My Go-To Nail Polish

Whenever I paint my toes, I contemplate fun colors: pale lilac? Neon orange? Minivan blue? But when I try something new, I sometimes feel a little cartoonish. People have been asking about the latest polish colors, but to be honest, I’m not crazy about this summer’s trends, like mustard yellow or dusty mauve.

So, this summer, I’m falling back on two favorites.

1. Fishnet Stockings, above, a sexy dark red. I never would have thought of dark red for summer until I went to the beach with my friend S., and she was channeling Grace Kelly with deep red polish and a classic white bikini. She looked gorgeous. Sold!

2. Fiji, below, is the perfect pale pink, as I’ve mentioned before. Not grey, not translucent, it makes toes look bright, clean and pretty. I’ve been wearing it for four years, crazily enough.

Pop quiz: What nail polish are you wearing right now? Do you have a go-to color, or do you switch things up all the time?

P.S. 9 spring trends, and a gorgeous polish for hands.

(Sandals at top from Loeffler Randall)

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December 12, 2021 12:58pm 12:58 pm

Nails Inc Duvet Date. A perfect nude whether your feet are tanned or pasty. Totally reliable polish for every eventuality 😁

Taruna TNI

November 24, 2015 5:40pm 5:40 pm

Like this post

Victoria

August 5, 2015 7:32pm 7:32 pm

I love keeping my nails natural (buffing gives it a nice shine that looks almost like added a clear top coat), but for more formal occasions, I go for nude nails. I have one, and only one, bottle of nail polish and it’s Nails, Inc. in Basil Street. I swear by it. If you’re skin tone’s a beige/medium tone, this will probably look seamless on.

mimi

July 4, 2015 3:43pm 3:43 pm

I keep staples like red and pink, though I’m constantly switching it up..it would be boring otherwise. I’ve learned I look awful in greens and blues but better in purples

sadie

June 26, 2015 1:21pm 1:21 pm

I do tend to go a little nuts with toenail polish colors, when I DO happen to paint my toenails. Right now, from left to right, 4 toes are a limey yellow and the rest a dusty turquoise. :)

Kait

June 21, 2015 7:43pm 7:43 pm

I love geranium, clam bake, and watermelon (currently on my toes) by essie! I like bright reds and pinks for summer–(although I’ve heard orange tints help bring out your tan… sadly as a freckle-face I don’t tan, so can’t report back on it!)

kate

June 19, 2015 2:38pm 2:38 pm

My fave summer go to is “I’m Not Really A Waitress” by OPI. It’s the perfect dark red for my skin tone.

Jem

June 19, 2015 9:56am 9:56 am

I love Fiji!! I have been looking for a light pink that isn’t sheer and this is perfect!
I also love watermelons and orangy reds in Summer time….can never have too many nail polishes I say!!
Jem
http://www.poptherapy.com.au

Συμβουλές ομορφιάς

June 19, 2015 7:07am 7:07 am

Very nice!!!

Taja Fox

June 18, 2015 6:31pm 6:31 pm

I love the light pink nail polish you are wearing. Lately, I have been using Chrome by Essie but now I am wearing a mustard yellow for the start of Summer. :)

Kate

June 18, 2015 5:16pm 5:16 pm

My two go-to colors (for more than 15 years) are a bright orangey red, either Essie Clambake or Geranium, or pale pink Essie (like ballet slipper or Fiji). I’m like you, when I part from my red toes I just feel odd, and clownish!

Natalie

June 18, 2015 5:05pm 5:05 pm

I do all kinds of out there stuff on my toes, in terms of color, but the fallback for me is always a bright coral. My all-time fave of this color type is OPI’s Cajun Shrimp, but I’m not loyal enough to only use that one ;)

Court

June 18, 2015 5:01pm 5:01 pm

For me, bright coral is perfect for summer. I’m currently into Butter London’s 10-free (fewer chemicals, hooray!) “Jolly Good”. I think the most important thing in choosing a shade is picking one that flatters your skin tone, because then it will always look good no matter if the colors “fits” the season. Don’t worry about looking cartoonish though. A bright/unconventional nail with a basic/neutral uniform looks so fresh!

Paula

June 18, 2015 12:21pm 12:21 pm

Essie, “Eternal Optimist”. It’s the perfect pink for my skin-tone – not too bright, not too drab. Every time I replace my polish I do a little happy dance (in my head : ) when I see that it hasn’t been discontinued.

Jennifer Cho Salaff

June 18, 2015 12:11pm 12:11 pm

I LOVE Essie Fiji, too! It looks good on everybody.

p.s. you have PERFECT feet. K, just needed to say that. :)

Heather

June 18, 2015 12:04pm 12:04 pm

My go-to is OPI’s Dutch Tulips. A bright, happy raspberry shade. It’s always on my toes.

I’m the same way with new polishes. I stick to the reddish/pink and occasionally coral families.

Katie

June 18, 2015 9:42am 9:42 am

You have very pretty toes!
I generally avoid reds and bright pinks, since it feels a bit like the red rose cliche to me. I do love dark colors like brown or burgundy on my toes, or a nude pink that I can forget about for a few weeks. On my fingers I like opaque pastels too, like powder blue or lilac.

Elizabeth in Paris

June 18, 2015 9:16am 9:16 am

Blue. Essie’s Beach Bum Blu, to be specific!

Ileana

June 18, 2015 7:46am 7:46 am

Just painted my fingers and toes last night with Deborah Lippman “Naked.” I picked up a bottle of Luisa of The Wednesday Chef’s recommendation, and she’s right – it does look great with olive skin!

Another fave is Essie “Cascade Cool” – a light pink. I usually stick to shades of red and pink. Oh! And maybe a bit of purple – like OPI “Lincoln Park After Dark.” I can’t really do the blues and greens. Those definitely make me feel cartoonish.

miriam

June 18, 2015 5:09am 5:09 am

The red is so pretty! I always opt for red – can’t go too wrong with such a classic.

Rachel Ang

June 18, 2015 4:49am 4:49 am

I absolutely love the red! LUSH!

Rachel x
thehappybits.blogspot.com

Debbie Z.

June 17, 2015 11:39pm 11:39 pm

My favorite for summer is Miami Nice by Essie. A beautiful hot pink with a slight iridescence. Love it on my toes when I am wearing flip-flops!

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