A black dress is a wardrobe essential. Why? Because it goes with everything. So, what nail polish color goes with a black dress?
Well…almost all of them.
So, if black goes with every other color, how do you narrow it down?
In this post, I’m gonna show you the best nail colors to go with your black dress.
I’ll recommend exact polish shades that go with black.
I’ll also share tips, tricks, and advice on how to pick the perfect color for you.
We’re about to deep dive into this.
Not much time?
Then here’s the short and fast answer:
Most nail polish colors go with a black dress. Try White, Navy, Beige, Taupe, and Gray nails with a Black dress if you like neutrals. You can also wear Gold, Silver, or Copper nail polish. Olive, Forest, Sage, or Emerald Green work great with a black dress. Cherry or orangey-red will go too. Vibrant Pink, Cobalt Blue, Lemon Yellow, and Plum nails will also work well.
Now you have a few options for what color nail polish goes with a Black dress – fantastic!
Time to go deeper and find out more about the looks you can create.
Here’s a table of contents for easy navigation:
Table of contents:
Tips and advice for choosing the right polish color
What color nail polish goes with a Black dress? Neutrals.
What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Cool-toned colors.
What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Warm-toned colors.
What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Earth tones.
What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Metallic polish colors.
What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Other polish colors that go.
Tips and advice for choosing the right polish color
One of the questions I always get asked is “how do you match your nails to your dress?”
It’s something a lot of people struggle with.
So, in this section, we’ll go over a few things to think about.
When you’re done reading, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to make great color choices.
Here’s the first question to ask yourself.
What do you like and what suits your style?
The LBD can be tough to style.
When you’re thinking about what color nail polish goes with a black dress, there are so many fashion paths you can walk!
You can glam it up, dress it down, go grungy and edgy, or elegant and timeless.
Your choice of polish color should reflect your personal taste.
You should also think about what suits you and your preferred style.
Going for a vintage look or an artsy vibe?
Then you might look at delicate browns, warm yellows, peaches, lavenders, or pale greens.
Like to keep it casual, minimal, or boho?
Then white, gray, blush, or rose-pink could do the trick.
Want something bold, attention-grabbing, or a little sexy?
Then cobalt blue, canary yellow, or cherry Red polish could be great options for you.
Don’t buy a polish color just because it goes with your dress.
Choose a color you love, and you’ll smile every time you look at your nails!
What time of year is it?
Sometimes the answer to what color nail polish goes with a black dress can be seasonal.
Thinking about the time of year can help you to hone in on the perfect nail color.
You may instinctively know that some colors are seasonal.
I’ll give you a few examples:
Spring colors – pastels, coral, lemon yellow, sky, and baby blues.
Summer colors – bright shades of orange, yellow, Lime, and Fuschia.
Fall – earthy greens, browns, oranges, and mustard yellows.
Winter colors – cool blues, white, silver, gold, and berry reds.
Nail polish brands always have seasonal collections.
These collections can be a great source of inspiration.
If you’re wearing your dress in fall, choosing a color from a fall collection makes sense.
It will work for the season and it’s also a great way to stay on-trend.
What’s the occasion?
The next question you can ask yourself is “what’s the occasion”?
Where you’re going and what you’ll be doing can help you narrow down your color choices.
Is it a special occasion or a formal event in the evening?
If so, you might rule out pastels and neutrals.
Why?
Because these colors may be more suitable for daytime or outdoor activities.
For a formal event, a metallic polish (in any color) will work well.
A bold shade or a jewel tone, or even a classic red or navy polish is also appropriate for a formal event.
Also, the type of event could factor in.
Is it a celebration, or something serious?
The color you choose for a wedding party may be quite different from what you’d wear to a funeral or a job interview.
I’m just giving you suggestions here.
There are no rules.
Wear a pastel to a formal event and a metallic one to lunch if that’s what your heart wants!
I’m just trying to give you something to think about to help you narrow it down.
Another example:
What color nail polish goes with a black dress for a date?
Let’s say you are going on a date.
You might choose a polish in blush or rose pink.
Why?
Because both those colors are feminine and romantic.
Whatever the occasion, it’s a good idea to think about the vibe you want to create.
A note on skintone
The undertones in your skin can complement or clash with certain colors.
Want the best possible nail polish colors for you?
Look for colors that match the undertones in your skin.
Do you have cool undertones?
Then cool nail polish colors or those with cool undertones will be the most flattering.
And if you’re a warm-toned beauty, look for warm-toned polishes.
Not sure what the heck I’m talking about?
Read this post on how to match nail polish colors to your skin tone.
Now, let’s see what nail polish colors work well with a black dress.
We’ll start with neutrals.
What color nail polish goes with a black dress? – Neutrals.
I wear neutral nail polish colors a LOT.
When it’s time to choose a polish, you can’t go wrong with neutrals.
They go with everything and they work for any occasion.
I love neutrals so much, I wrote a post all about them.
Check it out. It’s called 14 nail polish colors that go with any outfit.
1 or 2 of the colors might surprise you!
Black is a neutral color, so you can wear it with any other neutral nail polish color.
But, some neutrals will work better for you depending on your skin tone and the look you want.
Here are the best neutral nail polish colors to pair with your black dress.
White
White nails are trending right now.
It’s a clean and simple look that means you’re ready for a fresh start.
On TikTok, They can also mean you’re single, so be aware!
White nail polish is a great choice with a black dress.
A bright, crisp, pure white like OPI’s Alpine Snow will give you a high contrast look.
White nails will look amazing and chic with your black dress.
They’re also super easy to match to everything in your closet – bonus!
Navy
Navy nails are my go-to for formal events.
Or anytime I’m feeling posh!
I love how navy and black look together – it’s elegant but unexpected.
Navy nails are crazy-versatile.
They can give you a moody, dark feel that’s appropriate for a funeral.
Or they can elevate an outfit to fashionista status.
Throw on a pair of blue jeans the day after you wear your black dress.
You’ll look casual and totally pulled together – love it!
Beige
For a refined look that’s timelessly elegant, go with beige.
A beige nail polish with your black dress says “I didn’t try too hard and I still look fabulous!”
The creaminess of beige can soften the intensity of black.
It’s a good choice if you want to wear tan or brown shoes or accessories.
Taupe
Taupe and black together look ultra-chic and modern.
Is your dress more of a sooty black and less of a jet black?
If so, Taupe nail polish will look particularly good!
For a relaxed, casual vibe, Taupe nail polish is a perfect choice.
Gray
Try a stone-cold gray for a sophisticated, cool look.
When wearing black, it’s best to stick with mid and light grays.
Light, cool-toned grays are perfect with a black dress for a modern, minimalist look.
You should avoid darker grays because they won’t provide enough of a contrast.
What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Cool-toned colors.
If your skin has cool undertones, the polish colors in this section will be the most flattering for you.
You can also wear these nail colors if you have neutral-toned skin.
Green
There are a few shades of green that look amazing with a black dress.
As a cool-skinned beauty, I adore emerald green!
Emerald green gives you a luxurious feel that’s chic and sophisticated.
Try an emerald green polish with your black dress and wait for the compliments to roll in.
OPI does a great emerald green polish. Its called Suzi-san Climbs Fuji-san.
Or you could try Zoya’s Giovanna.
Sage is another green shade that pairs well with black.
Black and sage are great if you want something a little more casual.
I love Essie’s Sage you Love Me.
Forest green is another strong green shade that goes with a black dress and makes a bold statement.
Teal
Teal is a cool, blue-green shade that looks fabulous with a black dress.
It’s a versatile color that works for any time of year.
Teal works for any occasion. But it’s a particularly good color to wear for job interviews.
This is because teal communicates clarity of thought and calmness.
I like OPI’s Is That a Spear in your Pocket?
And Essie’s Garden Variety.
Purple
Want a look that’s smoldering with sensuality, elegance, and luxury?
Then a purple polish could be your perfect match.
Deep rich purples, like plum, for example, complement a black dress beautifully.
What does deep purple say about you?
Deep purple is a mysterious, ambitious, and powerful color.
It symbolizes dignity and independence.
The shades Chiara and Juno from Zoya are stunning.
Kimono-over is also beautiful (by Essie).
Blue
You can wear most blue polish shades with a black dress.
For an unexpected, eclectic, and relaxed vibe – try a navy polish like Essie’s No More Film.
But if you want to make a statement, go for a rich jewel tone like cobalt blue.
If you’re looking for a bold blue that suits all skin tones – I’d recommend Zoya’s Tallulah.
The bold color and subtle metallic finish make a big impact.
What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Warm toned colors.
You don’t have to have a warm skin tone to wear these colors.
But if you do, they will compliment your undertones.
Yellow
For a pop of color that will breathe life into an LBD, opt for yellow nail polish.
Yellow is the perfect choice for spring and summer.
Think bright, bold shades with plenty of personality.
Stay away from pastel or mustard yellows though – they can clash a bit with black.
Anything punchy will work to liven up your outfit.
You could go for a greeny-yellow like Cote’s No 59 in Charteruse.
Or a Lemon Yellow shade like Zoya’s Daisy.
For maximum impact and major cool points – try OPI’s No Faux Yellow.
It’s an amazing bright yellow shade that won the 2021 Glamour Beauty Award.
What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Earth tones.
Earthy colors go well with Black.
We’ve already talked about Navy and Sage green.
Both of these nail colors will give you an earthy toned-down look.
If you want relaxed vibes – pair your black dress with either Sage or navy.
If you want stylish and sophisticated (but still earthy) – then try Olive green.
Browns and terracotta shades can work well too.
Check out CND’s Clay Canyon or Zoya’s Dea.
Bold polish colors that work with a Black dress
Do you want all eyes on your nails?
If so, this is the section for you.
Let’s take a look at some bold and beautiful polish options.
For maximum impact with your black dress.
Yellow and green
Strong yellows, like Canary yellow, will make your nails pop.
The brighter the better!
Look for shades with Lemon or Sunshine in the name.
But steer clear of washed-out pastel shades and mustard.
I love OPI’s award-winning No Faux Yellow.
Lime green or other bold green shades like chartreuse will also attract the eye.
If super bright green is your thing, try Zoya’s Link.
It’s an in-your-face Neon green that screams “look at me!”.
Red-orange
You won’t get more intense with a black dress than by adding vibrant red-orange nails.
Think bold, energetic, reds with lots of orangy punch and bright shades of coral.
Zoya’s Virginia and Rocha are amazing shades to try out.
Vibrant purple
Why not add a bold punch to your black dress with a vivid purple?
Bright purples are a creative and unexpected way to bring that black dress to life!
Banks from Zoya is a new release I’m currently crushing on.
It’s a powerful, violet neon that’s so cool!
What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Metallic polishes.
Great news!
Copper, silver, gold, and rose gold all go with a black dress.
That means you wear any of these colors when it comes to nails or accessories.
You can even match your nails to your favorite piece of jewelry if you want!
Of course, you can also wear any nail polish color that has a metallic finish.
Like a shimmery green, purple, or blue for example.
If you like rose gold – try Zoya’s Esme or Essie’s Penny Talk – both gorgeous!
My favorite silver is OPI’s Silver on Ice.
I don’t wear gold nail polish, but by all accounts, Soleil by Zoya is good.
It’s an antique gold that’s great for warm skin tones.
What color nail polish goes with a black dress? Other polish colors that go.
Still searching for your perfect match?
Here are a few more ideas for some other polish colors that go well with a black dress.
Blush pink
I love the elegant combination of blush pink with black.
Blush nails will soften up the black in your dress.
Giving you a feminine look that’s delicate and romantic.
I love Joss by Zoya and Don’t Make Me Blush by China Glaze.
Brown
Some people hate black and brown together.
Others can’t get enough!
If you’re into brown nails right now, my advice to stay on trend would be to keep it light.
Anything from a mid-brown to a light tan will work.
Any darker and you won’t see the contrast against the black.
Dusty rose
A nice, dusty rose shade will look dreamy and classy with a black dress.
If timeless elegance and romance appeal to you, then get yourself a dusty rose nail polish.
Nails Inc in the color Uptown is good. So is Dior’s Incognito.
Final thoughts
I hope I was able to answer the question of what color nail polish goes with a black dress for you.
Don’t worry too much about finding the perfect shade of nail polish.
It’s hard to find nail polish colors that don’t work with black.
So the odds of you getting it right are pretty good!
Focus less on what colors go well with your black dress and more on the look you want.
That way, you’ll find that you are more inspired.
I hope I gave you some good ideas and I’ll see you next time 🙂
Good luck and have an awesome time in your Black dress 🤗
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