Rihanna knows white nail polish isn't a trend—it's the definitive summer nail polish color. From sheer, milky white to creamy ivory and chalky opaque white, shades in this family are timeless favorites for a reason. White adds just enough contrast to make you look tan even if you didn't spend your summer vacationing in The Hamptons or Saint Tropez. And no matter where you're going—the office, the bar, or the beach—white nail polish will keep you looking pulled-together, while offering a blank canvas against which the rest of your outfit can shine.
Perhaps that's why Rihanna painted her toes a brilliant shade of bright white to celebrate the launch of Fenty Hair at Selfridges in London, England. After arriving at the Sept. 16 event wrapped in a plush teddy coat, the pop star changed into her second look of the evening: a ruffled nude chiffon slip dress and strappy metallic sandals that showcased her fresh pedicure.
Rihanna isn't the only celebrity obsessed with white manicures and pedicures at the moment. When the high priestess of nail trends Hailey Bieber let husband Justin choose her first manicure after giving birth in August, the singer specifically requested "milky white." The same month, during her royal tour of Colombia, Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle—whose favorite nail polishes include CND’s Negligee and Unmasked—matched her $4, 700 Loro Piana bag to her milky white manicure. And for the May premiere of her new movie, Atlas, Jennifer Lopez and her go-to nail artist Tom Bachik mixed two shades of polish to create the perfect milky white: a combination of Aprés Nail Official Light & Shadow Gel Couleur in Renewal and Daydreaming.
Then again, if there's one thing we know for sure about Rihanna, it's that she loves to experiment with trends. Which might be why the mother of two—who works with stylist Jahleel Weaver—decided to pair her timeless white pedicure with a trendy butter yellow manicure that matched her furry trench.
Of course, if you're finding yourself feeling torn about color choice before your next nail appointment, there are plenty of warm off-white and alabaster hues that sit perfectly between sunny butter yellow and stark snow-white. A few of my favorites include Golf le Fleur's Blonde, Olive & June's Bunny Slope, and JINsoon's Prim. Shades like these add a touch of yellow and beige to your standard white for a more flattering, subdued take on white nails.
