Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Runway Color Combinations
    • Fig Perfumes
    • A.P.C. x Gap
    • Sasha Compère
    • TWP
    1. Beauty
    2. Nails

    Trend to Try: Color-Blocked Nails

    Take a cue from the fall runways, and test out color-blocking on your fingernails. After all, Beyonce tried it!

    By Dara Adeeyo
    Published 26 June 2012 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    color blocking on nails trends
    (Image credit: Archives)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    color blocking on nails trends

    (Image credit: Archives)

    When it comes to experimenting with trends, translating them onto your nails is the best (and probably cheapest) way to get your fashion fix. From polka dots to stripes, there is no limit to nail art. Right now, I'm crazy for color-blocking. Spotted at Phillip Lim, Elie Saab, and Diane von Furstenberg, there was no shortage of fun shade combinations on the fall runways.

    Though perhaps difficult to pull off on a skirt, when applied to nails, color-blocking is easy to do and simple-looking, yet nonetheless eye-catching. You can go about it two ways: wear two colors on each nail, or paint two of five fingers a completely different color. I tend to go with the latter.

    I first experimented with this trend last summer, and instantly fell in love with the look. Sporting the perfect pair of nail lacquers is like picking a great outfit. You need to opt for colors that will complement you and each other. Beyoncé, our favorite diva, showed off a pink and orange combo during her Atlantic City performance in May, but I went with a more summer-esque duo. The white is SpaRitual White Light ($10) and the teal is Nicole By OPI My Lifesaver ($7).

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    What do you think of this look?

    Dara Adeeyo is a nail polish junkie who blogs her beauty diary on Dark Berry Beauty.

    You may like
    • Collage of blue nails with burgundy tips, autumnal watercolor nail art and eggplant nails alongside bottles of brown, pale blue and purple polish Fall Fashion's Hottest Color Combo Looks Even Better On Your Nails
    • three nail polish bottles in green, blue, and purple, along with graphic pill box nail designs in varying colors Pill Box Nails Are Just What the Doctor Ordered
    • red and white polka dot nails shot close up on a woman's hands over a checkered purse and white sweater sleeves Summer's Most Elegant Fashion Trend Looks Even Better On Your Nails
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Explore More
    Cosmetics Beyonce
    Dara Adeeyo
    Read more
    Collage of blue nails with burgundy tips, autumnal watercolor nail art and eggplant nails alongside bottles of brown, pale blue and purple polish
    Nails Fall Fashion's Hottest Color Combo Looks Even Better On Your Nails Meet the maroon and icy blue mani.
    By Siena Gagliano
    a collage of sunglasses manicures on five sets of hands with three bottles of nail polish on colorful printed fabric
    Nails NYFW Nail Trends Are Off to a Shady Start Sunglass manicures dominated at DVF.
    By Samantha Holender
     
     
    a grid design with three manicures and three bottles of nail polish
    Nails My Next Manicure Is Taking Its Cues From Stockholm Street Style Earthy tones and short shapes.
    By Siena Gagliano
    a collage of three women with dramatic makeup wearing manicures in pink, red, and chrome with close ups of manicures with bottles of nail polish
    Nails I’m Swapping My Cat Eye Nails for This Elevated Fall Alternative Glass manicures are about to be everywhere.
    By Samantha Holender
     
     
    Latest in Nails
    Collage of blue nails with burgundy tips, autumnal watercolor nail art and eggplant nails alongside bottles of brown, pale blue and purple polish
    Nails Fall Fashion's Hottest Color Combo Looks Even Better On Your Nails
    a white woman in a gold dress with dark brown hair
    Nails Selena Gomez's 2026 Emmys Manicure Is All About a "Frosted Sunset" Finish
     
     
    a grid design with three manicures and three bottles of nail polish
    Nails My Next Manicure Is Taking Its Cues From Stockholm Street Style
    a collage of sunglasses manicures on five sets of hands with three bottles of nail polish on colorful printed fabric
    Nails NYFW Nail Trends Are Off to a Shady Start
     
     
    Latest in News
    King Charles wears a red military uniform and looks concerned while standing on Buckingham Palace balcony with Queen Elizabeth II, who wears a baby blue outfit
    Royals Queen Elizabeth's Employee Revealed "Intimate Details"
    Prince William wears a flat cap with a green hooded coat to visit the Scottish island of Bute with Princess Kate
    Royals William Told Royal Fan, "Stop, You'll Make Me Blush"
     
     
    Prince Philip, Prince William, Earl Charles Spencer, Prince Harry, and King Charles walk together behind the carriage carrying the casket of Princess Diana on its way to the funeral
    Royals Philip "Overruled" Charles at Princess Diana's Funeral
    Hunter Schafer wears the Fall 2026 color combination, purple and red, for a night out at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles
    Celebrity Style Hunter Schafer Hops on 2026's Unexpected Color Combo Trend
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.