Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    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


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Beauty

    Autumn has arrived, and this goes-with-anything nail colour is already dominating

    Ideal for when you can't make your mind up

    Jazzria Harris's avatar
    By Jazzria Harris
    Published 16 September 2024 In Buying Guides

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

    Fashion week guest wearing plum nails on her toes with black strappy sandals
    (Image credit: Getty Images/Edward Berthelot / Contributor)
    Jump to category:
    • Plum nail inspiration
    • Shop plum nail polishes
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    I’ve been writing a lot recently about my love for chic autumn nail shades, from the chocolate brown pedicure to expensive-looking dark hues, so it shouldn’t come as a surprised to hear I’m obsessed with the reappearance of rich moody colours on all my favourite nail artists Instagram feeds (and as a result, on my nail inspo board too). The latest shade to hit my radar may just be the best yet as everyone (and I really do mean everyone, celebrities included) is embracing chic plum nail looks right now, cementing its place as the only colour to wear on your nails for autumn.

    Most recently, Kylie Jenner took to her instagram sporting nostalgic teal hair alongside a crisp dark manicure. And, while on first glance you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a classic black polish, on closer inspection (and according to her nail artist Zola Ganzorigt) it’s actually OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark, a midnight aubergine tone with dark purple undertones.

    A post shared by Zola Ganzorigt (@nailsbyzola)

    A photo posted by on

    But, while Kylie opted for a seriously dark plum tone, it isn’t the only way to wear the trend. The great thing about plum nails is that they come in so many chic purple hues. From purple-toned burgundy shades to grape-inspired colours, with this much variety on offer, it’s no surprise that plum nails are trending right now.

    To help you narrow down your favourite plum nail look, I’ve pulled together some inspiration from some of the best nail artists so you can decide just what kind of plum girl you are. Plus, I’ve also created an edit of the best plum nail polishes, just in case you want to give the look a go for yourself at home. Keep scrolling to see it all for yourself…

    Plum nail inspiration

    A post shared by Mateja Novakovic (@matejanova)

    A photo posted by on

    Plum nails stretch from cool-toned burgundy hues to more traditional purple polishes. This set, by Mateja Novakovic using Kinetic Systems in Reveal, leans more towards the purple end of the spectrum giving a glossy grape-toned finish.

    A post shared by @debssnails

    A photo posted by on

    Aptly named Plum Noir, from Canadian brand Gelcare, is the perfect dark purple shade which has just a hint of red-y undertones. Keep it simple and opt for a block coloured manicure for a chic autumnal nail look, no matter your nail shape or style.

    A post shared by Stephanie (@setby.steph)

    A photo posted by on

    If you’re not ready to go full force into dark nail looks just yet, keeping a lighter accent nail like on this plum swirl set is a great entry point.

    A post shared by Iram Shelton (@iramshelton)

    A photo posted by on

    Celebrity nail artist Iram Shelton’s subtle glossy tips offer a fun twist on the classic French manicure and feel ultra striking in a statement plum hue.

    A post shared by Monika Mrózek (@monika__nails)

    A photo posted by on

    As we head closer to Christmas, sparkle and glitter always start trending. Save this plum-toned swirl set to your inspo board now so you’ll be ready when the festive season rolls around.

    A post shared by Mateja Novakovic (@matejanova)

    A photo posted by on

    Another nail look from the queen of minimalist nail inspo, Mateja Novakovic, this time sitting on the darker side of plum nails. Just divine!

    Shop plum nail polishes

    Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Rouge Noir

    Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Rouge Noir
    £29 AT JOHN LEWIS

    Beauty Pie Wondercolour™ Nail Polish in Black Cherry Bomb

    Beauty Pie Wondercolour™ Nail Polish in Black Cherry Bomb
    £7 AT BEAUTY PIE (MEMBERS' PRICE)

    Manucurist Nail Polish in Victoria Plum

    Manucurist Nail Polish in Victoria Plum
    £14 AT MANUCURIST

    Kinetics in Reveal

    Kinetics Solar Gel in Reveal
    £10 AT KINITECS BEAUTY

    Aubergine Nails OPI Nail Lacquer in Lincoln Park After Dark

    OPI Nail Lacquer in Lincoln Park After Dark
    £14.90 AT BOOTS

    Gelcare Plum Royale

    Gelcare Plum Royale
    £15 AT GELCARE

    Explore More
    Manicure
    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.
    Jazzria Harris
    Jazzria Harris
    Freelance Fashion & Beauty Writer

    Jazzria Harris is a freelance fashion and beauty journalist with over 8 years experience working in the industry. At just 4ft 11, she’s an expert in petite dressing and previously wrote the column Jazz’s Short Stories giving tips and advice on dressing for petite proportions. Her wardrobe staples are a great black blazer, a hardworking slip skirt and of course a great pair of heels (for the extra inches, of course). Jazz has written for publications including ELLE UK, heat magazine, Eliza, Women & Home and more.

    Read more
    Autumn Nail Trends 2026
    Nails From Fawn Print to Milky Matcha—These Are Autumn 2026’s Defining Nail Trends
    Best nail strengtheners
    Beauty The Autumn Nail Reset: Strengtheners That Repair Brittle, Weather-Worn Nails
     
     
    nails
    Nails Bare Nails Are Trending, But My Nails Weren't Ready Until I Tried These 'Nail Concealers'
    How to keep long nails clean
    Beauty My Long, Natural Nails Never Look Clean—Here’s How 3 Nail Experts Recommend Keeping Them Salon-Fresh
     
     
    Latest in Beauty
    Autumn Nail Trends 2026
    Nails From Fawn Print to Milky Matcha—These Are Autumn 2026’s Defining Nail Trends
    Fenty Beauty Pro Filtr Fluid Flex Foundation Review
    Make Up Fenty Beauty Just Replaced Its Most Iconic Foundation—3 Editors Put Its “Flexible” Full Coverage to the Test
     
     
    Ata-Owaji Victor reviews Clinique Black Honey Collection
    Make Up Clinique Just Turned Viral Black Honey Lipstick Into a Full Collection—I've Tried Them All, and I Have Thoughts
    Charlotte Mensah Afro Hair
    Hair Charlotte Mensah Has Spent 40 Years Changing the Conversation Around Afro Hair—Now, Her Legacy Is Going on Display
     
     
    Latest in Buying Guides
    30 AW26 BUYS
    Fashion 30 of the Most Sought-After New Season Buys to Kick-Start Your Autumn/Winter 2026 Wardrobe
    Senior Health Editor trying Rapha, Pas Normal, Universal Colours, and Jelenew cycling gear, in Richmond Park and Brighton
    Fitness I'm a Fashion-Conscious Health Editor Who Just Started Cycling—6 Brands That Finally Nailed Style and Performance
     
     
    Best foundation balms
    Make Up If You’ve Fallen Out of Love With Foundation in Your 30s, This Hydrating, Blurring Alternative Still Gives Impressive Coverage
    Reformation Sale
    Fashion The Reformation Summer Sale Is Full of Autumn Buys—So I Spent Two Hours Finding the Best Ones
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

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

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.