How to Match Your Nail Polish to Your Dress Perfectly (2024)

Matching shoes, a clutch, and jewelry to your prom dress may be your main focus, but don't forget about your prom nails! The shade you wear on your nails for prom can add a lot to your overall look, but choosing the right one for your outfit's color scheme can be tricky. So, to figure out how to match nail polish to your perfect prom dress or suit, we called upon celebrity nail artists. Look no further for prom nail ideas. They've helped us come with 32 stunning nail designs for every color dress. Read on to get some inspiration for cute prom nails and even find some places to get your perfect shade!

Nails for a Black Dress

When picking prom nails for a black dress, you can basically go in any direction. Celebrity manicurist Beth Fricke suggests going bold: "With a black dress, wear intense flashes of color to accessorize!"

1. Neon Nail Polish

2. Bright Blue Nail Polish

3. Bold Yellow Nail Polish

Nails for a White Dress

With a white dress, go for classic baby pink nails for prom... or go in a completely different direction and think outside the box. According to Julie Kandalec, the founder of Masterclass Nail Academy, wearing white is a great opportunity to choose a fun coral or bright aqua nails for prom.

4. Light Pink Nail Polish

5. Coral Nail Polish

6. Aqua Nail Polish

Nails for a Red Dress

“Matchy-matchy is actually OK here. With red, more than other colors, it’s really important to nail the right undertone. A red dress with an orange-y hue needs a warm undertone nail color. Similarly, if you have a red dress with a cool, blue undertone, the nail color should mimic it. Pink also looks so chic with red—it’s my favorite color combination right now,” said celebrity manicurist Tracylee Percival.

7. Deep Red Nail Polish

8. Bright Red Nail Polish

9. Pink Nail Polish

Nails for Blush Pink Dress

"Try something fun and unique like a fresh blue or mint green that coordinates with jewelry or matches eye makeup to modernize the look," says Beth. You could also opt for bright, fresh white prom nails (and potentially add a some glitter over the white).

10. Mint Green Nail Polish

11. Light Blue Nail Polish

12. White Nail Polish

Nails for a Floral Dress

"If you are planning a floral dress, then you don't want to be to 'cute-sy' in other areas like makeup and nails. Offset the softness and sweetness of a floral dress with a dramatic, high-octane color like a vampy blackish-burgundy. Or, try something fun and off beat — maybe something glittery," says Nonie Crème, the founder of Butter London.

13. Dark Burgundy Nail Polish

14. Light Glitter Nail Polish

15. Dark Glitter Nail Polish

Nails for a Gold Dress

Complement a gold metallic dress with gold metallic (or gold glitter) prom nails. A warm, solid color like orange or red prom nails also looks great with a gold dress.

16. Gold Nail Polish

17. Orange Nail Polish

18. Pure Red Nail Polish

Nails for Silver Metallic Dress

For a silver metallic prom dress, pick a cool nail color like gray, soft purple, or periwinkle blue. They're great compliments to silver, and absolutely perfect for prom.

19. Grey Nail Polish

20. Purple Nail Polish

21. Periwinkle Blue Nail Polish

Nails for a Jewel-Toned Dress

"Almost-black nail colors accent the richness of a jewel-toned dress. Look for polishes in similar jewel tones as the fabric in purple, blue, or emerald. Or, if you can’t find the right match, deep red nails look great with everything. And metallic gold or silver nails will bring out the metal highlights in your dress," says Tracylee.

22. Deep Red Nail Polish

23. Rich Blue Nail Polish

24. Metallic Purple Nail Polish

Nails for a Grey Dress

Wondering how to match nail polish to a dress that's a neutral color? Look for beige and cream nail colors. "If you're wearing a dark, neutral color like grey or navy, try a cream opaques. You can also layer sheer metallics with a dark crème for a cool affect," says celebrity manicurist Elle Gerstein.

25. Sheer Metallic Cream Nail Polish

26. Beige Nail Polish

27. Shimmery Cream Nail Polish

Nails for a Pastel Dress

"A white, shimmery look is a feminine way to complement the soft tone of a pastel dress. Pink nails complement all pastel dresses and keep the look young and fresh. It’s a good idea to choose something a shade deeper than the dress you’re wearing. If your dress is light blue, for example, wear a deeper blue with the same undertone on your nails," says Tracylee.

28. White, Shimmery Nail Polish

29. Pastel Blue Nail Polish

30. Pastel Yellow Nail Polish

31. Pastel Pink Nail Polish