The Best September Nails Design Fall Trends for 2025 You’ll Want to Try Right Now

What about having your nails tell you it is autumn or winter before your wardrobe is switched? With the sweetness that is September (and the change of coffee milkshakes to pumpkin spice and room clearing by sandals to ankle boots), there is no more appropriate moment to give your manicure a quick overhaul. But we’re not talking anything basic. fall fall trends 2025 This season is all about warmness, richness, and a bit of surprise lean into the latter in September nails

Imagine: Warm neutrals, sleek neutrals and glam accessories that have a touch of the luxurious without being undoubtedly fancy. I am listing below some of the designs I am currently obsessing over that you will definitely screenshot, save, and perhaps make the salon appointment today. Ready?

Terracotta Petals & Soft Botanicals

I open with this one simply because it is what it feels like when I wear it, like I am walking through a farmer?s market in September, rolled in a chunky knit. The earth tones vary between light and pale terracotta with a base of creamy nude with small hand painted flowers and abstract petal leaf branches. The sole use of warmth to the color palette is cushioned and soothing without being ostentatious. The small accessories like gold foils make it a glammed up moment, but not in a shrill manner.

My algorithm to obtain this shot would involve having a neutral, like OPI Samoan Sand or Dulce de Leche, to begin with and then cover it with a clean clay, eg. Terracotta Rose by Olive and June. For the botanical art, a super fine liner brush and a black gel polish (try Beetles or Kiara Sky) will give you the precision. Born Pretty gold foil flakes are great at having quickly accessible luxe speckles.

The reason why this style will be awesome in early fall is because it does not tell you pumpkin patch, it rather tells you cozy, calm, and artsy. It all begins with clean, almond shaped nails applied with a base color cured and then typically you will free hand the florals with a dotting tool and striping brush. Apply the foil, as a finishing touch under your topcoat. It’s surprisingly meditative.

Personally I think this one would make a perfect manicure when you are on a weekend trip to upstate New York. It is multi-purpose stock, works on all skin tones, and it is not an age-spanging item. I am wearing an adaptation of this today, but with shorter nails, and a barista actually interrupted her line of order to tell me how cute it was.

Espresso & Champagne Stars

Here is a combination than I did not dream to like so much: deep glossy espresso-coffee brown combined with light nude and glossy golden stars. It is gloomy without the weight of it all a bit like your favorite ordering of a latte with a designer bag to boot. The light and dark equal balance create that post-punk energy that is prevalent in many of the september nails design fall trends of 2025, but in this one, it just stays a little fun.

I would recommend applying Lincoln Park After Dark by OPI as the deep brown and either Ballet Slippers by Essie or Pre-show Jitters as the nude base in order to produce this combo. The metallic stars can be hand-painted if you’re good with a brush (gold polish plus a striping tool), or even better — use pre-made metallic decals or stickers. Nailtopia and Deco Miami have cute ones.

I would do them as almond-shaped, have the nude as the base on three fingers and the rest all espresso through. When the base has dried, press the stars up to where you want to collect one of them and then seal them off with a high shine top coat such as Seche Vite. Never hurry the top coat–that is what does all the glow.

The contrast is what I love most about this, it is strong enough to feel like a style choice but weak enough that I could wear it to a job interview or even a relative dinner. One of my friends did something similar and wore it with a camel coat in wool — chef kiss.

Berry Wine & Golden Leaves

This one’s pure September luxury. The lobbed deep-red wine nails combined with the gold-adorned accent fingers with a drop-like trinket that resembles the small falling yellow leaves it is the manicure equivalent of drinking the cabernet next to the window with the falling leaves on a comfy cushioned seat. It is slightly retro and ultra-feminine yet not fussy. It has a sort of nearly royal touch with matte gold on top of that full burgundy.

Malaga Wine by OPI or Afternoon Delight by Lights Lacquer would be your choices there with that deep berry tone. On the bottom part of the leaf nail, something along the lines of Bare With Me by Essie comes wonderfully. Gold leaf stick fuels or stamping displays, enable the leafy impression to be created without making the impression too detailed.

This one is ideal as a wine tasting weekend or fall wedding guest attire. It is chic, stylish and complicated with enough to give a sense of having thought it out. This is my personal favorite because a manicure that is relatively seasonal, but not complete thematic, is a favorite of my own. This is exactly that.

Tortoiseshell Is the New Neutral

Say it for what it is, tortoiseshell is the fall 2025 print. On sunglasses, on clips, and now — on nails. It is a lush, cozy, slightly untamed design. The amber and brown colours in layers nearly appear in 3D and the glittering finish gives it a pop. What I adore is the fact that it works as a neutral but with a significantly more personality.

This one takes a bit of layering — start with a clear or sheer amber base (like Topaz Tints from The Gel Bottle), then use a sponge or thin brush to apply layers of brown (Essie’s Licorice works). you can go back and forth into brown and amber with a bit of black, you will do this till you reach that shell-like marbling. Afterwards seal it up using a couple of coats of clear gloss.

Doing it at home? Be patient. At least three layers are required so it would appear dense and flash curing between the process serves a benefit. One trick comes courtesy of celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein, who says to use a polish application called a “glass tint” (which involves thinning deeper shades with topcoat, to keep everything sheer and blendable).

I won’t lie, I wasn t a tortie girl all the time. But after trying this last fall, I was hooked. It looks shockingly good on both short and long nails and it works on every fall dress you have.

Fall Butterflies in Bloom

Unexpected? Yes. But listen up its time to give butterflies a fall makeover. Imagine a world of earthy colours For example: mustard yellow, deep green and burnt orange and hand-painted wings which appear like stained glass. This design feels joyful, creative, and a little whimsical. It does not fit in the traditional neutrals we tend to cozy up to in the fall and screams: “Yes, I am fun and comfy.”

To use as a base, the recommended color is a soft white or pastel shades such as OPI Alpine Snow or Zoya Dot. Then add in fall tones olive, pumpkin, mustard, dusky lavender each butterfly segment. You can hand-paint the wings with a fine liner or grab nail art stickers (try Maniology) that match your vibe.

It involves some amount of artistry, rest assured there is no need to be perfect at it. The charm is in the imperfection. It’s giving Pinterest mood board IRL. If you are nervous, first do a light sketch on your nail with a pencil; that has been my salvation more than once.

This one’s for the dreamers. It puts me back in the point of view of my younger self who would doodle butterflies in all of my notebooks, on my shoes, even on her arms with gel pens. Maybe that’s why I love this design so much. It’s a little nostalgic but reimagined for grown-up glam.

Muted Blooms in Ink & Pumpkin

That design seems to be the very sketchbook of some artist. The hand-painted floral design comes out in a smoky navy, deep gray and burnt orange shade and is placed upon a sheer nude base which gives it a classic yet modern look. The thing is the difference of cool and warm colors including the deep dark navy and a light pumpkin orange, which makes it a balanced and an unexpected palette of the early fall. It is flowery, yes, but not in a typical spring garden fashion more like pressed flowers in an old book whose cover is the color of the green of April.

I would use as the bare base Zoya Rue or Essie Skinny Dip to bring it home. For the florals, you’ll want ultra-pigmented shades like Essie’s Playing Koi (orange), OPI’s Russian Navy (navy), and a slate gray like London Fog by Olive & June. The most important tools here would be a super thin detailing brush, you want to feel smooth and natural.

This one requires some time, but it is worth it. The first layer must be the base coat, then dry or cure before any application of the sketching out of the shapes of the leaves and the petals using sketchy layers. Cure in between if you’re using gel. A semi-matte topcoat will finish it off so you have a modern flair to it, or go glossy with more pop.

It is the type of nail polish where you can answer, Yes, I put on scarves early, and I am all about that vigor. It is relaxed, yet artsy, with an edge to it not to get too girly. One of my friends referred to it as a “grown-up cottagecore” I will take it.

Sweater Weather Gradient

That is when the leaves are just beginning to change and your closet is still alternating full of linen and shifting to knits, you know that time. This manicure is that moment. The gradient of warm colors, with wine red, caramel brown, creamy beige, and even pumpkin spice, it seems to be warm, tranquil and definitely built according to september nails design fall trends of 2025. The accent nail is the leaf decal, however. Just one, and it tells the whole story.

You’ll need a few solid fall shades: try Essie’s In Stitches (wine), OPI’s Chocolate Moose (brown), Zoya’s Chantel (nude), and Sally Hansen’s Crushed (orange). The leaf accent I used a stamping plate or transfer sticker -Maniology and What김 outdoor gallery have a wonderful selection of fall themed ones.

Start with a clean almond-shaped nail. Apply different colors of paint on each of the nails to create the gradient. The leaf sticker or stamp is applied to the nude nail, before finishing all off with a glossy top coat to tie the whole ensemble together. If you want a combination of textures, you can apply a matte top coat over the others — completely optional, but so very cool.

Whenever I wear this style; I am frequently asked whether it is a customised style. It’s that good. It also goes with everything, your pumpkin cream cold brew, your camel trench, your warm socks. Fall harmony.

Plum Blossoms on Nude Glass

There’s something effortlessly romantic about this one. The high-gloss wine-red nails relegate the pillow-soft nude bases decorated with plum-colored flowers and delicate black accent to the secondary role. It is also refined rather than fragile, just right on the border of feminine and editorial. The little white beads on the center of every flower provide it with some light, almost as dewdrops on petals.

You will need a deep red for that vibe so Essies Bordeaux or Zoya Alyssa should be brought in. The nude base must be transparent and transparent -like the OPI Bubble Bath. To make the blossoms, apply a blend of plum and crimson nail polish with a nail art brush and cover the centers with a dotting device by adding a splotch of white.

I would suggest basecoat two coats sheer nude and then barely a brushstroke of half-moon floral painted on tip. A small detailing brush is of huge importance to make the blossoms look natural. When working with gel cure each layer and never omit topcoat, it keeps all of the art in place.

My idea was to wear this to a comfortable dinner outing and the hands did all the talking. It has kind of a shy glamour about it, or when you are in that state where you are longing to add a little cushiness to your sharp.

Checkmate Meets Abstract Sky

Here’s where we flip the fall script. Fall does not have to be brown and red, you know. This mix-match manicure is playful, graphic, and unapologetically bold. There are checkerboard prints, speckled polish, ocean swirls, shiny oranges and clear blue skies all jumping in each fingertip. It’s unexpected, and that’s why I love it.

You’ll want a variety of polishes here. Blacky O by Sally Hansen, and Essie Blanc are both good on the checkerboard. In the case of blue swirls, that punch can be provided either by ILNPs Interstellar or OPI Tile Art to Warm Your Heart. The thing is not to miss the burnt orange- Another one wins, again Essie Playing Koi. Use a speckled topcoat such as the Speckle Me by Cirque Colors.

This one is for the brave hearts. I recommend planning your design layout before painting. Stripe checker tiles with striping tape, dab and swirl to do the marble effect, and finally tap on the speckles with a sponge. Interchange your finishes glossy against matte makes it that much edgier.

I like to view this as the maximalist fall nail. It’s artsy, smart, and endlessly scroll-worthy. I always drop whenever I come by this style on my feed. The thing is that it is the type of look where strangers in line at Trader Joe’s comment on your nails.

Cocoa Gold Leaves

Sometimes, subtlety speaks loudest. The finished nails are square shaped nails painted rich milk chocolate brown with golden and copper leaf decor accents and I must say it is quite luxe. The foiled leaves are very well lighted so that the entire hand is glimmering with faint elegance. It is earthy and yet not drab, and goes with every teddy bear you have.

Use as a base Take the Espresso or the OPI Espresso Your Inner Self. The leaves can be gilded with gold leaf, metalised stickers, or very finely painted by hand with a metallic polish such as Sally Hansen Golden-I. A top coat of the gel will add the shine and prevent wear and matter off of those details.

A small silicone tool is useful to press the pieces to tacky polish for that foil positioning perfect touch. Then use your top coat immediately after to glue everything together. It appears intricate but it is one of the simpler looks to do yourself at home.

I have crashed a lot of family brunches or coffee runs in this very ensemble, and even at work functions. It feels chic without trying too hard. In case your feel is polished rustle of glam, then this is your calling.

Golden Twig Minimalism

It is the clean-girl look I gravitate towards, just not bare-bones clean, and with fall richness thrown on top. Translucent blush pink finish provides the foundation to metallic motif of twigs at the very tips. The leaves shine but not too much that it dominates the design in a flashy way. It is minimal yet there is something slightly art-deco about it all.

To mimic this I would recommend doing that sheer pink base with OPI Bubble bath or Zoya Bela. The gold leaf is a bit trickier but I recommend 3D metallic nail stickers or press-on that you peel and fix on the nail, it worked on me when I tried Daily Charme and Apres. A good curved tweezer and glossy topcoat to seal the whole stuff would also be required.

What makes this so wearable is its versatility. It goes with a buttoned-up black coat as well as your favorite cozy sweater. I am really fond of it on short to medium almond nails myself- it is what gives the mark of polished hands that lack any serious effort. This is the type of mani that pops luxe in all the mirror selfies.

Olive & Sterling Accents

When the soft olive green comes out in fall, there is nothing quite like it to keep you grounded. It’s not loud, but it has presence. Combinations With a neutral nail and accompanied by a silver foil-leaf accent, this look is modern, wearable, and somewhat subtle to appear fresh, like someone had laid eucalyptus leaves on a white canvas. The september nails design trends of twenty twenty five have been on a path to earthy metallics, and this is just a beautiful example of them.

This one is better with WKF or Win Me Over by Olive & June or Essie as the primary color. Choose the accent nail using OPI Samoan Sand or Zoya Dot. The silver metallic leaves are better done with foil but I tend to find the chrome decals to be quicker and tidier if doing it yourself. Keep the shape squoval for a chic, clean finish.

This is the nail you would wear on a gallery opening or a dinner with your friends when you want something discreet! but stylish. I wore this to a fall baby shower one time and ladies of every age complimented me, even out of work aunties were requesting names of polishes.

Rose Quartz Foil Luxe

Nude nails and foil twist; okay, this duo never fails to go stale. In this, dusty rose and mauve colors become more glamorous by the addition of gold foil on some of the nails. The uneven spacing of the foil helps it to be organic and near painterly. It is that sort of look that appears so very organized yet artsy and crafty.

On the basis of shades Essie Eternal Optimist or Zoya Pandora will be desired. In the case of foil, use real nail art foil flakes, the ones sold by Orly or Born Pretty are the best. They grip best in slightly tacky polish which is sealed with 2 coats of topcoat.

Pro tip from celeb nail artist Gina Edwards? Use tweezers and avoid excess foil- allow negative space to breathe. That advice changed how I foil forever.

Manicure loves I this September transition weeks, the moody weather and wardrobe goes hand-in-hand with moody manicures. It goes great with trench coats, dusty pink knits and oversized scarves.

Olive French With Botanical Punch

Here’s a look that blends structure with softness. The base is muted olive French tips with the ring finger embellished with a complete leafy treatment on a nude base. The finish is fussy and illustrative–like botany drawing inked on your nail. The color pairing is more modern and surprising, all in all a complete statement and none the less wearable.

This is one of the looks you want to master particularly to get that nude look right and the first thing you will need is a sheer nude base such as Essie Mademoiselle. Striping tape/freehand French tips in OPI Suzi – the first lady of nails. The green art works much better with micro brush and jet black polish or gel liner, Beetles Gel Liner Set would be good to start with.

What I like about this is that it seems so graphic. At one of the fashion events in SoHo I was wearing a similar style and it seemed to me as though my nails were part of my outfit, and not an afterthought. This is the one to make your nails feel done up as opposed to simply being polished.

Pop Art Meets Luxe Neutrals

So now we finish, on a wild note,–abstract, graphic, cheeky. The pairing of pop art hearts, gold squiggles, checkerboard, polka dot, and negative space incorporate the neutral foundation in this design. It’s maximalism done tastefully. The little nods to trends past and present (checker nails, squiggles, red accents) make it a living Pinterest board.

Honestly, this is a choose-your-own-adventure mani. You will have to acquire a nude base such as Topless & Barefoot by Essie, and some thick colors; e.g. Flame-Boyant by China Glaze and Mellow Yellow by Sally Hansen, and opaque gels in white and black. Do the designs using detail brushes or do something hybrid and add in nail stickers.

The trick here? Balance. Alternate a bold nail with a neutral one. Have fun with texture and the pattern but make the layout purposeful. Nail artist Natalie Minerva (from Euphoria) once said, “Chaos works — as long as you control the ratio.”

This one’s for the creative souls. The fashion girls. Those that like a bit of tomfoolery with their mocha. If that’s you? Book it, babe.

Golden Garden Vines

This is a girlfriend manicure- sheer magic -jewelry on your nails. Golden vines, mingled with small green leaves, with the stonies of soft crystal connecting at every point with delicate golden vines, are drawn with infinite delicacy all round each nail. The buff underlying brings out the rich details, like the big fairy-core vibes but as classy as possible. It is botanical, romantic and makes you feel like drinking a matcha sitting in a velvet cafe chair.

Creating this look requires precision. Your base will be a milky nude gel, anything like CND Bare Chemise or OPI Put It In Neutral will give you great results. To do the vines use ultrathin gold striping tape or metallic liner gel. Add tiny Swarovski crystals or high-shine rhinestones (Nail Labo has amazing quality) and a bit of green gel polish for the leaves.

This is no slap-on-Sunday-mani kind of work, this is work. But the effort shows. Artists such as Mei Kawajiri have made this kind of maximalist botanical art mainstream, and I am also a fan of the way it seamlessly mixes old school glamour and futuristic shimmer.

Mocha Curve Simplicity

There’s beauty in restraint, and this mani proves it. Deep chocolate polish on alternate nails is borne on a creamy nude base and fine curved lines are drawn across the surface like a line drawing in minimal sculpture. It’s modern, chic, and endlessly wearable. And in case your fall wardrobe inclinations are free of bright colors and loose shapes this match is your best friend.

For the tones, Essie’s Wild Nude or Zoya’s Avery works for the base, paired with a rich espresso brown like OPI’s That’s What Friends Are Thor. The swooping lines, done with a fine liner brush and a steady hand, are meant to alternate slightly in curve placement nail to nail to give things a natural feeling.

I love this look for its architecture. It is quiet yet makes a statement- the kind of thing that looks just as perfect carrying a hot latte as a leather clutch. Less trend-chasing, more timeless polish (literally).

Twilight Florals & Navy

This appearance instantly called up dusky skies and fading dusk. Navy nails are strong pillars of the set, but two carrying nails flower moody florals using dark red, burnt orange, and desaturated blue. It is beautifully contrasted with light and dark, matte and shiny that it stands out as a favorite design but does not seem too heavy as it goes into the rich autumn colors.

To dupe: begin with OPIs Russian Navy or Essies Style Cartel. As far as the floral art is concerned, you can paint freehand with brushes or layered stamping plates containing colors such as Zoya Sailor, OPI Yank My Doodle and Essie fire My Forever Yummy. To allow the flowers to breath, pick a creamy nude or blush pink foundation.

This style really feels like wearing art. I would combine it with dark denims, comfortable wraps, and few gold blings. This is one of my staples to look my usual put-together but not over-done best.

Celestial Marble Swirl

Welcome to the galaxy the manicure is pure nebula magic. Navy blue and mustard colors churn and churn into clouds of molten skies speckled with light and stars. The aesthetic is texturally dimensional, exuberant and has a hand made feel to it like it was painted on by a goddess in the cosmos. It goes there but it is wearable with visual texture that transforms nails into mini universes.

To do this, apply translucent shades over this, -blend blue, mustard, cream and a bit of black polish with clear topcoat to give that marbled glass look. The best bases are ILNP, Sirius and Holo Taco, Indigo Away. Swirl the colors wet-on-wet using a fine-tipped brush and tap in white dots to represent stars then seal using a gloss coat.

One expert, celebrity manicurist Brittney Boyce, says to paint chrome shimmer on top of your base, as a way to achieve that otherworldly gleam. It’s a little trick that brings unexpected depth.

I would wear this to a night market or a rooftop bar. It is played with no-nonsense swagger and it is also cool, confident, and unapologetically extra in all the best ways.

Peppermint & Plum Waves

That swirly-abstracty design is some sort of late-September warm sunset in bottle-form of mani. Brightly colored plums, muted corals and lilacs are run in waves of fluidity on a sheer nude foundation. There are also some black speckles that help things to be playful and earth-based. It’s both retro and futuristic — graphic but soft.

You will require a neutral gel base such as Butter London sheer wisdom. For the waves, pick colors like OPI’s Grandma Kissed A Gaucho (plum), Essie’s Coral Coast, and Zoya’s Perrie. With a thin liner brush, apply swooping curves in more than one color. The speckled bits? You can add a sparkle of some micro-glitter or apply something such as a polish like Speckle Effect of Cirque.

This style is playful -not in a fashionable way. It has a freedom to it, the kind of style that makes you want to pull out that statement ring you keep saving for “the right outfit.” Spoiler: this is the outfit.

Rosé & Ruby Sparkle Mix

This is your fix when you need it all bold color, softness and some sparkle. It is deep ruby reds, ballet pinks, metallic gold glitter and then the champagne and sequin-dipping finale on the manicure part. It is the ideal party roll, combining an old fashion gentlemanliness trimmed with just enough hedonist glitz–in a smell of the earth September.

You will need to grab a deep red of Zoya-Sansa, pink of Essie- Minimalistic or Ballet Slippers and a healthy dose of glitter topcoat, something like OPI- This Gown Needs a Crown or China Glaze- Gold Digger. Finally, add a couple of chunky glitter flakes on the accent nail -do that when your polish is still tacky as it will Embed into it nicely.

Whether it is brunch or bachelorette weekends, this mani works! It is just wearable glam, nothing over-stylized, smart enough dress up and down combinations that blend well. The combination of this pair of clothes pulled my denim jacket up a notch when I had worn it last fall.

Glitzy Leopard Luxe

Leopard print, but with a twist. And this mani is in all the drama: black and brown animal print spots over a sheer nude base that is finished with gold foil and shimmery jewels. It’s daring without being costume-y — and honestly? It’s giving runway energy.

Start with Essie’s Bare With Me for the base. With the leopard print, take a dotting tool or nail stamp -shades such as OPI Espresso Your Inner Self and Licorice are good. The gold is flake or sticker based and you can use tiny rhinestones in the middle of each spot to level it up.

This one is for the wild at heart. Think leather boots, statement earrings, and a dark lip. It is a style that is head turning, but does not seem styled. I would dress this to a rooftop night out or a fashion week party.

Merlot Lines & Gold Cut

Red wine would be a manicure of this nature. Coarsely bold merlot diagonals slide in stark contrast over nude grounds, with thin, sparkly gold nuances in between. The harsh geometric disparity feels very extended and clean and looks really great on the nail, groomed, strategic and completely in vogue with the september nails design fall trend of 2025.

To re-create it, go to OPI Malaga Wine, and Essie Mademoiselle. Spray metallic gold striping tape or gel liner- I prefer those by Nail Labo or the ones sold by The Gel Bottle. A liner brush gives you control over the angles. Almond-shaped nails carry this look best.

This one is confidence in polish form. Its got an attitude of I own this meeting but it still plays with fashion. I had something like a wine sampling and I found myself being the deliverer of nail tips rather than of wine reviews. No regrets.

Soft Garden Sparkle

It is a floral fantasy in manicure terms: subtle black branched leaves ending in pink glitter petal-like flowers on a sweet blush pink ground. The glitter is so delicate and so well positioned it is akin to dewdrops in the morning dew. It’s romantic, polished, and just a little magical.

Apply a base: use Zoya Dot or OPI Baby Take a Vow. Use a thin brush and black gel for the branches, then dab micro-glitter (like Holo Taco’s Aurora Unicorn Skin) at the tips. You are also able to increase the glow by using iridescent rhinestones.

That is the perfect look in early September when summer is still up your sleeves but fall is begging in your scarves. I have gone to a bridal shower in this set and people have asked me whether I was wearing a press-on set it looked so good.

Whispering Autumn Branches

Let’s end on something soft and poetic. Most beautiful are the abstract, flowing branches with little warm fleshy leaves in russet, mustard and chocolate, painted glazes on milky beige ground. Even in the negative space it suddenly gets fallish: minimal, airy, quietly stunning.

A sheer base with a neutral beige color such as Essie Bare It All will be required. For the leaves, use a tiny detail brush and fall shades — OPI’s Sun, Sea and Sand in My Pants (mustard), Essie’s Playing Koi (rust), and a deep brown. Go slow — the charm is in the delicacy.

I think of pressed leaves in a journal, or a walk along crunchy forest byways in this design. It is calming, toned down and to be frank, one of those easy wear styles throughout the whole season. I use it on ordinary occasions that nevertheless want some dash of beauty.

Soft Mocha Branches and Cozy Knit Vibes

A brown and cream color scheme is softly lavish in its way when the fall arrives. These almond-shaped nails combine shades of glossy caramel and latte, thin line drawn branches on a milky base- each twist of the branches provides somber moods in the early of September. It’s minimal, but not plain. Elegant, but not precious. I like how the line work is similarly playful in imitating the nakedness of fall trees but in a palatable, nearing Scandinavian control.

For the accent nails you will need a creamy neutral such as OPI 2004 Samoan Sand or My Vampire is Buff and a cinnamon brown gel by Essie such as Clothing Optional or Zoya Louise on the solids. In terms of the branch art, I actually use a micro nail art brush and black-brown gel paint personally- it is not as harsh as a true black and is easier to combine with warm tones.

To re-create this at home I would apply two coats of your solid brown on the outer nails and leave to dry completely eg. gel. With the accents, establish a soft almond foundation in two coats of your creamy neutral and use a fine liner brush to sketch out the branch lines. Dot with a dotting tool the soft amber on the buds. Finish everything with a super-glossy top coat. Even when you are not an art person, the design is so forgiving- it loves asymmetry.

This is a combination I would literally wear to a fall wedding or out to Trader Joe to buy pumpkin bread mix. I attempted something about like that last year and was asked where I got them done-when in actuality I was in my pajamas and a cabinet, drinking wine and painting each small branch as I binge watched The Bear. Totally worth it.

Blue Florals on Porcelain White

Who said florals were only for spring? This collection turns that legend on its ear with fresh white bases and insubstantial blue wildflowers whose petals are washed in watercolor lightness. Got gold foil as well–drifting like leaves blowing in the early sunlight. The whole look is dreamy, poetic, and quietly attention-grabbing.

Milky White Beetles Gel Polish would be the base and the hand paintings would be floral using blue gradation throughout with Modelones in Sky Garden as well as dark green liner gel on the stems. In the case of the foil, the pressed sheets of gold leaf randomly when the top coat is sticky works.

There’s something about blue flowers that makes people pause. Perhaps, it is due to the fact that they are rare in nature- or due to the fact that they remind of cool breeze and cool thoughts. Whichever way, I feel that this outfit will be perfect in that in-between time when summer is not far gone and fall has just begun to take its place.

Wine-Dipped Tips with Gilded Leaf Foil

Deep burgundy paired with gold? A September classic- and this is the modern twist with negative space and foil stamped leaf silhouette. The nails are almost like mini abstract paintings with the half-moon shaped wine tips that have inserted French twist without taking it to the extreme French phase.

To create this appearance, apply a layer of nude-pink such as Butter London pigment Yummy Mummy or Bio Seaweed Gel Breeze). On the wine red, use the OPI color, Malaga Wine, which is as good a deep red as you can find. The foil stickers or the hand-painted golden leaves may be stuck using metallic transfer foil and sealed using gel top coat to bring out the optimum effect.

Frankly speaking, I adore how this design transforms your nails into a piece of jewels. I brought a very similar outfit with me on a trip to New York last fall, and it gave my puffer jacket the best outfit of all.

Cow Print Accent with Cabernet Glam

It itching to play with fall colors, but still have that whimsical feeling? Then this mixed-and-matched set finds the right balance. There are cabernet gloss, blush pinks, one cow print nail that feels a bit Western and editorial. It’s bold but still super wearable—especially with sweaters or suede textures in your outfit.

I prefer to apply a high-coverage white 1 coat such as Alpine Snow by OPI with a nail art brush dotting any random shapes of brown color using That s What Friends are Thor or even a a chocolate gel pot with Kokoist. The rest of the nails should be in gel finish, glossy cabernet and neutral blush to contrast.

There’s a quiet confidence to this kind of design. It’s cheeky but still feels curated. I am seeing this print all over Pinterest in nail salons and I ALWAYS re-save. Like, always.

Neon Curve Stripes on Blush Base

This one is September in LA kind of weather –the calendar says fall but the sun is still blazing. This is held down by a blush-nude base, and the acid-yellow curves create a surprise by moving. It is sort of retro, sort of mod and completely modern.

A sheer pink base will be necessary–I used Ballet Slippers by Essie and it was perfect. On the neon, I would either use ORLY Glowstick or striping tapes and bright yellow gel polish to obtain nice clean swoop.

This design is perfect for the transition season. It allows you to carry your spirit of summer without having to fight with it in the fall wardrobe. Last year I wore something similar and I matched it with a camel blazer and neon sneakers. It weirdly worked.