10 Editors on Their Favorite Classic Nail Polish Shades of All Time

It’s been a while, but I’m finally excited about nail polish again. Aside from a few at-home manicures I've attempted, I’ve mostly kept my nails bare this past year. But with things slowly starting to re-open and more summer plans on the horizon, I simply cannot wait to get my nails and toes varnished with a chic polish. This season, I’ll be shopping for classic nail polishes that will easily complement the fun bags, shoes, silhouettes, and color trends that I’ll be wearing this summer. Curious to see the go-to colors that my fellow editors always gravitate to, I asked them to share their holy-grail nail polish shades they love (or that generally represent their signature style) no matter the season.
Keep scrolling for their favorite classic nail polish colors that will hopefully inspire your next mani-pedi.
"This deep inky purple is always going to be a classic for me. I swear there were a few years it was probably the only nail polish color I wore. I love that it's almost black, so it's dramatic, but the purple makes it a little bit softer. It goes with everything!"
"This is my go-to shade, especially once summer rolls around. It's the perfect compromise between coral and bright red, and it's so, so flattering. I love a polish that automatically brightens my day whenever I glance down at my nails, and this one does just that! If I could only wear one red for the rest of my life, it would be this spicy pick."
"Finding the right neutral nail color is a lot harder than you'd think. Whenever I want an easy nude that will look good no matter what I'm wearing or where I'm going, I stick with this fuss-free shade from Olive June. It's described as a sheer tan, but I love applying three coats so it's more opaque. Also, it's not too tan and still looks really pretty against my pinker undertones."
"Malaga Wine by OPI is one of those colors that never fail me. I'm constantly getting complimented on my nails when I wear it. It's the perfect shade of burgundy that neither feels too dark nor too light, so it works for any season, and personally, I find it very flattering."
"It should come as no surprise that this over-the-top bottle packs some serious pigment—specifically, Christian Louboutin's iconic red. I prefer it for toes, with or without red bottoms, but the vibrant hue with blue undertones looks equally luxe on fingertips, too."
"I generally stick to white, black, and deep-beige nail colors, as they're classic and always flattering on my skin tone, but there's something about this powder-blue Olive June polish that speaks to me on a deep level. It's so gorgeous! Swiping it onto my nails almost guarantees a mood boost, and it's surprisingly low-key, even though it's blue."
Up next, the 24 pedicure colors we're going to try this summer.

Judith Jones is the associate shopping director atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing and has worked in fashion for over a decade. She specializes in shopping content and trend stories with high-affiliate impact. She shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands for every budget. Previous to working in fashion, Judith worked as a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) sharing her passion for travel and culture.
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