Kerry Washington Is Making This Holiday-Favorite Nail Color A Summer Staple

The official start of summer is still weeks away, but the season’s top beauty trend is already quietly emerging among the celebrity set. Typically, the warm weather months are dominated by manicure shades you might describe as a bit on-the-nose: oceanic blues, tropical oranges and reds, and every possible iteration of neon. But these days, it seems to be all about the unexpected, like autumnal browns, dusty mauves, and even holiday-classic metallics. Just look at Kerry Washington’s gold nails, just unveiled for her special appearance at the LA Times Festival of Books on April 21. The gleaming set, made to look like true pieces of chromatic metal overlaid across her finger tips, might feel like an unconventional choice for summer at first glance. But really, think about it — what do you call that magic hour on the beach just before the sun goes down again?

Looking luxe and literary all at once in a cool, sapphire-blue suit with gossamer-light transparent panels through the legs and arms, Washington’s appearance at the festival was in support of her first memoir, the 2023 bestseller Thicker Than Water. She paired an intricate braid — it looks to be about a four-strand plait with tons of incredible curly texture — styled by Larry J. Sims with a steely eyeshadow that matches her suit. The deep tones of the outfit really help those gold nails pop.

As one of the most influential beauty icons around, of course Washington’s worn gold manicures plenty of times before. But they almost exclusively appear around fall and winter — the almost-summer timing is so much of what makes this look an exciting one. It looks like she’s layered the polish over her own natural nails, filed into a softly rounded almond shape. It’s adds a low-key element to an otherwise standout manicure, perfect for the book festival.

On your next trip to the salon, consider borrowing a move from Washington and opting for a bright, chromatic metallic. Who says all that shine has to stay reserved for holiday parties and New Year’s Eve? The season’s next big vacation color is finally here.