Zoya Holiday 2007 – Utopia
Releasing in November for the holiday season, the Utopia collection from Zoya is a group of fun, bold shimmering metallic shades that will add a splash of color and glitz to those dreary gray winter days. And All Lacquered Up is fortunate to be the very first to see it, outside of the Art of Beauty family.
This is going to sound silly but whenever I hear the word Utopia I think of that Drew Barrymore movie Ever After. It’s a feminist take on the tale of Cinderella and in it the heroine (played by Drew) loves the book Utopia by Thomas More. I still have my copy of Ever After on VHS and even though I haven’t had a VHS player hooked up in years, I refuse to get rid of it. I love that movie.
Ok, so either someone at Zoya loves me or green nails is a trend that I didn’t see coming. Of all the jewels tones green is the color I least expected to become mainstream. Outside of our small online nail community I’ve never seen anyone else wearing it. But you certainly won’t hear me complaining. Bring on the greens!
My one and only complaint with this collection is the pigmentation. The majority of the lacquers needed three coats to become completely opaque and achieve the bottle shade. Similar to Suvi and Kotori from the Downtown Collection. I wonder if it’s because the extra pigment would thicken the formula and Zoya’s polish is already thicker than the typical non-Big 3 Free brands.
Austine is a muted brushed gold. On the nail it has the appearance hammered metal and the silver shimmer keeps the color from becoming too peach. Austina is more metallic than shimmery which sets it apart from the other shades in Utopia but thankfully it doesn’t affect application.
Tama is the least “me” shade of the bunch. I’m not anti-pink or brights but I feel there’s something in this shade that doesn’t work with my skin tone. It’s a pretty color and definitely more rosy in the sun but it’s just not something I would intentionally buy for myself.
Kamilah is luscious crimson shade with a hint of gold shimmer that comes out in sunlight. As you can see in the individual swatch pics of this and some of the other shades, these polishes seem to have a slight duochrome effect. The color doesn’t completely change but it’s definitely more intense in direct light.
In the bottle Juno looks very much like a duochrome. The polish looks blue all along the edges of the bottle, similar to how Ki looks in the bottle. However on the nail, the blue isn’t that apparent which is a shame. A purple/blue duochrome would be amazing. Of all the purples I have, I feel that Juno will make my top 10 for sure, possibly even top 5. It has incredible depth, pigmentation and gloss. If you love purple, get Juno.
Akyra reminds me of a peacock feather. It’s not as bright but in the same vein. In the sun the green takes dominance and it’s the green that makes Akyra different than Kotori.
I saved the best for last. Irene is a stunning mossy sage green sprinkled with gold shimmer. This green is probably better suited to warm skin tones but a shade this gorgeous should not be limited by skin coloring. In case you haven’t guessed, this is my #1 pick from Utopia and a must have for anyone that loves or appreciates the beauty of green polish.
Which polishes will you be adding to your wish list?
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
The word Utopia makes me think of Ever After too! Thats very funny that you think the same way.
And wow, I’m loving Akyra and Irene. I hope Irene doesn’t show up as a sickly green on me, but I am warm toned, so it probably won’t. (and I love golden olive greens like this) It seems like the perfect green for fall. Thanks for the great post! I love reading this blog, gives me so many nail polish lemmings.
I love Juno and Akrya. I have fair skin, so no Irene for me, though it seems a very unique polish color. I have never really cared for traditional polish colors. A reason that I love Zoya (aside from great wear and no Big Three offenders) is the bright, glitter, and non-traditional colors they offer.
Thanks for the preview!
I was just thinking the same thing when I saw the collection named as Utopia.
great swatches! I especially love the purple.
Irene and Austine! Gorgeous for fall! Though these will be my first Zoya purchases so I’ll need to get their basecoat.
Cincy, I think someone at Zoya loves you
I don’t remember Utopia from Ever After (I guess I should put it on my Netflix). I actually thought of the new Tudors series with Jonathan Rhys Myers.
Irene looks amazing, but I don’t think it will be a good color for me
Can’t wait to get my paws on Tama, Kamilah, Juno and Akyra though!
I love Ever After. It is one of my fave rainy day, curl up with hot chocolate and Baileys, movie!
This looks like a fun collection. Nothing really has me excited but I have yet to convert to Zoya. Nice to see more than the safe reds and gold though!
Wow, I need Juno and Tama now! Thanks for the great preview pics!
Where can you buy Zoya online? Are there any e-tailer sites?
M, all I can say is “Hot d*mn!” What an amazing collection of colors.
You are the best! Thank you for previewing these for us.
Hugs!
I’m always impressed with Zoya collections. I still haven’t bought any because I’m trying to use the colors I have before buying more, but I always LOVE their colors. I will definitely be picking up Downtown and Utopia in my next purchase.
does akyra look like outta bounds or camoflauge? thx
Oh Cincy, you are leading me up the Zoya path again – Juno is fabulous and the others aren’t bad either
Thanks for this blog, it keeps me drooling…
Irene is just *gorgeous* (and I am not normally a greens girl, but I do love mossy colours). It is a shame I’ve just dropped £50 at 8t8 – Irene will have to go at the top of a new list of lemmings to be bought in a few months!
YES! *rubs hands* I have been waiting for these! Thanks so much for posting, I will definitely be getting everything!
When does this collection come out?
I love the movie Ever After! Its up there with The Princess Bride on my list of favorite fairy tale movies.
Anyways, I love Akyra and Juno, but I haven’t yet tried Zoya polishes. This looks like it will be the time to start!
I hope I hope I hope I can wear Irene! I’ve been searching for a real army green shade of nail polish for months and this looks like it might just be it! I’m pale and more cool than warm though, so it may not work on me.
Thanks again, isn’t Kamilah in the regular line?
I’m happy to see so many Ever After fans. I have a little girl crush on Drew Barrymore so I adore any movie she’s in.
Anon – You can buy Zoya directly from their website.
Csuthetaphi – You read my post too fast. They’re releasing in November.
But I’ll bring them with me the next time we meet up so you can see the colors in person before buying.
Dianne – Kamilah is a brand new shade. You might be thinking of the discontinued, HTF and coveted vampy called Kamila.
Hey Cinci,
How close is ‘irene” to “at your quebec and call”?
Thanks!
jesibella
(p.s. thanks for introducing me to MUA thru yr blog- I am ADDICTED!!!)
Would it be safe to say that the nail polish trend for Winter is metallics?
[...]All Lacquered Up brings you the exclusive first look at Zoya’s winter collection[...]
*awesome pics, cincy fan!*
ooh…love that green! can’t wait to try it!
Austine, Tama and Kamilah
thank you! i’ve been looking for that shade of green for years. ever since revlon stopped selling their ‘limited edition’ which was very simmilar. thanks again, you made my day!