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Nail Color Trends for Fall and Winter

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Duke chapter.

Take it from the pros at fashion week: a look is never complete without the proper coat of polish on your fingernails.  And while your nails, unlike most other fashion choices, do not need to be dictated by the weather or the temperature outside, it is always fun to change up the look of your nails and experiment with the trends of the season.
For inspiration, here’s a closer look at the nail trends for this fall/winter season:
 

Denim blues
: This season, blue is not just for your jeans.  While not as adaptable as other colors, blues are nonetheless a great way to add playfulness to an ensemble.  In terms of the shade you choose, with this trend, anything goes.  Navy blue, royal blue, sky blue—they’re all on trend and they all look great (just make sure to avoid Carolina Blue)!!
 
Just gray: Not “greige”, not purple-gray, not gray with any tint whatsoever–just gray.  This color is surprisingly versatile and chic, and like blue, there are many shades of gray to play with.  A light gray shade is a fantastic neutral for your nails because it is so understated; however, it makes a slightly louder statement than a nude color since it contrasts with your skin tone.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, a darker gray shade will stand out more, but is still more versatile than black and is flattering on any skin tone.
 

Shiny metallics: The nail polish-obsessed always goes wild when Chanel releases its colors for the season, and the reveal of the metallic shades last spring was no exception.  Chanel’s “Quartz”, “Graphite”, and “Peridot” flew off the shelves and were sold out nationwide days after their release.  These shades are fabulous examples of this funky trend that can work for a number of occasions.  A muted gold shade in particular is great for classier occasions, whereas a darker graphite looks extremely edgy.

Nude nails: This trend was big this past summer, and apparently it is here to stay.  Perhaps the most versatile nail trend of them all, nude-colored nails literally go with any outfit and are appropriate for any occasion.  In addition, since the shade blends with your skin color, it can actually elongate fingers.  The trick when opting for a nude nail is to be sure to select the shade that matches your exact skin tone; otherwise the elongation trick won’t work and you could be left with nails that clash with your natural color.
 
Always on trend: While not every fashion magazine or style expert would agree, I am from the camp that believes red nails are always on trend.  Red nails are both iconic and classic, and look gorgeous with both casual and elegant ensembles.  If you want to adapt your red nails to be more season-appropriate, go for a darker shade of red in the fall and winter.

 
Photo sources:
Blue Polish: http://www.essie.com/shop/bobbing-for-baubles-p-400.html
 
Metallic Polish: http: //www.fluxmagazine.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CHANEL-AW11-Le-Vernis…
 
Red Polish: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SjOxdLo6TV8/TCZWYzlCtaI/AAAAAAAAAFI/Tzh4puyhQq…

Betty Liu is a senior at Duke University where she is majoring in Biomedical Engineering.  Although her main interests lie in bioengineering, she loves keeping up with the latest trends on Duke's campus. Also, she enjoys learning about new music, reading and travelling around the world. One of her life dreams is to go to all seven continents! So far, she has been to four.