OPI La Collection De France for Fall 2008
The much anticipated Fall collection from OPI, La Collection De France, hit shelves last week and sent my fellow fanatics into frenzy. Ever since the unofficial images hit the net, people have been curious about what the colors will look like in person. I have to say that while there are a few AMAZING shades in the collection, overall I can’t help but say “meh!” But you girls know me; I like new, different, unexpected. And while this extremely wearable palette represents the chic, sophisticated air of France, overall it doesn’t intrigue me.
Where formula is concerned, the shimmers are barely noticeable (exceptions noted) while the cremes have continued to impress me the way India and the Mod Brights did. Excellent coverage, smooth application and a glossy finish. What more can a girl ask for?
My OPI France Hits:
Parlez Vous OPI? is the clear winner and stand out for me. I’m so feeling the smoked out shades for Fall, I can’t even stand it! And this smokey violet creme is a total knockout. If there is one color (besides dove gray) that I’ll be wearing multiple times this Fall, it’s this one.
You Don’t Know Jacques! ended up surprising me. This muddy browned gray didn’t look at all flattering in the bottle but on my nails, LOVES IT! In the same way that China Glaze Wagon Trail felt gritty and grungy, You Don’t Know Jacques! gives off the same edge. The creme finish just makes it a bit more chic.
Louvre Me Louvre Me Not is a fun pop of juicy grape color in a collection with such subdued tones. And the shimmer in this one is more prominent, making this a great shade for us funky nail lovin’ gals.
Baguette Me Not is another one that caught me off guard. I didn’t think much of it in the bottle but it really works with my skin tone. And I’m diggin the slightly dusty quality. So, is it a deep melon, a reddish orange, a browned red? It’s like describing the wondrous taste and texture of sushi in that I can’t quite articulate it, I just know I like it.
The Misses:
What’s there to say about Tickle My France-y? It’s a nice, neutral, nude. How’s that for alliteration? But seriously, it’s a great basic. Very work friendly and I like that it’s not sheer. Finding flattering opaque neutrals can be a challenge.
Crepes Suzi-ette reminds me of the reddish brown shade MAC put in the N Colour collection, Naturally Rich. That one didn’t work for me and neither does Crepes Suzi-ette. It applied beautifully but is just way to blah for me. I could see a darker skinned person pulling this off or perhaps even a red-head. Just not me.
I wanted to like I’m Fondue Of You. I really did. The shimmery slightly bronze bottle shade drew me in. I honestly expected this to be a winner. But on my nails, it just kind of dies. I love me some chocolate brown but this was too light and too red and not shimmery enough for my taste.
And the I’ve Seen It Befores:
A Oui Bit Of Red has visible shimmer in the bottle though when applied, it disappears. I do like that it makes my nails look like little Red Hot candies, which is fun but, it’s not a red I haven’t seen before. I know, what red really is? Like the LBD (little black dress) it’s a staple.
Bastille My Heart is a deep candy apple red with that same subtle shimmer. Pretty but, yawn inducing. Next!
Yes… I Can-Can! and We’ll Always Have Paris (below in that order) both have a reddish grape base that has been deepended to a vampy plum. The shimmer in Yes… I Can-Can! is really the only difference. The silver sparkles do stand out some on the nail but I can’t really say either polish is more unique than the vampies from past Fall collections (Russia, Chicago, 25th Anniversary).
Eiffel For This Color looks to be a Lincoln Park After Midnight twin. I’ll have to do a swatch test and report back. Again, it’s another almost-black plum with shimmer. Do I like it? Yes! Will I wear it? For sure. Does it make me want to run out and buy a backup? Not so much.
The OPI La Collection De France is available now at professional salons and chains like Trade Secret, ULTA, Regis, JC Penney in addition to the online e-tailers I have listed on the right.
So what are your thoughts on the collection? I’m sure by now some of you have already scooped up your favs. What were your Hits, Misses and Seen It Befores?
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
Thanks! I was wondering if You Don’t Know Jacques might have the weeeiiirrd appeal that Butter London Fash Pack is apparently packing. Apparently it does. I am probably holding out for Sephora by OPI’s Metro Chic before I start investing, but I do feel better now I’ve seen swatches. You’re the best!
I'm a polish-a-holic so I'm going crazy over this collection! I can't wait to go out & buy the colors I like. My favorites are: Parlez Vou OPI, You Don't Know Jacques & Eiffel For This Color.
I’m interested in the Tickle My France-Y. I wonder what it’ll look like on me since I’m brown, but I’m always looking for that perfect neutral. Love that you do the swatches, gives me a better idea of what to expect!
Hi Michelle,
Welcome back and thanks for the awesome pics! I agree with your choices and have bought the purple-y ones in your hits list. I have Eiffel for this Colour, and hope it doesn’t look too much like Lincoln Park after Midnight, which I also have.
I’m actually lovin’ this whole collection. I think TMF looks awesome on you!
You know after seeing all the colours (which do look great on your nails BTW!), I’m inclined to agree with your statment: I can’t help but say “meh!”
Disappointingly, none of them are MUST HAVES for me, with the possible exception of “You Don’t Know Jacques!”, which I am very intrigued by.
Oh well, the OPI Holiday in Toyland Collection looks promising, so I may wait until then
i actually like almost all of them! my collection is full of bright colors and a ton of pink so i really wanted some nice dark shades to change things up and these look perfect.
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Do you think the Parlez Vou OPI looks like Metro Chic?
I have ordered PVO but I am debating YDKJ as well. But I wander, does YDKJ flash kinda greenish at times. Some pics in other blogs make it look like it has a green tint to it, which really won´t go with my skintone:-(
Also: How similar would you say that PVO is compared to ChG Channelesque and ChG Who´s wearing what?
Thank you for swatching!!
Parlez vous OPI? Cette couleur est moche – désolé. Je ne suis toutefois d’accord pour dire que comme un ensemble, ce groupe est meh!
Thank you for your fantastic swatches! This helps me so much in deciding what to invest in. I hardly ever buy a polish before I’ve seen your swatch!
I like them all! Thanks for the swatches.
Hmmm, not as in love as I thought I’d be…I love some of the more Vampy shades though, might have to pick up We’ll Always Have Paris, and Eiffel for this Color.
I’m sadly underwhelmed…
I think I need Louvre Me, but for the rest, yeah, you’re right, meh.
Just saw the whole line today, the colors looked great on you but in person I was deeply unimpressed, which makes me a bit wary of the SOPI.
Moeysullivan – I haven't seen Fash Pack in person but I just may have to order it now. I thought it would be unflattering but you never know.
Park Avenue – The world needs more polish-a-holics! I hope you enjoy the France shades you pick up.
DWJ – You're welcome. I think Tickle My France-y would look great on darker skinned gals. I think a lot of milkier, light shades do.
Melli – I need to do a Eiffel vs. LPAM check. I hope it's not dead on dupey but when the colors are that dark, they all start to look the same.
Anon #1 – Thanks! I just feel like TMF washes me out. Though my feet are a bit more tan so I wonder if it would make a nice pedi shade.
Nicki – I'm dying over the Toyland shades too. I'm hoping it will be a winner.
AshleyDanielle4 – If your collection isn't well rounded, there are definitely some great staple shades in this one. I just have so many polishes that it's hard for me to find truly unique shades anymore.
Anon #2 – I did a comparison swatch on the Sephora by OPI post I made today. Hope that helps!
Micha – YDKJ is not even the slightest bit green. I don't know where you saw a pic with it looking that way but they must have taken it in bad lighting. I don't own Channelesque but I'll look at it against Who's Wearing What and let you know if they're close.
Jaimehwkns – Aww, thank you. I'm so glad I can help.
Gio – You're welcome! Enjoy
Princess Malphaba – I hear ya. It's not the best collection they've done but for me, PVOPI & YDKJ make it worthwhile.
Silverin – I hope you like Louvre!
KatieM – You know, the bottles can be deceiving so you might just end up with a winner. Many times I've put on a shade I thought I'd hate, only to love it on the nail.
I just bought Louvre me Louvre me not, Parlez-vous OPI, and You Don’t Know Jacques and they are all so FABULOUS!!! I love it. I am a purple nail polish-aholic. hehe.
Loving the Eiffel for this color. It does look like a cross of Lincoln Park after Dark and Midnight in Moscow. I think this will be my go-to color for fall!
Hey, I just posted swatches of Eiffel and LPAM – almost identical twins: http://misamasa.blogspot.com/2008/08/quick-comparison-opi-eiffel-for-this.html
Sorta off topic .. but does anyone know how many times you can use one bottle of OPI? Please let me know
I love this site and peek at least once per day! I just ordered YDKJ and PVO online today. YDKJ looks so different from anything I’ve seen. I’m into the look of cremes so it should be a different look. PVO is something I don’t have. On you it just reminded me of candied apples and holidays, so I felt like I needed it.
I just discovered your blog, and it is a life-saver! I absolutely love nail polish, and your reviews and photos are perfection every time. I have fair skin similar to your complexion, so it’s nice to be able to compare with someone close to my coloring.
That said, I’m completely underwhelmed with the France collection. I usually love what OPI does in the fall (I nearly bought every shade in the Russian collection last year), but this one just isn’t doing it for me. From your photos, the nicest shades for me look like: You Don’t Know Jacques; A Oui Bit of Red; Crepes Suzi-ette; and maybe Louvre Me, Louvre Me Not.
itzzzkimmm – you have great taste. i can’t get enough of jewel tones like purple, blue and green
anon #4 – do you wear vampies all year long or just in the fall?
masa_inn – Thanks for sharing. They are very close though it looks like LPAM has more grape tendancies while Eiffel leans towards red-plum.
RikkiDee – That’s like the “how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll tootsie pop” I’ve never actually used a whole bottle but maybe another reader can chime in.
Azucar – I agree, I’m loving creme finishes way more than I used to. Maybe it’s that my application keeps improving so they don’t always look like a 5 year old applied them.
Allison – I’m so glad I can be of help.
Thanks to your swatches and recommendation, I just bought You Don’t Know Jacques and I love it! You are right, in the bottle it looks hideous but it is so versatile and flattering when on.
I also got the Perlez Vou OPI for my neice because she is a purple fiend.
Thanks for creating such a great place online and reminding me of my nail polish fetish. It’s been dormant for many years until I came across your website.
I just want to say that I love your site. Whenever the new OPI collection comes out, I visit you first to get the low down. Thanks for the honesty and swatches!
I love your site and your nail pictures. That really gives me big ideas of whether to try the nail polish or not. Really helpful… appreciate it very much
From the France collection, only polish I’m interested is the Parlez-Vous.
Hi! Wow – I just discovered you, you jewel! I'll be here from now on before I buy any of my beloved OPI. Thank you so much – lovely work, & very good photography, too! Cheers to you!!
Grrrrr – I should have come here before I ordered!!! Crepes – - It’s just not doing it for me…Blah… I love UDKJ and TMF!! I could have done without Bastile my Heart its a close dup of so many colors that I have. I would have avoided these colors if I had come here first…Live and learn
I’m loving all of them! But I also don’t own a vast array of nailpolishes so any would do. Love the swatches, thanks!
I just stumbled across your blog recently and last night decided to give You Don’t Know Jacques a try when I went for my mani/pedi. I love it! It was really a different choice for me, color-wise, but after seeing it here, I had to give it a try! Thanks!
Michelle
cozystyle.blogspot.com
I just bought Lourve Me…, Parel Vous OPI and You Don’t Know Jacque and they are lovely. We’ll Always Have Paris will be my next buy since I still don’t have a staple chocloate color…this collection awesome for a beginning polishaholic like myself…yijmbu
YDKJ = chic and modern! Love it.
hey there. which one is the one you posted there? Eiffel For This Color or Lincoln Park After Midnight twin?
do reply. thanks!
HI
I have been obssed with baguette me not after looking at your post. I love the EXACT colour of the pic of baguette me not but swatches from other ppl show that its more coral and less ‘muted, dusty red’ color like your pic. Is it more corally and pastel in real life that your pic?
I have Crepes Suzi-ette and absolutely love it! One of my faves. Next time I place a large order I'm going to order 2 of them to tuck away.
how do you test all these out?
do you buy EVERY nail color you show on here?