Without a Doubt, These 15 Nail Colours Always Look Classy

It's safe to say that we love nothing more than getting our nails done. I know this because, every week, the stories we write about nail art and trends are consistently our most popular. This piqued my interest—what do people want when it comes to their nails? Are we more inclined to ask for short nails over long? Oval over square? Art over solid hues? When I visited my salon last week, I was curious to find out which colours were proving popular right now 1) to inform my choice and 2) to report my findings back to you. My manicurist responded, "Everyone wants timeless shades."

It's perhaps unsurprising that we're turning to more classic nail polish colours. I'm no exception, either, for the colour I chose was a rich, deep shade of burgundy, which I thought would help bridge the gap between my more colourful and neutral outfits.

Nail colours are less of a commitment than a new piece of clothing, shoes or a bag but have the same ability to give your look a new-season refresh. So I've charted the latest ones that prove insanely popular season after season. And for good trend-led measure, I've thrown in a couple of of-the-moment shades that'll give your style a swift update. Scroll on to see all 15 of them that are perfect for autumn.

Classy Autumn Nail Colours

1. JET BLACK

Vampy, not gothic, black nails have become chicer and chicer with each passing season.

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2. ECRU

Although typically popular in summer, white nails are fast becoming a year-round manicure must. Look for soft, off-white shades for a flattering finish.

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3. BARELY THERE PINK

Pink always looks pretty and taps into the clean-girl nails we've been seeing everywhere. It's all about those clean, almost translucent shades.

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4. UNEXPECTED GREEN

The breakout colour trend of 2024, this shade of matcha green is sticking around.

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5. CLAY

Not quite as glamorous as pillar-box red but more fanciful than standard beige, this is the nail colour minimalists will zero in on.

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6. BURGUNDY

The colour I chose for my own nails, burgundy is timeless and will go with any and every outfit.

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7. OCHRE

It might sound unexpected, but deeper, mustard tones will act as the perfect lift to more tonal clothing.

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8. COOL GREY

Not as drastic-looking as black, grey provides the ideal alternative to those who want a softer monochromatic nail look.

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9. CHOCOLATE

Rich and delicious, chocolate-brown tones are trending in a big way, even more so than usual.

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10. FOREST GREEN

If the more vivid shades of green don't do it for you, rest assured dark, forest green is still on our nail colour radar.

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11. CLASSIC RED

A perennial nail colour, red is always a good idea if you're unsure which shade to opt for. Although statement, it's so classic it'll work seamlessly with every outfit you wear while it's painted on your nails.

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12. CHROME

Not just for party season, chrome nails are a year-round classic. Go for a neutral pink base or experiment with darker hues like brown which look really chic for autumn.

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13. DEEP NAVY

Elegant and striking, navy nails never fail to make an impact. I'm particularly taken with this French-tip situation.

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14. SOFT PEACH

Proving that pastels don't have to be exclusively worn in spring, we love a soft, warm peach for our autumn nails. It works well all over as well as in a French tip design, and pairs beautifully with other popular autumn nail colours like chocolate brown and forest green.

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15. OLIVE GREEN

Yet another shade of green that we just can't get enough of. Since it's dark and muted, olive green is the perfect subtle pop of colour if you're typically more into wearing neutrals.

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This story was previously published and has since been updated.