The Colors Of The Rainbow

{nail polish colors that are appropriate for the office}

Thanks to a request by one of our fabulous readers, today we’re talking nail polish colors across the spectrum that are appropriate for work. While at least one of the HOM ladies (Desiree!) loves going out on a limb with her nail polish colors, there are certainly rules to live by in terms of what is office worthy and what is strictly weekend wear. Let’s take it color by color:

Red

Yes! Absolutely. Most shades of red, from pinks to burgundies, are fantastic, professional choices that will absolutely compliment your professional attire. For traditional, non-controversial colors like red, go with shellack and keep your nails looking beautiful and polished for up to a month at a time. There are so many gorgeous reds and red-to-pink shades to choose from, and, as we said, you basically can’t go wrong. At the moment, we adore Tom Ford’s Smoke Red.

Orange

While any level of bright orange will not work, a pale orange (we’re thinking salmon or coral) would be very pretty in summer. Keep it matte versus shiny, and wear it sporadically so that you are not defined by your “wild” or unusual nail color. As much as we love fashion, we also love our jobs, and we don’t want to risk our reputation or the impression we leave simply on account of some nail polish that is going to chip as soon as you do the dishes. For a lovely coral-orange, check out Where did Suzi’s Man Go by OPI.

Yellow

Nope. No way. Tacky (we’re going to go ahead and say stay away from yellow even on the weekends) and not even a little office appropriate. Perhaps if you could find a soft, pale yellow that verges on white, you’re OK, but in that case you may as well just go white, as it is more flattering for almost all skin tones and unquestionably more serious and professional.

Green

We searched high and low for a green tone that would be appropriate for the office, and we’re coming up short. Green is not quite as intense as yellow, but it’s still a bit cavalier and a little too out there for any office setting we can think of. (Though we have to admit we love this Mojito Madness for summer weekends!)

Blue

Blue is tricky. This is not a color you want to whip out on your first day at the office – or even in your first year. Over time, depending on your office setting and what you have going on that week (i.e., no court or client meetings or other professional occasion), a pale blue (that borders on grey or lavender, perhaps) could very well be office appropriate. We do love blue nails – and if it’s the right blue it can be a super chic look, particularly with gold jewelry – but this is one where you have to use your judgement, and if any part of you is hesitant, don’t do it. No shellack on this one either. The right blue for a few days is fun and unique; a whole month of blue is a little much. For an office blue that could work (again depending on office and circumstances), try Essie’s Lapiz of Luxury.

Purple

Barney purple, no. Lavender purple, yes. The lighter and more subdued the purple, the better. And a week rather than a month is preferable with purple, too. One of our favorites in this category is Prince by Ten Over Ten.

White

All shades and tones of white are lovely for nails and absolutely office worthy. For a beautiful white for summer, try Essie’s Urban Jungle.

Black

As with yellow and green, we’re going to have to go flat out “no” on black nail polish. The goth vibe really doesn’t go in an office setting. With that said, there are various shades of grey that are not only office appropriate, they are a nice combination of subdued and unique. For a go-to office grey, we love RGB’s Steel. As a bonus, RGB makes chemical free, vegan, made in the USA nail polish!

Agree or disagree with our break down here? Tell us in the comments below!

xo,

Team HOM

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