, and kept the curved lines minimal because I did not want to overpower the appearance.
