Kerry Washington's Polka Dot Cat Eye Nails Are So High Fashion

a black woman with long, curly hair poses in front of a cream background — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Kerry Washington is just as in tune with today's biggest nail trends as you are. That would explain why she took two of the most popular trends of the season and combined them into one elegant manicure.

The Scandal actor attended the grand opening of the Pomellato Store in Beverly Hills this week, where she wore a black midi dress with broad shoulders and a plunging neckline. She wore warm-toned eye makeup and a hint of peachy color and gloss on her lips while her hair was pulled back into a messy low ponytail with two loose tendrils hanging on either side of her face. But the real drama was happening on her nails. If you look closely at photos from the event, you can see that Washington is wearing an almond-shaped manicure with a neutral base that's embellished with dark polka dots and a velvety cat eye finish.

a black woman with dark hair wears a black dress and poses in front of a red background — Kerry Washington wears a polka dot manicure to a store opening in Beverly Hills.

If you can recall, polka dots made a huge comeback in the fashion world last summer, popping up in some of the most popular designer collections during fall 2025. It wasn't long after that the retro design inevitably swung over into the beauty world and became a highly-requested design for nail enthusiasts all summer. Dua Lipa co-signed the trend by combining it with a black French manicure while vacationing in the Mediterranean, while Sabrina Carpenter was spotted wearing a manicure that featured a glossy, nude base with white polka dots and rhinestone accents shortly thereafter. Even Hailey Bieber took a break from her typical glazed donut manicure look to wear a "lemon drop martini" manicure featuring a lemon yellow base color underneath silver polka dots and rhinestones.

The polka dot nail trend took off last summer, but it's a design that's appropriate to wear year round, since it's easy to customize with rich and bold nail colors, depending on your mood and the look you're going for. It's also a really easy look to create on your own at home if you want to give yourself a fun manicure without having to break the bank at a nail salon.

To get the look, read ahead to shop everything you'll need.

PaintLab

Chrome Polka Dot

Achieve the dotted look in minutes with a set of easy-to-apply press-on nails.

Dashing Diva GelXtend

Medium Round Tips

If the DIY method is what you prefer, start off by adding some length to your nails with gel extensions.

Le Mini Macaron

Le Dottie Dotting Tool

You can create a polka dot design on your nails with something that's already in your house, like a toothpick or a bobby pin, but for ease and consistency, invest in a dotting tool. This one is just $5.

Gelcare

Nude Bb Cream

Polka dots will look good on top of any color, but a nude base serves as the perfect canvas.

Manucurist

Xtrem Flash Gel Top Coat

Finish with a top coat that'll make your nails look extra glossy and prevent chipping.

Danielle Jackson is the senior beauty writer at Marie Claire. She has nearly a decade of experience covering beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment and was previously the senior beauty editor at Women's Health, where she thoughtfully covered topics related to skincare, haircare, aesthetics, and wellness. Before that, she spent three years as an assistant beauty editor at PS, and in the years since, her work has appeared in titles like Vogue, InStyle, Glamour, and more. Danielle graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in English, and has lived in Brooklyn for almost ten years. When she's not writing, you can find her reading romance novels and talking about sunscreen. You can find her on Instagram @danielleknecole.