L.A., NY, and London: My Chicest Coworkers Share Their Go-To Mani-Pedi Color Combos
Last month, I was at the nail salon, standing in front of a wall of nail polish, wondering which shades I should choose for my manicure and pedicure. I wanted them to be different yet complementary. Should I stick to a subtle shade for my mani (for me, that's almost always OPI's Bubble Bath $12) and choose a bold shade for my pedi (cherry red or cobalt blue)? After five minutes of indecision had passed, a thought occurred to me. I'm a beauty editor, and my coworkers are some of the chicest people I know, so why don't I ask them for their go-to mani-pedi color combos? I put a reminder in my notes app to inquire.
Fast forward a few weeks, and I finally have their answers on lock. Since I don't gatekeep, I'm sharing them with you. Ahead, see every mani-pedi color combo my stylish coworkers swear by. No more nail salon indecision for me!
Jamie Schneider, Senior Beauty Editor
Jamie's First Combo
"Don’t get me wrong—I’m a huge fan of bold, punchy polishes. I write about them almost daily! That said, I am someone who usually resorts to naked manis, mainly because I despise the look of chipped polish and am constantly typing, ripping open packages, and overall not so nice to my poor nail beds. Chanel's Ballerina will forever be an at-home staple. It's sheer, elegant, and gives my nails a subtle milky effect—just enough oomph for an everyday mani. I do like to be more adventurous with my toe polish, however, and take advantage of summer nail trends where I can, which is where Essie's Butler Please comes into play. The deep cobalt just oozes cool."
CHANEL
Le Vernis in Ballerina
Essie
Nail Polish in Butler Please
Jamie's Second Combo
"If I must wear color on my hands, the hue has to be warm-toned. Lately, I've been loving the look of citrus nails—especially Hermès Orange Boîte. It's impossible not to feel chic when you're donning the house's signature color. I'll pair this bright, juicy shade with a spicy coral that's equally energetic, like OPI's Cajun Shrimp. The two tones complement each other quite beautifully without appearing too matchy-matchy, creating intrigue from head (or, well, hand) to toe."
Hermès
Les Mains Hermès in Orange Boîte
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Cajun Shrimp
Aniyah Morinia, Fashion and Beauty Editor
Aniyah's Combo
"For my manicures, I always get one coat of OPI's Bubble Bath and two coats of OPI's Put It in Neutral! It is the perfect sheer nude with pink undertones. Despite my nails being stiletto-shaped and pretty long, I like to think of this color combo as the natural finish I need. I'm not getting engaged anytime soon, but I always say that I would wear this color combo on my wedding day. Truly timeless. As for my pedicures, I love wearing OPI's Big Apple Red. I've been wearing open-toed shoes daily, so I love having that pop of red at the bottom of a good outfit. Pro tip: My mesh flats look best with a red pedicure!"
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Put It in Neutral
OPI
Nail Lacquer in Big Apple Red
Alyssa Brascia, Associate Beauty Editor
Alyssa's First Combo
"I'm a big fan of mismatching nails. Honestly, I'll do different polish shades and designs on each nail if I have enough time to dedicate to them (I'm a DIY nail girlie through and through). But for busy summer trips when I need my manicure to 'go' with several outfits, I love this cute, limoncello-inspired duo from Essie. The sheer formula adds another trendy element to this pair (the jelly nails phenomenon), and this pale yellow shade looks so cute when paired up with the milky white on your toes."
Essie
Nail Art Studio Jelly Gloss Nail Polish in Buttercup Jelly
Essie
Nail Art Studio Jelly Gloss Nail Polish in Arctic Jelly
Alyssa's Second Combo
"I clearly have a thing for darker manicures with lighter pedicures, since this blue pairing is my other summer go-to. Deep, royal, or navy blue nail polishes are some of my favorite shades recently, and I love the in-between hue of this Londontown pick. A baby blue always feels so summery to me, and I think it's a great alternative to your classic white pedicure in the summer. Paired together, these shades offer up a nautical East Coast summer vibe reminiscent of striped button-downs and linen pants—a summer aesthetic I can always get behind."
