The 25 Prettiest Nail Colors Fashion People Won't Stop Wearing

Selecting the right nail polish shade can be challenging, especially when standing before a wall of shade selections. Do you want to go bold and bright or quiet and versatile? Is it complementary to your skin tone? Does a higher price always mean a high-quality product? Luckily, there's a group of highly visible people who've built a career or based their hobby on the very notion of style: the fashion crowd. Today, we're diving into the world of street style bloggers, cool girls, and off-duty models with an eye for aesthetics when it comes to anything from the perfect wash of their denim to camera-ready manicures.

Who better to ask what nail polish shades fashion people are wearing now than the talented nail artists behind them? According to celebrity nail artists Gina Edwards and Sonya Meesh, fashion-forward clients have recently requested bright orange (particularly in jelly polishes), lavender with blue tones, vibrant fuchsia, rosy pinks, and electric greens. You've heard it here first; it's time to retire your sheer shades and break out the eye-catching pigments. For fashion people this season, the brighter, the better.

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(Image credit: @laurencrowe88)

Take Time to Prep

The secret to the perfect manicure? Prepping your nails before you ever reach for the polish. "You will never have a smooth, long-lasting manicure if you don't put in the proper work and maintenance—that means exfoliating and hydrating," explains Meesh. "Hydration and treating your nails as well as you treat your face will set you up for a long-lasting manicure." Their favorite products to ensure gorgeous nails are Orly's Cutique Cuticle and Stain Remover to remove stains and exfoliate dry skin and Dermelect's Revital-oil Nail & Cuticle Treatment.

For smooth and easy application, Edwards encourages using a ridge-filling base coat to effectively smooth out ridges and help lock in the base coat and nail polish. She also recommends carefully wiping the brush with a paper towel or pad to remove lint or air particles. Ready to paint? Scroll on for some inspo from our nail artists and favorite fashion people. Believe me: You'll want to screenshot these!

Fashion-Forward Nail Polish Shades

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1. Tangerine
(Image credit: @laurencrowe88)

According to celebrity nail artists, orange is in for spring and summer. We'll reach for this creamy tangerine shade inspired by Lauren Crowe's manicure.

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2. Matcha Green
(Image credit: @devapollon)

It's important to eat your greens, but it's more fun to wear them. New York City–based content creator Devin Arielle shows us how by matching her vibrant matcha nails to her outfit.

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3. Magenta
(Image credit: @amaka.hamelijnck)

Above, Amaka Hamelijnck sports magenta nails with delicate floral detailing on the pinky and index fingers. Edwards says she's seen a major rise in fuchsia shades.

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4. Mellow Yellow
(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

What better way to celebrate the arrival of warm weather than by diving into sunny hues? A color like Essie's All Fun & Games complements all skin tones.

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5. Muted Peach
(Image credit: @nailsbyzola)

It's been months since Kylie Jenner was spotted with this sweet peach manicure, and I'm still in love with it. I'll definitely be re-creating it with ILNP's Sunny Days.

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6. Strawberry Milk
(Image credit: @laurencrowe88)

Don't worry, neutral lovers. Barely there polish shades are also on the rise. Crowe's pretty pink manicure is a simple and effective way to keep your nails looking chic.

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7. Cognac
(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

Bright nail colors may be everywhere among the fashion crowd in the coming months, but so will earth tones. If you're not ready to wear a cowgirl hat quite yet, brown-orange nail polish may be the way to go.

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8. Daisy Yellow
(Image credit: @nailsbyzola)

Spotted: Hailey Bieber upgrading her signature "glazed donut" nails for a neon mani. While iridescent nails aren't out of style yet, yellow nails are definitely making a long-awaited comeback.

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9. Moss
(Image credit: @thatsaleaf)

Another shade on the rise? Earth green. Elif, the founder and creative director of Iriss Studio, shows us how a stylish green manicure is done.

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10. Iridescent Cream
(Image credit: @samanthea)

Fashion people across all social media platforms are leaning hard into all things iridescent. Try it yourself by opting for a shimmering manicure in neutral hues for a classic touch.

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11. Electric Cyan
(Image credit: @nailsbyzola)

While I normally gravitate toward manicures in neutral shades, I have a soft spot for bright blue once warm weather finally hits. Here, celebrity nail artist Zola Ganzorigt pairs a blush base with minimal blue nail art.

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12. Crushed Silver
(Image credit: @buffcs)

Looking for a fun way to upgrade your everyday French manicure? The fashion people on my Instagram Explore page have been spotted with metal-toned tips.

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13. Olive
(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

This one's for the people who love their nails clean and short. Take a cue from celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein, and give them a splash of color with a classic green shade.

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14. Off-White
(Image credit: @browngirlhands)

Versatile manicure looks are easier to achieve than you think—and won't clash with your outfits. A shade like Duri's White Cream is a must-have to capture all the neutral vibes.

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15. Barely There Pink
(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

Break out the pastel! Powdery-pink polishes fly off the shelves year-round, so it may be a good idea to grab your own just in case and stock up.

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16. Poppy Red
(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

Whether or not you believe in the red-nail theory that's gone viral on TikTok, red manicures are popular with the fashion crowd. Hermès Nail Enamel in the shade Orange Poppy looks nearly identical to what model Camila Morrone wears in the shot above.

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17. Sugarplum
(Image credit: @nailartbyqueenie)

I've always been a fan of iridescent nails, especially when the polish shade deviates from creamy whites or blush pinks. I'll be using Londontown's Sugarplum to bring this look to life.

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18. Nearly Nude
(Image credit: @nailartbyqueenie)

Nude pink nail polish is the manicure equivalent to the no-makeup makeup look. I love this look celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen created for Kaley Cuoco.

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19. Ocean Blue
(Image credit: @amaka.hamelijnck)

How gorgeous are these nails on Hamelijnck? As proven by this Amsterdam-based content creator, vibrant blue nail polish looks especially good when you match it to your makeup. 

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20. Gold Varnish
(Image credit: @nailsbyzola)

Fashion people have embraced gold and silver as the finishing touch to any look. Ganzorigt created this effortlessly glam manicure for Vanessa Hudgens at last year's SAG Awards.

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21. Violet
(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

Is it any surprise Edwards's celebrity clientele are in love with violet nail looks? Try Static Nails' polish in Lavender Fields to create a playful and stylish mani.

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22. Orange Marmalade
(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

Here's a great example from Goldstein of how to update a simple orange manicure with minimalist details. I can't wait to try a delicate French tip during my next trip to the salon.

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23. Juicy Plum
(Image credit: @nailartbyqueenie)

Don't wait until fall to play with purple shades for your manicures. Take this daring nail look from Nguyen, for example. It's shiny, textured, and edgy in all the best ways.

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24. Dusty Rose
(Image credit: @nailsbyzola)

If you've been searching for the perfect rose polish to pull off the quiet luxury trend that's taken over TikTok, Essie's nail polish in Final Stretch is a good place to start.

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25. Desert Orange
(Image credit: @browngirlhands)

Bring the intrigue and mystery of the desert with you wherever you go with this dusty, earth-toned orange. Our top pick to pull this look off? Ella + Mila's Sunset Escape polish.

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Maya Thomas
Assistant Beauty Editor
Maya Thomas is Who What Wear's assistant beauty editor based just outside of Seattle, Washington. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.