Your Toenail Polish Style for 2013

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Your Toenail Polish Style for 2013

— by Angie

on June 11, 2013

I don’t wear sandals, but I do have regular pedicures and sport toenail polish because I love the look and feeling of pretty, well groomed feet. It’s as important to me as wearing matching underwear and looking after my skin. Well groomed feet also come in handy when I’m required to take my shoes off in the homes of clients and friends. That way I’m never embarrassed about the state of my feet.

My toenail polish style has been the same for four years. I sport sci-fi silver or pearly white because it’s low contrast against the colour of my pale skin. Before that I used to sport green and blue, but, although I like the effect on others, I’m over the effect of high contrast toenail polish for my own style. These days I enjoy a very soft toenail polish colour.

Over to you. Do you wear toenail polish and which colours are your favourites? Do you like to showcase coloured toenails when wearing sandals? Or is au natural just as fab?

Grooming · Individual Style

58 comments · Add a comment

clairelouise2

Active Member

I used to like really dark toenail polish on me, but my tastes have changed. I go for more mid pinks or colours like turquoise or purple these days. I’m booked for a gel polish on mine in two weeks, I’m planning on getting something bright and summery! Yours look really pretty Angie!

June 11, 2013 at 1:41 pm

Mia

Veteran

I have a pedicure year round as well and almost always sport polish. I do wear sandals a lot in summer.

“Santa” puts a Chanel in my stocking every Christmas and I love their shades, both the classics and the “fashion” ones that come out every season. They always seem to be in sync with what is on the scene in fashion plus it is a wallet friendly way to wear Chanel. I gravitate to the reds and wines that suit my skin tone. Current fave is “Provocation” which is a killer name no?

June 11, 2013 at 1:57 pm

Ceit

My preferred colour is an iridescent blue/lilac/silver that is very sheer. I can’t stand polish on my fingernails but toes are just fine!

June 11, 2013 at 2:14 pm

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Last year I didn’t care about the state of my feet very much. This year I am getting regular mani-pedis and am so happy I made this commitment. It is therapeutic to rest for an hour or two (I stay extra long reading fashion magazines while the polish dries), supports small business and I feel pampered and girly. This year I am into white polish that is quite white, so even against my pale skin it is quite contrasty. I never thought of silver, I have to try that. For my hands, I go short and only have them put on clear because I do not like polish for my job serving food. I find short but neat nails the most appetizing when serving food.

June 11, 2013 at 2:30 pm

Beth

Veteran

I’m a long-time fan of classic matte reds on my toes. High-contrast color tends to look better on my feet for some reason. My favorite summer red is OPI Got The Blues For Red while I go for a darker, vampy red for winter.

June 11, 2013 at 2:31 pm

Diana

Veteran

As always, I will be sporting bright colors of all shades. Last summer, my favorite was a “starry night” look – dark blue polish topped off with chunky gold glitter – and I look forward to revisiting it now that sandal season is upon us.

June 11, 2013 at 2:32 pm

rute

Veteran

I wear every color one my toes, blue, yellow, orange, but my favorite is red

June 11, 2013 at 2:39 pm

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I wear silver or pearly white, too, for similar reasons. I have pale skin and like low contrast. Very pale pink could work too.

June 11, 2013 at 2:59 pm

Lyn D.

Veteran

I like to wear polish all year round too.
My feet are often exposed during Yoga and Pilates classes, and I prefer them to be ‘finished’ in this way.
At the moment I am sporting a pale silver-blue shade.
Angie, your feet look lovely!

June 11, 2013 at 3:18 pm

Thistle

Veteran

My favorites are sci-if silver, pale shimmery blue, and pale pearly pink. DH, however, loves bold and deep reds. So, I do occasionally go red.

June 11, 2013 at 3:54 pm

Archer

Veteran

I keep my nails just above the finger top and mostly clear but sometimes I do a dark metallic grey for an evening outfit. My toenails are so much nicer than my fingers. They grow strong and quickly. Pity I can’t swap them. I have fairly olive skin and I usually have a dark nude colour on them London Butter but in summer, red, metallic bronze, silver etc.
I think it is all just a part of the enjoyment, as others have said, of the pamper/grooming and feeling ‘happy’ with one’s self. In recent years I have perfected doing my own! That might sound funny, but its harder than it looks IME. Still love the salon treatment for toes and cuticles though, and a catch up on celebrity tripe in magazines.

June 11, 2013 at 4:08 pm

mamark

Active Member

I did purple for years, then moved to an OPI color called “20 candles on my cake” (they have the best color names) which was a dark rose color. Now I’m using a pinky coral. I wear the same color for an entire season, usually, beacuse I take my own nail polish to the manicure shop.

June 11, 2013 at 4:10 pm

mamark

Active Member

ps I almost never wear fingernail color. I was speaking of toenail color. If I wear fingernail color, it tends to be for the holiday party season in winter, then it’s dark red on very short fingernails. Love it!

June 11, 2013 at 4:13 pm

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am not proud of this fact but I have never gotten a pedicure in my life. I want to but I just never go. My daughters have had more pedicures than me as their aunt takes them every time we visit her. I really can’t explain it.

June 11, 2013 at 4:25 pm

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like to have painted toenails when I wear sandals, even if it’s a very light, unnoticeable shade. If my toenails aren’t painted, I’ll wear closed-toe shoes till I get them done!
Like Archer, I’ve gained enough skill to do my own nails, so I like to do them when I can. I also go for the occasional manicure-pedicure and enjoy being pampered, although I sometimes cringe when having my toenails filed by someone else. That part of the process is not the most pleasant for me.

June 11, 2013 at 4:39 pm

merwoman

Veteran

Gorgeous toes! I am giving my toes a breather – both the nails on my big toe(s) have cracked, I think they need a rest from polish. Works for me since I am mostly sporting oxfords this season.

June 11, 2013 at 5:04 pm

Adelfa

Veteran

For summer my favorites are strong pinks whether warm, deep, bright or almost red. In winter I do reds and purples.

I like low contrast sometimes on my fingers but always do high contrast on my toes.

June 11, 2013 at 5:16 pm

Debora

Veteran

Love your polish, Angie! I get pedicures during sandal season and give my toes a rest in the winter. Right now, I’m feeling summery with Essie’s Watermelon on my toes, described as a creamy and refreshing juicy red.

June 11, 2013 at 5:25 pm

Gigi

My favorite is mod about you byOPI. It is brighter white with a hint of lilac and goes well with my medium pinky fair skin. It stands out just not too much. I have rarely gone high contrast on my toes, but I do have aqua now –this is a big step for a low contrast girl.

June 11, 2013 at 5:35 pm

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love to wear polish on my toenails and do so almost year round, with the occasional break. In summer I like to wear fuchsia (surprise!) or sometimes a warmer pink, or berry, or a very pale luminescent pink, or silvery blue. I vary it depending on what I’ll be wearing.

On my hands I never wear any polish except clear. I just don’t like the look of it on my short squarish fingers and nails, and since I type so much it would probably wear off quickly anyway.

June 11, 2013 at 5:48 pm

Jamie

Veteran

I love to wear polish on my toenails, and my preferred shade is something very low contrast, and once in a while, I’ll go for blue. I get regular pedicures to maintain healthy looking feet and nails, but I rarely have them painted any more. If I wear polish for too long, my nails become terribly damaged. I don’t know what causes the damage, but it takes forever to grow them out to a healthy state again. So, I get pedicures without the polish, and I love the clean au natural look just as much.

June 11, 2013 at 6:25 pm

Joy

Veteran

Angie, we are toenail twins! Pearly white is my favorite. I love to look down and see a row of pearls. It looks summery too. I let my nails rest from polish during the winter and panicked when I couldn’t find pearlized white polish this spring. I finally found some, but in the meantime I got metallic silver which I especially like with pewter or silver sandals.
I do my own nails for health reasons and leave fingernails naked most of the time.

June 11, 2013 at 6:31 pm

mellllls

i’m not comfortable showing my toes without polish. but recently ive gotten leary of pedicures. i have a lot of cuts on my feet and am worried about getting an infection. it’s a shame though, my feet are in terrible condition (i run a lot) an it is sandal weather.

June 11, 2013 at 7:40 pm

cheryl

Veteran

I have never had a professional pedicure and would love one. I love to wear polish of any color on my toes.

June 11, 2013 at 7:50 pm

missvee

Veteran

I get a pedicure fairly regularly but I’ve stopped using polish. It seemed to dry out my nails somewhat. I thought I’d hate the look of unpolished nails in sandals, but I actually think it looks just fine. It seems to out more emphasis on the shoes and less on the feet.

June 11, 2013 at 7:57 pm

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I like a fairly low contrast nude type of color (but still with a little color)

June 11, 2013 at 7:58 pm

sarah

Veteran

I wear sandals almost exclusively all summer long, and love to wear toenail polish. The past couple of years I’ve been wearing a coral-y orange or a turquoise. It makes me very happy to look down and see my painted toes!

June 11, 2013 at 8:04 pm

Debbie

Veteran

My toes are a bright pinkish color right now. I think I will try silver next.

June 11, 2013 at 9:12 pm

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I do yoga where bare-feet are mandatory so I like to keep my feet looking good I love grey, pearly white & silver polish they seem to work best with my skin & hair. Through mid-winter I give my nails a break from polish for a month or two & use a buffer which makes them smooth & shiny.

June 11, 2013 at 9:25 pm

Veteran

During sandal season, I like to keep my toes polished in a high contrast color. Lately I’ve been enjoying sci-fi silver (high five, Angie) but I also like shades of blue. I have a cool red that looks awesome when I want to feel fancy. I like low contrast polish for my fingernails.

June 11, 2013 at 11:49 pm

Diane G

I only really wear tonail polish in the summer months. At the moment I have on a deepish red that I have painted over with a sheer pearly slight bronze tone top coat. I have also worn turquoise, pink, coral and plum colours. It all depends on the mood I’m in. I have only ever had a pedicure once and It lasted 3 days before a whole toenails worth of polish lifted off in on piece and floated into the swimming pool on holiday two years ago ,the other toes started to chip and follow suit soon after. It has put me off having it done again because when I do it myself I leave a good while between coats and it always lasts a good 2 to 3 weeks. If I can’t trust a proper job to someone else I’ll do it myself.

June 12, 2013 at 1:18 am

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I wear polish on my toenails year round, and I love OPI and Essie colors – all colors (right now they are a funky shade of grass green). Sometimes I will wear polish on my fingernails, but usually I go with clear for my fingernails as it wears off too quickly.

June 12, 2013 at 3:36 am

kkards

Veteran

i almost always wear some variety of red. since i keep my nails a neutral color, i like to have my toes stand out.

June 12, 2013 at 3:37 am

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I love pale ballet pinks and bright, clear reds.

June 12, 2013 at 5:40 am

Sihaya

Veteran

I almost exclusively use silver because a) it looks good on me but b) and more importantly, it looks less shabby when it peels off than a higher contrast color. I’m not great at getting regular pedicures and it’s important to me that my nails don’t look as obviously chipped.

June 12, 2013 at 5:46 am

Angela

I’m late but had to add my two cents. I only polish my hands for very special occasions but wear my toes all summer or until sandals are no longer possible. I give the polish a rest for the winter, as it stains my nails and I think it’s healthier. All my nail polish application is professional, just looks so much better

June 12, 2013 at 6:05 am

clearlyclaire

I wear very bare sandals all summer, and my feet actually look naked in them (to me) unless I’m wearing a high contrast polish on my toes! In the past I went for reds, dark pinks or corals but with my new love of neutrals these seemed too bright and jarring to my eye this year. I wound up with a cognac shade, something I would have never considered before. It’s sort of a reddish brown, and I think that will be my shade for Summer 2013.

June 12, 2013 at 6:35 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Lyn

High five Joy, AJ and Sihaya!

June 12, 2013 at 7:19 am

Jjsloane

Veteran

I refuse to bare my toes without polish (even if it’s a not so professional job of my own). I like to have my toes done in dark shades when professionally done (they make them look better than I do) and light shades when I do my own. This year I’m into Ink blue for my dark shade and silver, rose gold or gold toned down with sheer white (reminds me of the inside of a seashell) for my light shade. Last year it was neon orange which I think looks stunning if one has a tan, but not so much on my pasty feet.

June 12, 2013 at 7:19 am

Lisa

Veteran

I used to have pedicures bi-weekly and go for very bold colors, I figure if I’m going to paint my toes, let’s make them fun. I tried some teals and metallics in darker shades but I always revert to corals and fushica’s as my go to colors. This year I’ve been going au natural so far, but that’s only because of lack of time.

June 12, 2013 at 7:22 am

christieanne

Veteran

I was inspired to try blues and greens because that was the YLF trend a couple years back – now teal or deep turquoise is my favorite. Never thought I would go for that. Did a dark wine last month but was feeling a neutral trend arising so last week I switched to a pearly light pewter. I also love a grey for neutrals.

I almost always use Essie or Chanel polish or the couple of Butter Londons – silly reason though – I have a little box for my polish and those are the brands that fit in the box!

June 12, 2013 at 9:03 am

DonnaF

Veteran

Believe or not, I’ve never ever had a pro mani or pedi, and only started to polish my nails a year or two ago. I finally made peace with and accepted the fact that my fingers will always be claw-like from disease and my feet will never be particularly pretty. It also made a HUGE difference when I learned that mistakes could be peeled off my skin in the shower! Now, after YLF, I feel naked and unfinished without polished nails and toes.

Right now, I have pearly white fingernails and bright orange toes. I really prefer gold toes and silver fingers since my feet are olive-y yellow and my fingers are reddish from disease, but I also like to change it up. Polish is such a cheap indulgence that I now have way too many colors. I like the lower maintenance of lighter lower contrast colors, but HATE it if I have to use three coats to get coverage.

Recommendations re brands/colors for high coverage low contrast two coat polish?

June 12, 2013 at 9:36 am

T-Rex

Veteran

I am a nail polish nut. I love it all, neutrals, classics, neons, glitters, nail art, etc. However, I tend to be a bit annoyed by anything on my fingernails that “sticks up” too much. I usually find neon on my fingers too distracting and sometimes a bit “too much”. And the heavy glitters sometimes tend to chip faster than other colors. So my toenails tend to get the blingier glitters and brighter colors, and my big toe will often get the nail art that includes those little glitter shapes. Sometimes, of course, I need a palate cleanser, something soothing that I won’t get tired of easily. Then my toes get shimmery white or charcoal grey for a few days to a week. I don’t bother trying to match fingers and toes, but I make sure they harmonize in color.

June 12, 2013 at 10:13 am

Small But Mighty

Active Member

I can’t believe no one has mentioned the stickers! For the last few summers, I’ve been all about the stickers!

For background, I almost never paint my fingernails and my style is pretty classic for my clothing, especially for work. I like to add funkier accessories to fairly quiet, “background” clothes, and my toes are in that realm. Right now I’m wearing a neon pink that is definitely too young for my 46 years, but I like to think it works because everything else is pretty sedate (also, because I have olive skin that can carry a lot of color).

But often instead of polish I wear patterned stickers. Sally Hansen has some great designs and there are some other brands I like as well. In the same vein of providing an unusual contrast to my more conservative style, I love how they defy convention. Also, I love that I can put them on for myself at 10 at night, and then go to bed without ruining my pedi. Anyone else out there try the stickers?

June 12, 2013 at 10:22 am

Marley

Veteran

I’m a nail polish addict and wear it on both fingernails and toe-nails 24/7, 365 days/year! I cannot imagine wearing sandals with unpolished toes – I feel frumpy without the polish!
Over the years (and after breaking 4 different toes over a 10 year period) – my toes don’t look so great anymore – they’ve healed kind of crookedly – and so my toes are definitely not one of my better features! I used to wear purples, bright pinks, reds, black, navy, turquoise – you name it! But now I stick to low contrast colors because I really don’t want to draw attention to my toes. I am currently wearing Sephora by OPI “Under my Trenchcoat” – a light taupe-ish color, which has been my fall-back toe-nail polish for several years now. Several weeks ago I had on Essie’s “No Place like Chrome” – a metallic silver – it looks like a mirror (so cool!) – I also wear it on my fingers – very fun – And, definitely adds a metallic edge to your outfits.
Small But Mighty – YES, I love the stickers – and wear them on my toe-nails a lot too – they’re easy and so much fun!

June 12, 2013 at 10:40 am

Linda

I have never had a pedicure and really don’t fancy the thought of someone fussing around my feet (or any part of me, really–I get haircuts because they’re better at it than I’d be, but when they massage my scalp I want to jump right out of my skin). And I am a klutz to do it myself, so I really resent that toenail polish seems to have become mandatory for anyone wearing sandals in recent years. I TRY to do my toes if I’m wearing sandals, but it doesn’t always happen. And I stick to low contrast because I can’t even imagine what a mess it would look like otherwise. Your sci-fi toes look very nice.

June 12, 2013 at 10:50 am

Runcarla

Veteran

Sunday night is pedi night at my house! The weekend chores are done, and the routine of a soak in the tub is followed by nail care. My sport is hard on feet so I do a lot of pumicing, and moisturizing in addition to nail grooming.

I love polish on the toes, starting with a pro pedi before DH and I take our annual winter get-away the end of March, and ending with a pro-pedi before our fall wine tour and theatre vacation in September. In between, I do my own polish. I’ll do any colour, and I ALWAYS paint my toes to match my race kit before a big event! October to March, I have ‘boy toes’ (no polish).

I usually have short, bare finger nails, but do get a mani for special occaisions, and if time permits, I’ll do my own. I’ll do any colour, but at heart I’m a red nail girl! Manis last a long time on me–10 days to a week for base coat, 2 of polish, and a top coat. I wear rubber gloves when washing dishes, but otherwise, I take no special care. I type at a computer all day, too! Go figure?

June 12, 2013 at 2:43 pm

rholmes27

Active Member

Like Marley, I wear polish on my fingers and toes every day. I won’t show my toes without polish, and my nails break easily without polish. However, I’m cheap so I do my own & have for a long time.
I’m a lot more adventurous with more toes, but on my fingernails I wear mostly lighter & brighter shades. I used to wear a lot of deeper colors on my fingers, but now I think it makes my hands look older.

June 12, 2013 at 2:54 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Linda :). I usually don’t enjoy people fussing over my feet either. And well groomed au natural feet look fab to my eye too.

That’s a fun new addition to your style, Donna!

June 12, 2013 at 3:47 pm

MRL

Veteran

I usually wear a coral shade in the summer. I don’t wear polish on my toenails in the winter as I like to give my nails a rest.

I like the idea of a pearly white or silver polish.I might try it next time.

June 12, 2013 at 5:25 pm

JenT

Active Member

I’m a bit of a wild card when it comes to toenail polish. Any color at any time! I wear pastels, nudes, brights, darks – you name it, I’ve probably used it. Just today I did a super pale lilac with tiny white polka dots. I don’t usually do patterns on my toes but since the color was so light I figured why not. I really don’t like the way my unpolished toenails look, so they are always painted!

June 12, 2013 at 8:22 pm

diane

Active Member

I love a pedicure and get one before Mexico each year and one time at the beginning of sandle season. I love the french tip, white. My toes always look fresh and clean and it really is more durable than painting all one color. If choosing a color, I am not so into pinks, so green or blue are colors of choice.

I rarely get a manicure. I type all day so keep my nails shortish. And I garden, and even with gloves my nails get dirty. I would like to get a manicure right now. My hands are so abused!

June 13, 2013 at 12:20 am

Emily

Active Member

I love polished toes! There aren’t enough months in the year for all the colors I enjoy on my toes. I’m currently sporting Essie turqouise & caicos, a lovely sea green I applied my self. Will probably go with true red at my pedicure next week. In the fall, I trend to autumn colors, I stop painting over winter and start up again with coral or hot pink for my first trip to sunshine in February or so. So, spring colors for spring; blues, or red for summer, etc. I used to get monthly pedicures, but now just do the occasional one when heading to a sunny vacation spot. Oh, and I love almost black or chocolate brown in October. My feet don’t get cold easily so I wear sandals a lot — except when my toes are unpainted.

June 13, 2013 at 7:12 am

T-Rex

Veteran

I forgot to mention that my girlfriends (and a few boyfriends) and I used to have “nail night” every couple of weeks. We would drink wine, gossip, and do nail art. Anyone, male or female, was welcome to join us as long as they were willing to decorate at least one nail. In our group we had a massage therapist who couldn’t wear polish on her fingers, and a couple of boys who couldn’t really get away with polish on their fingers because of their work environment. Those folks, and a few others, did pedicures instead of manicures. My friend (the massage therapist who hosted the event) would provide a huge bottle of nail polish remover and cotton balls along with some snacks, and she would protect her dining room table with old towels. Everyone would bring their nail polish stash to my friend’s house, and the true nail nuts among us would bring the most interesting selections from our collections. We would also bring things like stamping plates, glitter, crackle topcoats, etc. for everyone to try out. And we drank a *lot* of wine. We haven’t done that in a while, and I miss it. *sniff*

Anyway, it was great therapy and a lot of fun. I encourage all of you to try it out with your friends at least once.

June 13, 2013 at 7:45 am

Louise

Veteran

I hate baring my feet in sandals without toenail polish. My favourite colours for summer are coral and mint x

June 13, 2013 at 2:16 pm

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I use my toenails as a place to play around with wacky colors that I wouldn’t generally wear on my fingers. They aren’t always polished but when they are it is often with greens, greys, and other “non-traditional” nail polish colors, or if I’ve been hanging out with my sister, glitter.

June 15, 2013 at 3:27 am

Nicole

I usually only wear polish in the spring/summer. I tend to stick with 2 colors on my toes – deep purple and deep fushia. Even though deep purple may be considered not as summery, it just looks great on my toes. I do my own pedis, using the Ped Egg, and a pedicure kit I’ve had from Bath and Body Works, and I do this every 3 weeks or so. My toes look almost as good as if I had them done professionally.
The 2 shades I’ve been wearing this summer – Sally Hansen Plum Luck and Sephora (OPI) Screen Test (magenta).

July 12, 2013 at 7:46 pm

Jake

I enjoy a relaxing pedicure and in summer usually go for a gray or silver polish. I was introduced to this initially by my wife and decided that I liked the way my feet look and feel when ‘finished’ this way. I think more men are trying this now.

August 28, 2013 at 9:57 am

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