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My Imperfect Life
My Imperfect Life
Naomi Jamieson

Orange nail designs are *the* look for fall—and these zingy but minimalist designs are our faves

A hand with orange nail polish and a gold ring on one finger - courtesy @matejanova/ in an orange, pink and red gradient template.

While dark red nails have been named the must-have manicure for fall, there's always room in the rotation for a few trusty autumn-coded orange nail designs.

Indeed, like with brown nails, nothing really brings those fall vibes like a splash of orange, whether you're looking for an easy Halloween nail look to complement your TikTok costume, or you just want to mirror the color of the changing leaves at your fingertips.

So, here are six of the best coppery manicures to rep this season, all of which can be replicated whilst also watching Gilmore Girls...

The 6 best orange nail designs for fall

Though signature red nails are having a renaissance, if you're not quite so keen on the statement shade but still want to compliment your outfits with a slight pop of color, a softer orange is definitely the way to go.

Equally, if you're looking for a muted but still fall-themed color, an ochre or terracotta shade is perfect for this time of year. And in case you need some inspo, we've rounded up a few of our faves designs—and orange nail polishes too—so scroll away...

1. Tangerine nails

Right now, short and squared nails seem to be having a moment, in fact, most of the 'Quiet Luxury' nails we're seeing feature this very minimalist shape. The length is also perfect for when you want to rock a statement hue—like this pop of tangerine—without your manicure looking too OTT.

This shade in particular is so perfect for fall, as it's the exact shade of a pumpkin (so it doubles as a simple Halloween look) but still oozes chic. We'd recommend pairing a glossy top coat (like this OPI one) with the look, to elevate it further.

2. Burnt orange nails

If you've been loving brown nail looks lately, but want to change things up slightly, this burnt orangey/brick-like color is perfect! It's muted but still invokes those fall vibes, which is exactly what we're going for right now.

Again, we'd suggest sticking to a short and square length for maximum sophistication but this color would also look gorge on some longer, almond nails.

3. Sparkly orange nails

For a more whimsical fall vibe, we love this sparkly orange look. It's still subtle but just adds a little dash of magic (or should we say Practical Magic, IYKYK) to your mani.

To recreate this look, you can either opt for a glittery orange nail polish or apply a shimmery top coat—we'd suggest gold—over your chosen base shade.

4. Orange French tip nails

@samanthahaste ♬ tori - grace 🐳💙

A colorful French tip manicure is always a great way to go, especially when you're dealing with a vibrant color like orange—and will work perfectly with any of the shades included!

To recreate this minimal look, you might want to invest in a few nail brushes (like this set from Amazon) or a nail stamper.

5. Orange chrome nails

@amberjhnails_ ♬ Summer Rain - Le Parody & Gizmo Varillas

If you're looking for a way to (pumpkin) spice up your nail polish slightly, you can always add a chrome powder or top coat to emulate this orange 'glazed' look. 

We'd suggest a coppery hue for this look or a bright tangerine and opt for oval nails, as opposed to short, square lengths.

6. Abstract Tangerine nails

Again, if you've already been sporting an orangey hue and want to change things up slightly, adding a statement nail, like these abstract lines, is a great option and looks soo cute.

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