Get cute fall nail polish ideas to mix and match here. There’s no better time of year to wear warm and cozy fall nail colors than when sweater weather arrives. You’ll get trendy inspiration from an art studio to color seasons (soft, warm, and dark autumn), back-to-school, dark academia, pumpkin spice lattes, Gilmore Girls, and Halloween. Pick your favorite autumn color theme and wear it well!
New Fall Nail Polish Ideas Inspired by an Art Studio
What’s nice about Olive & June’s new fall 2024 “studio” collection is that it works for both cool and warm undertones.
If you’re warm-toned, Girl With the Pearl Nail Polish and Museum Date are best for you. Museum Date is actually my favorite brown shade to date! The remainder works best for cool-toned people.
From left to right:
- Girl With the Pearl Nail Polish: iridescent sheer pearl
- Sculpture Wing: cool lavender neutral
- Self Portrait: cool pastel blue-grey
- Still Life of Flowers: cool mossy green
- Patron of the Arts: dusty deep rose
- Garnet Glass: deep scarlet jelly
- Museum Date: shimmery chocolate brown
(You can also top these shades with the ever-popular Pink Goldfish nail polish!)
Fall Lifestyle Tip: While you can buy the nail polish of your choice separately, you can get 20% off with my code OJJULIANNEB20 when you purchase any Olive & June system. The Fall mani system contains all the tools you need to achieve that salon-quality look and feel, PLUS a limited edition plaid print box and pouch.
Colors For Soft, Warm/True, and Deep/Dark Autumn Color Seasons
This curation of autumn nail colors is meant for those who “autumns” per the color season analysis.
The color season analysis determines which colors best complement an individual’s natural skin tone, hair color, and eye color, categorizing them into one of three sections in four seasonal palettes—spring, summer, autumn, or winter. This helps people choose clothing and makeup that enhance their coloring.
I’ve studied the color seasons for a few years now and curated five fall shades for each of the three sections in the autumn color season.
Soft Autumn
Soft autumns typically have a warm, medium to light complexion with a soft, beige or tan undertone. They often have a gentle, slightly muted appearance. Hair is usually light to medium brown or auburn, often with subtle highlights, and it tends to be softer and less intense in color. Eyes can be hazel, light brown, or green, often warm and muted. Giselle Bundchen and Gigi Hadid are good examples.
Complimentary colors are warm, muted, and earthy. From top to bottom on the image above:
- Lipstick Stain: deep berry
- Southwest: warm terracotta
- Coffee Milk: creamy tan
- Sagey: herby mid-tone green
- Vintage: vintage denim blue
Warm/True Autumn
Warm/true autumns typically have a warm, medium to deep complexion with golden or olive undertones. The skin typically looks sun-kissed. Hair ranges from deep brown to rich auburn, often with warm highlights. Eyes are warm brown, deep green, or golden hazel. Jennifer Lopez, Julianne Moore, and Jenna Fischer are good examples.
Complimentary colors are more rich in appearance but still warm and earthy. From top to bottom on the image above:
- Cozy Up: warm brick red with a touch of brown
- Penny: copper metallic
- Caramel Budino: toasty caramel toffee brown
- WKF: mossy green
- Social Studies: sunbleached navy
Deep/Dark Autumn
Deep/dark autumns usually have a warm complexion with rich, dark undertones. Hair is often very dark brown or black with warm undertones. Eyes are dark brown, deep hazel, or very dark green and appear intense. Victoria Beckham, Eva Mendez, and Natalie Portman are good examples, as am I!
Complimentary colors are warm, rich, and deep. From top to bottom on the image above:
- Cabernet: dark plummy wine red
- Flowerpot: burnt orange terracotta
- JJ: cinnamon brown
- Geometry: hunter green
- Make a Res: rich dark navy
Simple Back-to-School Nails
If you’re heading to class this fall, check out Olive & June’s “back to school” collection and have fun with these muted shades inspired by all your favorite classes.
Since I am a warm-toned deep autumn color season, Geometry and Chemistry work best for me. If you have blue undertones, the remaining shades will work best for you.
From left to right:
- Social Studies: sunbleached navy
- Geometry: hunter green
- Art Class: muted eggplant
- World Lit: true mauve
- Study Hall: vintage rose
- Chemistry: almond cream
Dark Academia Nails
The dark academia aesthetic is a popular trend for fall. It romanticizes vintage academic life, featuring dark and moody, muted tones such as deep browns, blacks, and rich burgundies.
Since I love vampy nail polish colors, these are some of my all-time favorites. They will take you right through winter!
From left to right:
- Obsessed: dark ruby
- It’s Actually Dark Green: almost black dark polish that’s *actually* a really dark green
- Plaza: deep mulberry purple
- Make a Res: rich dark navy
- CN: silky sable brown
- SD: edgy, sophisticated plum (reminiscent of OPI’s popular Lincoln Park After Dark)
Nail Ombre Inspired by a Pumpkin Spice Latte
Nothing says fall like a PSL, so this Olive & June “pumpkin spice latte” collection is a must. While you can play around with these fall nail polish ideas, I recommend you paint HGC on your pinkies and thumbs, then the other three shades on your other three fingers on each hand. It will look so autumnal when you’re holding your coffee cup.
From left to right:
- JJ: cinnamon brown
- MG: terracotta orange
- JO: dusty apricot
- HGC: creamy neutral
Gilmore Girls Nails
Fall is the best time to watch Gilmore Girls, so I wanted to celebrate the popular autumn shades from this cozy show, including fall themes like coffee, school, and festivals.
Inspired by Luke’s Diner, from left to right:
- Bright & Focused: beaming yellow
- Cozy Up: warm brick red with a touch of brown
Inspired by Back-to-School at Chilton and Yale, from left to right:
- HD: clean, crisp white
- Social Studies: sunbleached navy
Inspired by Fall Festivals, from left to right:
- Coffee Milk: creamy tan
- Southwest: warm terracotta
- JJ: cinnamon brown
Halloween Nails
Halloween nails are such a fun, low-effort way to celebrate spooky season! I curated some bright and bold colors for you to mix and match, or even create nail art with.
From left to right:
- HD: clean, crisp white
- You’re a 10: bold and juicy tangerine
- Our House: stadium grey
- Lime Fizz: electric lime green
- Fierce & Loving: fresh lilac
- E+M: highly pigmented deep black
Why You’ll Love Olive & June Nail Polish
Since I’m an Olive & June ambassador and only use their nail products exclusively, I am focusing on their products for these autumn nail ideas. Their collections are so thoughtful, and their products enable you to DIY a salon-quality mani and/or pedi.
Olive & June is known for their SUPER long-lasting nail polish (with their bestselling top coat) to achieve a salon-quality manicure at home for a fraction of the cost. I started using their mani system and pedi system when quarantines hit in 2020, and I never returned to the salon again.
Now, I dive into my kits every Friday night with an audiobook and a glass of wine at *exactly* 5 pm.
Olive & June also boasts the following accolades:
- vegan products
- cruelty-free products
- non-toxic products
- Press on nails from 94% post-consumer recycled materials and non-damaging glue
- Allure Best of Beauty winner (cuticle serum and nail polish remover pot)
- woman-owned business
Discount code: You can use my code OJJULIANNEB20 for 20% off your purchase of any Olive & June system.
(For more info, check out my review of the Olive & June mani system and/or my review of the Olive & June pedi system.)
Frequently Asked Questions
For fall, trending nail polish colors include sophisticated shades of deep gray, earthy green, and warm mauve. These colors reflect the season and also offer versatility for an understated look.
In September, popular nail colors include warm shades of purple, deep blue, and muted green. These colors showcase the transition from summer to fall. Warm and earthy reds and neutrals are also popular.
For fall, opt for toenail polish in warm coffee and deep wine shades. These colors complement the season’s rich, cozy aesthetic and add a sophisticated touch to your autumn look.
Conclusion
As the leaves change this fall, our Fall nail polish ideas, too, deserve a seasonal makeover. From warm autumnal shades to cozy neutrals, fall offers a rich palette of inspiration, from back-to-school to Halloween and beyond. Choose a seasonal theme above, then mix and match the recommended shades within that theme.
If you’re still undecided, you can’t go wrong with the ever-popular “pumpkin spice latte” look, which works for Halloween too!
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New customers can save 20% off Olive & June systems with code OJJULIANNEB20.
