Dakota Johnson has been vaping all over New York City, but not for the reason you might think. It seems the actor has officially begun filming for the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover's 2018 psychological thriller novel Verity. Set to star opposite Anne Hathaway in the film, Johnson will portray the story's shrewd protagonist Lowen Ashleigh: a struggling writer who stumbles across a disturbing mystery when she's assigned to complete a book for a best-selling author.
Now, we're finally getting a first look at Johnson's styling for the project. On Mar. 12, the Madame Web star was spotted shooting one of the book's earliest scenes in New York City. Her taupe coat, burnt orange pants, and gold chain jewelry channeled an autumnal vibe. But in order to catch the most telling detail, you'll have to zoom in on the 35-year-old's short black manicure.
For celebrities like Selena Gomez, Kendall Jenner, and Dua Lipa, 2024 was the year of bubble bath nails and naked manicures—shorter styles that mimic mannequinlike perfection. But in recent months, the pendulum seems to be swinging back toward nostalgic nail trends, such as French tips and glossy shades of black.
Recently, Kylie Jenner accessorized her vintage Celine shirt with long black nails for a tennis match date with Timothée Chalamet. And for several weeks running, Kaia Gerber has been rocking a chipped black manicure in an unexpected break from her biweekly baby pink gel appointment. Seeing Dakota Johnson embrace the look on set feels like even more confirmation that black manicures are so back.
Black nails also make perfect sense for Johnson's character in the flick. At the beginning of the book, Lowen is an awkward and seemingly naive introvert drifting through life. By the end, she emerges with a cunning sense of self-preservation she never had before. In a way, her black manicure foreshadows this duality to her personality as well as her transformation from meek ghostwriter to main character.
Of course, you don't need to be embroiled in a dangerous literary mystery to take this chic minimalist manicure trend for a spin. Any saturated black creme lacquer will do the trick. Just be sure to do thorough nail prep and a base coat beforehand to avoid streaking and staining.
