Nicole Kidman Loves This Dramatic Manicure With A '90s Vibe & It's Perfect For Fall 2026

The woman known to all '90s girls as Gillian Owens seems to be determined to relive the grunge decade herself. Recently, Nicole Kidman's natural hair return served pure '90s chilly weather nostalgia, and if we'd been paying attention to her nails, we all would have seen it coming. In July 2025, Kidman was in Paris for Haute Couture Fashion Week when she was spotted emerging from Balenciaga's Fall/Winter 2025/2026 runway show in a sharp black suit and sunglasses, chunky gold jewelry, and a luscious black cherry manicure that instantly recalled one of her most iconic '90s looks.

Stephane Cardinale – Corbis & Steve.granitz/Getty

In 1994, when Kidman attended the premiere of "Interview with the Vampire" (above right) with then-husband Tom Cruise, who starred in the film as Lestat de Lioncourt, she really got into the exsanguine spirit. Along with a dark smoky eye and a blood-red lip, Kidman famously accessorized her black and white suit with the Chanel nail color, Vamp. The reddish-purplish-black shade made its debut just months earlier at Chanel's fall ready-to-wear runway show and went on to become synonymous with '90s goth-glam, a look that Kidman — and the fashion world at large — clearly still favors.

As usual, Nicole Kidman was ahead of her time. Maybe she was just feeling witchy, as "Practical Magic 2" began filming the same month she was seen sporting her magical manicure, but a year later, no less a fashion authority than Vogue declared that '90s nails are in for fall 2026. That includes Kidman's vampy red; in fact, Chanel released a limited edition collection based on Vamp in January 2026, obviously anticipating a whimsigoth fall.

Several trending shades go great with sweater weather, including glossy red, chocolate brown, and metallic finishes, but the sky's the limit when it comes to '90s nails — literally. Baby blue, echoing Hard Candy's cult classic Sky shade, is an option for those who aren't ready to come to the dark side, as well as sheer pearl formulas and buffed natural nails. Finally, don't write off a deep French tip; Pamela Anderson's go-to '90s manicure is one of fall 2026's hottest nail trends.