Last week I was sipping iced tea in a short-sleeve t-shirt, blissfully ignorant of the fact that the weather was about to revoke my summer privileges. Now, I'm digging through my knitwear and browsing the best chocolate brown raincoats. But while I'm busy letting the changing seasons dictate my wardrobe, Olivia Colman has found a far chicer way to embrace autumn, and it doesn't involve buying another orange candle from Bath & Body Works...
Hi, hello, butter toffee nails! Attending the screening of Wicker during the 70th BFI London Film Festival, the actor made a convincing case for nails the color of toffee. Think warm, caramel-toned brown with a glossy finish.
AKA, a mani that looks good enough to eat. And while orange might have autumn's unofficial monopoly, this softer, sweeter take on the season's trending color feels less Halloween pumpkin-y, and more like a rich autumnal candy. But beyond the color, there's also a subtle wink to the movie with an understated wicker basket nail art effect.
The delicate woven detail adds texture and personality without veering into novelty nail territory—a fitting choice for Olivia, whose style is never overdone but always has a thoughtful little twist. To recreate Olivia's butter toffee manicure, you're going to want to start with nail prep, because jumping into the color without filing, shaping, and buffing is a surefire way to make even the chicest shade look sloppy, and we most definitely don’t want that. Then, apply a base coat followed by two thin layers of a warm caramel-brown polish.
Look for shades with golden, toffee-like undertones rather than anything too dark and treacle-like. Some of our favorites are OPI’s My Italian is a Little Rusty or Essie’s Cold Brew Crew. You can, then, take it up a notch and get into the spirit of the film (or autumnal apple-picking vibes) by adding faint horizontal lines across the nail to create the woven basket effect.
There you have the sweetest way to wear brown this autumn. Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
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