Anne Hathaway is entirely familiar with this phenomenon. The acclaimed actress was recently spotted embracing the signature shade of the season, wearing a dark, moody, and undeniably ’90s-inspired hue on both her fingernails and toenails while making her way through New York City. Hathaway, who has maintained a truly remarkable run of high-profile press appearances while pregnant with her third child, has been in the midst of a whirlwind promotional tour for her latest cinematic endeavor. She is currently starring in the promotional circuit for the upcoming film adaptation of the Colleen Hoover thriller Verity, capturing public attention with every wardrobe choice she unveils in the city.
During her recent New York outings, Hathaway stepped out in a striking, bright poppy red two-piece ensemble. While the vivid shade of the garment felt decidedly summery and vibrant, contrasting sharply with the shifting September atmosphere, her beauty choices signaled a completely different season. Her manicure and pedicure were precisely aligned with the emerging trends for autumn. Her nails were kept relatively short, extending just barely past the tips of her fingers in a clean, understated length, and coated in that rich, dark, brownish-purplish-blackish color that beauty enthusiasts instinctively gravitate toward the moment the air turns crisp. It is a shade so universally appealing and reliable that it serves as the ultimate transitional beauty statement for anyone looking to bridge the gap between late summer and deep autumn.
The enduring popularity of almost-black polishes is precisely why industry experts and beauty publications routinely highlight them as a premier color trend for the fall season. These shades represent the most seamless and effective way to shift into a proper autumn mindset. Painting one’s fingernails and toes with one of these rich, slightly gothic tones functions as the beauty equivalent of turning off the domestic air conditioning, throwing open the windows to let the cool breeze in, and ordering a seasonal pumpkin spice latte. It is a sensory cue as much as it is a fashion choice, signaling a collective cultural pivot toward cozy knitwear, dramatic makeup looks, and cinematic evenings indoors.
Hathaway’s recent style choices have consistently captured the attention of fashion and beauty commentators alike, especially given her propensity for striking visual pairings. In earlier legs of her promotional tours, the Oscar-winning actress opted for a strikingly coordinated look, matching her vibrant red lipstick directly to a similarly bold red hue on her nails. That matchy-matchy approach demonstrated her willingness to lean into classic, high-impact beauty tropes. However, her shift to the deep, smoky near-black polish for her New York press engagements showcases her versatility and her keen understanding of seasonal beauty transitions. By anchoring her vibrant, summer-hued red outfit with nails that look distinctly autumnal, she managed to bridge two entirely different aesthetic worlds with effortless elegance.
For those looking to replicate the timeless fall manicure and pedicure debuted by the star, the path forward is remarkably straightforward. Iconic formulations that have defined this category for decades continue to dominate vanity tables and salon menus alike. Among the most accessible and authentic choices for achieving this exact look is Essie’s aptly named seasonal favorite, Wicked. Known for its deeply dark, vampy red-black finish, the polish captures the exact moodiness that Hathaway showcased on the streets of Manhattan. As the calendar edges closer to October and the cultural obsession with spooky season begins to take hold, shades of this caliber offer an easy, sophisticated entry point into autumn beauty trends without requiring an entire overhaul of one’s personal style.
