September is a honestly a super awk time for all things sartorial. Like, I need a light jacket in the morning, but I’m sweaty as all hell by noon. My intended vibe is dark-red lipstick and a trench coat, but most days my reality is wave spray and flip flops. That said, I’ve found the easiest way to get what I want is with the perfect September nail design or color for the pre-fall season. Sure, I wanna wear all the traditional fall nail colors and art rtfn—but I gotta do so in a way that doesn’t immediately jump into spooky szn, ya know? Behold: All the inspo I’ve grabbed for this weird-ass time, from moody shades to simple nail designs to mega-watt 3D chrome situations. I got it all, bb.

September Nail Inspo: 3D Cream Swirls

When in doubt, opt for neutrals. They’ll always work, no matter the weather or time of year. But to take things up a notch, try a trendy 3D mani with these swirls done with sculptural gel. (It’s a lil complicated, so unless you’re a wiz with gel manicures already—peep a tutorial here—head to the salon.)

Olive Green Nails for September

Deep-green nails scream fall. But if you’re not completely ready for that, lighten things up a bit with this olive-green shade. It’s not too bright or summery, but also doesn’t feel too dark just yet either. And IDK about you, but they make me want a dirty martini real bad.

Fall Orchid Nails

Florals for fall are groundbreaking if you ask me—especially when they’re done in chic, deep colors like this violet and berry mani. Keep things looking fresh by going with one or two orchid-painted nails, and then keep the rest simple with an aura or French design, as shown above.

Studded 3D Nails for Fall

Perfection is the enemy of a mismatched mani like this, which is precisely (heh) why we love it. Take yours into fall with earthy tones, like this cinnamon-toned red and yellow gold. Plus, the studded design on the middle finger immediately gives grunge-y, edgy autumn vibes.

September Nail Design: Rose Quartz

Although these nails look simple from afar, up close, they’re anything but. A deeper look shows a raised, chrome border, and inside, a rose-quartz design that legit looks like art on your fingernails.

Olive Retro Designs

Retro, ’70s vibes are in (I asked our fashion editor, she confirmed, it’s a big trend, ty Chloé). So why not try ’em on your nails? I love these abstract, swirly designs because they have big impact but can def be DIYed. All you need is a steady hand and a tiny detail nail brush.

Fall Blues for September

Navy blue is a dreamy shade to introduce to your September nails arsenal, because it melds the bright beachy shades you wore all summer with the depth to come. I’m a big fan of just painting it all over your nails, but I also love this artsy take, which combines it with a lil orange and gold to really amp up the autumnal factor (and pop in a few fall nail trends while we’re at it).

Fall Polka Dot Design

These shroom-esque nails feature some of the biggest fall nail colors of 2024, like mustard yellow, red, and olive green. So why not wear them all at once? Plus, polka dots are seriously trending this fall too.

Maroon Matte and Glossy French

Every nail artist I’ve spoken to says matte nails are on the come up for fall and winter. Get in on the trend early (without going totally overboard) with this manicure that combines matte and glossy, along with one of the hottest shades of 2024, this deep burgundy.

Chocolate-Colored Nails for September

Dubbed by nail artist Julia Diogo as “chocolate fudge,” this mani is rich and decadent. It’s begging you to pair it with trench coats and dark denim on the first day it drops below 70 degrees.