Fall 2012 Nail Polish Trends

As the leaves begin to change, we'll bid farewell to the usual pink and red nail palette. Autumn promises to mix things up with sultry shades of midnight and metallic, with pretty polishes in magnetic and matte. See our favorite trends of the season for your fingers and toes.

Midnight Sky

Butter London Nail Lacquer on Metallic Navy Blue; NARS Nail Polish in Night Flight

Navy goes glamorous in deep dark blue with added shimmer -- the perfect polish for a starry night.

Butter London Nail Lacquer on Metallic Navy Blue, $14; sephora.com

NARS Nail Polish in Night Flight, $18; narscosmetics.com

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

1 of 12 Courtesy of Sephora and Nars

Oceanic

Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Mermaid's Dream; China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Deviantly Daring

From the sky to the shore: Swirls of sea greens, foamy blues, and hints of gold, conjure up images of sandy surf and crystal waters. Give your nails their dream vacay in these mermaid hues.

Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Mermaid's Dream, $18; amazon.com

China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Deviantly Daring, $6.99; sallybeauty.com

2 of 12 Courtesy of Deborah Lippmann, China Glaze

Oxblood

Whether you wear it on your body, your lips, or your nails, this raw and rich red is the hue of the season. Don't be afraid to match your clothes to your cosmetics -- monochromatic is in!

Dior Vernis Nail Polish in Red Ebony, $23; dior.com

RGB Cosmetics Nail Color in Oxblood, $16 , amazon.com

3 of 12 Courtesy of RGB, Dior

Asphalt

Swap out your girly polish for something a little tougher. These cement hues have an edge, without being too stone-cold. Pair this shade with a flirty frock and you'll be ready to hit the road.

NCLA Nail Lacquer in Downtown Dollface, $16; shopncla.com

Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer in Audacious Asphalt, $3.99; amazon.com

4 of 12 Courtesy of Maybelline, NCLA

Magnetic Polish

Textured nails are everywhere for fall, and magnetic polish lets you achieve the look in just minutes. If you hold the magnet (found in the cap) over wet nails, the metallic particles in the lacquer will create the of-the-moment pattern before they dry. It's a modern beauty breakthrough!

Nails Inc London Magnetic Polish, $16; amazon.com

Sally Hansen Nail Color Magnetics, $8.99; target.com

5 of 12 Courtesy of Target, Sally Hansen

Bedazzled

Kleancolor Nail Lacquer in Twinkly Love; Milani Jewel FX Nail Lacquer in Gems

All that glitters is not gold...is right. These 'party in a bottle' polishes will add instant fun to any outfit, with sparkles in every color of the rainbow.

Kleancolor Nail Lacquer in Twinkly Love, $3.99; amazon.com

Milani Jewel FX Nail Lacquer in Gems. $4.99; milanicosmetics.com

6 of 12 Courtesy of Kleancolor, Milani