41 Fall Nail Designs That Will Excite You For Cooler Weather

There’s something magical about fall nail designs. Maybe it’s our autumn biases (give us cozy sweater weather, apple picking, foliage, Halloween, and pre-holiday excitement over non-stop sweating and humidity any day), but these seasonal manicure trends tend to be some of our favorites.

This fall season calls upon the color palette we’ve come to associate with cooler weather, such as burgundy, chocolate brown, burnt orange, and deep earth tones. You can also expect to see metallic details and loads of rhinestones and other jeweled embellishments to dress up all of your fall manicures.

As with any nail art, the best fall nail is the one you fall in love with. But if you’re looking for a place to help spark that creativity, then you’ve come to the right spot. Below are 41 fall nail art ideas for you to try once the weather cools. Read on and find the one you’ll be taking to your manicurist post-Labor Day.

Coming for almond nails’ crown, celebrity nail artist Gina Edwards predicts that everyone will be opting for a more angular cut when it comes to their nail shape. Opt for 90s-inspired square nails to make a bold statement this fall.

It doesn’t get more ‘90s than the classic French manicure. For the fall French manicure autumn nails, opt for a micro tip on a square nail for a more minimal feel that feels chic and clean. We’re also fans of a two-toned look, like this purple and lilac combo.

Intricate and a total conversation starter, celebrity nail artist Betina R. Goldstein says that 3D sculpture nail art will be everywhere this fall. For a DIY nail, Goldstein recommends using sculpting gel and the Navy Professional Beauty Tools Iris Mixing Spatula to easily shape and mold the gel into your desired look.

These striped and colored billiard balls make for a fun and sporty nail look. We especially like these intricate decals to dress up a bare nail.

It’s easy to become obsessed with jelly nails; their translucent nature is just so fun. Edwards likes to go for warm shades for the fall season from Essie’s Jelly Gloss collection to get that see-through glass effect. “It’s perfect to layer or wear alone,” she says.

These sheer bubblegum pink nails have a sweet blushing effect that takes the jelly nail to a whole other level. It also makes for a perfect everyday look that matches everything.

One can never go with aura nails. But for this fall, celebrity manicurist Brittney Boyce says to go dark and opt for cozier and cooler colors. And if you’re looking for a tool to make that ombré effect with ease, she recommends using something like Aprés Nail’s Aer Gel Machine. It’s so easy to use, even beginners can master it pretty quickly.

A deep fuchsia aura makes for an alluring autumn nail on its own, but we love the abstract lines layered on top to make it even more enticing. And if there’s any look that makes for the perfect Halloween nail, this would be our top choice.

The beauty-as-food trend takes a bit of a more literal translation this fall. Goldstein predicts that people will be playing with fruit art and designs this season, going for fall and winter delectable adaptations.

Why settle on one food when you can have it all? Take some inspo from your favorite farmer’s market and draw on minimal fruit decals of your favorites against a bare nail for a chic minimal nail.

Nothing says fall vibes like a deep burgundy shade. Edwards loves a wine-colored nail for every trend, from cat-eye jelly nails or even just a simple full-coverage look.

Looking for an easy way to spice up your mani? Play with different tones of wine-colored nails and layer on geometric shapes.

Elevate a classic French top by giving your tips a shiny chrome effect. Because chrome can be quite difficult to do on your own, Boyce recommends using something like Aprés Nail’s New Year Wishes, which has silver foil glitter to give that metallic feel.

Tap into your inner ‘70s wild child and get groovy with your chrome French mani. We’re obsessed with these disco French tips to dress up any nail look.

Striking the perfect balance between minimal and striking, this negative space French mani is a look we’ll be coming back to often. Use a silver metallic shimmer to outline the tips against a bare base so that it really pops.

Go bold and loud this fall. All experts agree that fall is the perfect season to indulge in embellished nail looks. Edwards recommends using KISS press ons to achieve these looks easily at home. Something like KISS Majestic Nails have pretty bow and jewel decals for a really pretty look.

Nothing says maximalist quite like bold jewel decals. Use an emerald-like stone as the focal point and adorn it with small embellishments for an ultra-glam and fabulous mani.

Speaking of maximalist art, Boyce loves adding charms to your mani for a cool and edgy vibe. She once used gothic details on Megan Fox’s long, dark nails to elevate a classic black mani.

Another creation for Megan Fox, Boyce adds dangling charms to the tips of Fox’s long metallic nails. These are just super fun.

Goldstein is a huge fan of jelly nails for fall and says to go for a fun tortoiseshell brown. To get this look, she recommends mixing two parts of the Chanel Le Gel Coat Longwear Top Coat and one part of the Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Faun to get that glass like effect. She also recommends using a flat brush, like her Doublemoss Arte Y brush, to evenly distribute color onto the nail.

A soft pastel baby blue makes for a nice contrast to the amber shade of a classic tortoiseshell nail design. Mix and match a French tip to give your mani an unexpected pop of color.

Another jelly shade Goldstein loves for the cooler weather is a bright green. Her pick is Chanel’s newest polish shade, Rêveuse. “This is an apple-green hue that is mixed with the perfect balance of metallics, making it such an electrifying shade,” she says.

We think about this Hailey Bieber nail look often and thank the beauty gods it’s right on trend for the autumn season. Dress it up with abstract metallic lines on top for an out-of-this-world mani.

Majestic and mysterious, there’s nothing like a deep blue shade for fall. Goldstein recommends using something Pleasing’s Hairy Mermaid. “It’s a rich, vibrant cobalt blue that takes every look to the next level,” she says.

Inspired by that magical moment when the sun’s horizon reflects on the water right at sunset, this mani is whimsical and bright. Grab a light blue metallic for your base and draw on a minimal earth-toned terracotta for a lovely mixture.

Goldstein also thinks bug nail art will be huge in the fall. And it’s looking like the only bugs we may not be afraid of are these adorable beetle designs. Place them against a bare nail so they really pop.

For a less scary insect to wear on your manis, try an adorable ladybug against a bare nail. Minimally chic and plus, ladybugs are known for being lucky, and we’re all about manifesting some good energy.

Shiny gold and silver details are some of Goldstein’s favorite nail art for the next season. She says that you can use real silver or gold charms for decor or use a sculpting gel and chrome powder in silver or gold to get that metallic effect.

Last year at the Spring Summer 2024 Prabal show, Edwards created this abstract golden French tip. Forgoing the typical rounded tip, she instead gave it a drip effect to elevate the look. Catch us with these nails all of fall 2025 and beyond.

Jelly nails have been a highlight for 2025, says Edwards, and will continue to be so as the year goes on. For this year’s autumn nail art ideas, she recommends opting for a caramel tint to your jelly nails for a fun, cozy neutral.

French manis are always fun, but nothing hits like an embellished detail. Edwards says to take some inspo for Dua Lipa’s recent gold-studded tips. Grab a kit like the Perfection in the KISS Masterpiece Collection that has added embellishment along the tips and the base of a bare nail.

If you’re thinking about nail shapes for fall, Edwards recommends going for short square nails. “[They] will be a hot shape in the fall, providing more of a minimalistic approach,” she says.

Celebrity nail artist Yoko Sakakura loves an animal print for fall, especially a tortoise shell design. Sakakura says to use something like Essie’s Cargo Cameo for a rich brown base before mixing in darker shades to get that tortoise shell effect. We love the micro French black tip for a nice added touch.

Sakakura also loves a cheetah design for fall. One of her pro DIY fall nail techniques advice: start with a good base, like the OPI Samoan Sand, before drawing on your print. You can opt for full coverage or line the outside of the nails with the design for something more dynamic.

Polka dots have taken over our summers, and we’re willing to bet they’ll be everywhere for fall too. We love these Yayoi Kasuma-esque French tips for something really fun.

There’s no denying that sports-themed beauty is something that everyone can enjoy, even if you’re not one to count down the days until the US Open or stress over your picks for fantasy football. And no easier way than to show some team spirit than a fun nail look. If you don’t know what team to root for, abide by you can either follow my lead and wear anything Lakers-themed or pick the team with your favorite colors.

Described by celebrity nail artist Betina R. Goldstein as a “lip gloss tint” for your nails, rosewater nails are a pretty translucent pink shade that works for any occasion. As for celebrity manicurist tips to get the look, Goldstein once told Vogue to apply a thin layer of a sheer cream color for your base and add the sheer pink on top.

This fall calls for pearl embellishments to dress up a basic mani. Opt for a metallic chrome base for the pearl details to really pop.

Celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik once told Vogue that soap nails were going to trend big as the year went on. If you’re looking for a minimal vibe, this is summer mani is one you can take with you well into the fall. “This is all about the cleanest, freshest manicure that looks like it’s straight out of a spa day,” he said.

Have a beauty or wellness trend you’re curious about? We want to know! Send Vogue’s senior beauty wellness editor an email at beauty@vogue.com.