My Favorite Nail Looks of the Week Have a Little Fall Magic

I could happily spend the rest of October writing about fall nails, which is convenient because that’s technically part of my job. Choosing just a handful to feature each week is the harder part. This week, a tiny fall picnic painted across ten fingertips had me zooming in to appreciate every detail. Then I saw a witchy purple manicure that looked like something Gillian Owens would wear in Practical Magic. I’ll be needing the exact shade ASAP, obviously.

There’s a little Halloween anticipation creeping into this week’s picks, and I’m very much encouraging it. The blood red nail art is especially good. But I also have a soft spot for the Bambi-inspired set below, and anyone who prefers their seasonal references a little less obvious should take a closer look at the zebra print. All nine looks are below, and yes, I’m using my job as an excuse to get very carried away with fall beauty trends.

Fall Picnic

This is everything I love about fall squeezed into one manicure. The tiny apples! The plaid! There’s so much going on, but the colors pull it all together. I’d happily let my nail artist choose a different design for each finger if this were the result.

Bambi, Baby

Zola Ganzorigt—i.e., every celeb's fav nail artist—gave Khloé Kardashian these Bambi-inspired nails, and the little white spots against that warm brown are almost too cute.

Love at First Bite

My kind of Halloween nails. The deep red bleeds into a sheer base for a finish that’s a little sinister, especially on those pointed tips. If you’re already loyal to a dark red manicure, this is a good way to get more adventurous with it.

Heavy Metal

Leave it to celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein to make nail piercings look this chic. A bit of silver hardware is all this otherwise simple manicure needs—I’d skip the rings for once and let the piercings have their moment.

Under a Spell

These almost look enchanted. Something about the shimmer in that deep blue with the tiny gems scattered over it—I can’t stop looking.

Star Studded

I usually prefer smaller nail art, but these oversized black stars have my attention. They're a good option if you’re a little over the usual French tip.

Practical Magic

The polish is Manucurist’s Mystic, in case you were wondering. It was included in a selection of shades Gillian Owens from Practical Magic would wear, and I fully agree with this particular choice. Such a good witchy purple.

Chic Zebra

You could almost miss the zebra stripes at first glance, which is exactly what I like about them. With the pattern kept this subtle on short nails, I’d wear it as casually as my usual solid color.

Autumnal Stained Glass

Now this is the level of detail I’m willing to sit in a salon for. The metallic outlines curve around patches of rich brown and copper, giving the set that stained-glass effect. It's like a gorgeous fall landscape.

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