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Fall technically doesn’t start until September 22, but Jennifer Lopez’s manicure just made the new season feel official. The singer shared her look for a screening of her new movie, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and her nails are giving major dark feminine energy. They also land on an unexpected side of current TikTok’s short-versus-long nail debate.
Lopez stepped out looking both cozy and polished in an oversized tailored and tied cream jacket and a slinky matching floor-length skirt. Her makeup and nails added depth and drama to her lighter ensemble: She wore a steely smoky eye, a frosty cool-toned nude gloss, and nails in a dark, rich red-brown hybrid.
Her nail look was the biggest surprise. Lopez has been known to opt for a long almond-shape nails, but this time she’s siding with Gen Z for a short-nail fall. ICYMI, nail shape is the latest generational debate taking social media by storm. Gen Z’ers on TikTok have been blasting long almond nails and endorsing short, square nails for their clean minimalist feel. On the other hand, millennial almond-shaped loyalists are not so pleased with Gen Z’s criticism.
But as Lopez recently showed us, there’s nothing wrong with being a fan of both.
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It seems that JLo has crossed over to the dark, short side, and peeking out from her massive sleeve, her nails look super chic. Her mani also proves that you don’t have sacrifice glamour for practicality when you opt for short nails. Lopez’s favorite manicurist, celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik, dubbed her set a “Vamp Vibe” and shared exactly how he created the look: He combined Apres Nail’s shades Midnight Shadow (a deep, almost-black blue) and Never Bordeaux You (a deep, velvety brown with red undertones).
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While Bachik’s Vamp Vibe label definitely aligns with Lopez’s fall look, we’re choosing to believe it has a double meaning—and major fall-nail-trend potential. With her sleek hair, popped fan collar, and dark-beauty details, Lopez is also serving some undeniable gothic glam vibes.
If you’re ready to lean into spooky season—and test out a dramatic look on your own short nails—skip the soft transitional shades. Black nails are always an edgy classic, but consider a deep, dark color variation instead. Whether you opt for a blood red, burgundy, midnight blue, or deep purple base, Jennifer Lopez makes a compelling case for Gen Z’s beloved nail shape.
Grace McCarty is the associate beauty editor at Glamour.
