Meet Ginger + Liz Nail Colour
Being the lone nail blogger at NYFW means that everyone either looks at my nails, hides their nails in embarrassment (I’m so NOT judging) or asks me about different polish brands. Well this season was a bit different because when I’d run into my blogging friends backstage the majority asked if I had met Ginger and Liz.
Ginger Johnson and Liz Pickett are the brains behind their eponymous polish line Ginger + Liz which recently had its retail debut at a Henri Bendel trunk show. Before this week I’ve tweeted and emailed with the duo but never actually met them. Well let me just say, these ladies are not only beautiful and charming but they have a fabulous sense of style and color. Meet Ginger and Liz, check out my funky multi-colored manicure and swoon over the appropriately named metallic, Swagger, after the jump! |
Thanks to my darling pal Sarah Conley from StyleIt for introducing me to Ginger and Liz at the NYFW Media Mixer last Saturday night. Even though the music was pumping and the Candoni Wines prosecco was flowing we still had a chance to chat about their line and how it came together.
Friends and nail polish fanatics, Ginger and Liz wanted to create a luxurious line of nail color that was more affordable than the traditional department store brands yet more high end than the average salon line. With an tightly edited collection of colors that offers both conservative and edgy hues, they already have quite a following amongst the celebrity and blogger communities. Celebrity Manicurists Kimmie Kyees and Tracylee Percival are just two of their nail pro fans. This past Tuesday I visited Robert Verdi’s Future of Fashion suite at his Luxe Lab where Ginger + Liz were giving manicures. While getting the manicure pictured below using Boy Toy, New Money and Gray Area we discussed how the Ginger + Liz brand came to life. All the polishes in the Ginger + Liz line are conceptualized and named by the ladies. The colors come first and then come the names which all have some sort of personal connection to their lives. Hold The Drama, for example, was a phrase exclaimed by Ginger after breaking up with an ex. When I asked about their most popular colors and the type of women who buy their polish, they shared that they envision their polishes being worn by very distinct types of women; Conservative Chic, Rocker Glam, Bohemian, Prepster and Girly. That women of each type were buying the G+L shades within the range created for them during the Bendel’s trunk show. |
Normally when I go for a manicure at an event in the city, the color range is pretty conservative and the manicurists aren’t overly creative but this was definitely the exception. Not only was I having problems deciding on a color but the manicurist was willing to go there with me and try some nail art. Even though she didn’t have any nail art brushes handy she was able to freehand this look using just the bottle brush.
I chose combination of Boy Toy, Gray Area and New Money because picking just one color wasn’t happening. The Wax Coat finish Gray Area HAD to be included so I could see exactly what “wax coat” meant. According to Liz, their market research showed that the majority women aren’t fans of the flat matte look so they went another route creating a satin finish polish that looks like candle wax on the nails. Combine that finish with the industrial gray of Gray Area and you have a very rubberized, almost bondage-esque look. I’m totally into it!
New Money and Boy Toy are both well pigmented cremes that apply smoothly with two coats. For a polish as light as Boy Toy you know that’s impressive.
Of course the jewel of the line is metallic stunner Swagger. A warm, slightly coppery gold, the finish of Swagger reminds me of the Orly Foil FX line. It’s a glittery metallic so there’s no brush stroke madness here. I first spied Swagger on the nails of Heidi Montag and even though she’s the last person I would look to for nail inspiration (there’s a reason Chelsea Handler calls her Herpes 2), the color is an eye-catcher.
I originally gave Boy Toy a trial run last fall before the line officially launched. As you can see, it dries very glossy and smooth and WOW does it wear well. Check out the results below.
What you see below is after a full six days (I forgot to take it off on day five) of wear using Nubar Foundation Base Coat and Olan Labs Quick & Slick top coat. With the exception of the small chip on my pinkie that I got using my nail as a tool (not a recommended practice) the polish wore like iron. I jokingly wonder if the polish was made of glue because it’s not playing around.
The Ginger + Liz Colour Collection is currently available online at GingerandLiz.com and they will be back at Henri Bendel in March and April. The polishes retail for $12/ea, they ship international and charge a flat rate.
++++And as a bonus to those of you that are on the ball, in honor of NYFW and Robert Verdi’s Future of Fashion, Ginger + Liz is offering $2 off per bottle through today (Friday) with the code RVTIPS.
Have any of you tried Ginger + Liz yet? Which colors are you dying to try? If you place an order, let me know what you get? Hold The Drama is totally gorge and on my shopping list along with Tough Luxe (a mossy metallic green).
Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me by Ginger + Liz. For more information view my Disclosure Policy.
image credit: Aaron Lim courtesy of the NYFW Media Mixer.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
Those are really fun colors! I especially love Swagger, its really pretty and who can resist a metallic polish.
I am SO excited you swatched swagger because I had been directed to the brand some weeks ago and I was really hesitant since I had not seen swatches and now it’s convinced me that I need it!
I definitely want Put A Ring On It and Swagger. Maybe Draw Blood.
OMG!!! I so need that color swagger! Very Pretty color. And as usual your nails look great thanks for sharing
Wow! Well, I fell for this
and just ordered 2 polishes (using the coupon code of course
I’m on it! Love trying new brands. Thanks for sharing:)
Wow, gorgeous colors! I love the idea of a satiny/waxy finish on a polish, and that metallic is stunning.
Thanks for the info on this nail polish and also the coupon. I ordered Swagger, Tough Luxe, Gray Area and Put a Ring On It. Can’t wait to try them.
I am so ready to Swagger!
How much time after your post is this comment listed?… because it took me that long to read your post, browse their site, add and delete (and add) polishes to my cart, and check out. Yeah.
So, I ordered:
Hold the Drama
Swagger
Tough Luxe
Boy Toy
Gray Area
New Money
And I JUST realized each one of those were mentioned in your post. Ugh… what a lemming!
LOVE Swagger. Do you know of any other polishes like it (besides the new Orly collection)??
awww, I can’t believe I missed this! Those colors look great (esp. Boy Toy and Swagger), and I really want to try the wax coat finish – though I don’t think I could ever give up my mattes
Though I am a little consoled by the fact that there aren’t any greens in the collection, so I didn’t miss out much…
Hi Michelle:
I love the shimmering metallic Swagger in the Ginger and Liz collection. But the manicure with the three colors, I am just drying to try on my toes. It’s something i never have done before but I am loving that look on your nails and well, it’s daring but looks sensational! It’s gorgeous and so creative. (But darn I missed the Friday special.
It doesn’t matter, It’s all good).
What I don’t get is the Wax Coated color “Gray Area.” Does it come gray in the bottle and when you apply it over Boy Toy and New Money goes on gray (almost clear) as a finish similar but not like matte?
Anyway, your nails always look gorgeous and
the swatches are so beautiful. Kudos.
(((Love Michelle))))
Mc Huggs
Swagger just made me SQUEE! Must. Own.
I just spent $53 in nail polish…and I’m okay with that=D
i’m a HUGE g+l fan, i made a big order and i love their cheap international shipping. i am just waiting (im)patiently for these babies to arrive on my doorstep!
I love the forest green, sea foam green and teal together and the diagonal stripes are cute!
I’d like to see a swatch of New Money with Misa Dirty Sexy Money (and possibly Essie Greenport, for comparison)… given the Misa’s so hard to find now this might be a decent substitute.
great pics!…. can’t wait to debut Ginger & liz as one of my new Spring collections. I appreciate all that you do to bring us the latest in the polish world. You help my out tremedously when it comes time to buy polish for my little urban oasis. I only wished I had time/moment to meet you when out at NY Fashion Week!
Hiya!
was in NYC anbd stopped by Bendels to get my own bottle of swagger and ALASSSSSSSSSSSSS the trunk show was over:( Where can i buy Liz and Ginger Nail Polish ASAP?!?!?
You can order it directly from their website. gingerandliz.com
Soon after you posted about this company, I ordered 2 nail polishes on Feb. 19th (as you can see above in the comments).
I’ve not received anything from them. I’ve contacted them twice now over their web site with no response.
Is there someone you know at the company or an e-mail address you could provide me with? I was very excited about their colors, and also featured them (and you) on my blog, but I am seriously shocked that I was charged for items I have never received, and the absolutely poor customer service.
The same thing happened to me.
I ordered Swagger from their site on February 20th, it was supposedly shipped the 26th, but I still haven’t received anything either. They emailed me a USPS tracking number with the shipping confirmation, but as of today it still only says “electronic shipping info received”.
I tried contacting them through the form on their website, but there hasn’t been any response yet. Is there a customer service number we could call or something? There isn’t one provided on their site.
I contacted the owners of G+L about this and hopefully they will comment here soon and resolve any outstanding order issues. I’m so sorry for the delay.
Hannah and Medusa – yikes, we’re so sorry! We’ve been in touch with our web developer, sounds like something is awry with our “contact us” link. However, our asst emailed you both personally because Boy Toy was out of stock and mentioned that we’d send along a complimentary sample bottle of Swagger to thank you for your patience. Did you get those emails?
Since then, your orders have shipped. Please try contacting us directly at ontact@gingerandliz.com and we’ll provide more info.
We’re so sorry…rest assured you’ll have your lacquers really soon!
Ginger + Liz
typo – contact@gingerandliz.com
Thanks again Loveys!
I haven’t received the email yet, but I sent an email to contact@gingerandliz.com from the same address that I used on the order form.
Thanks for responding so quickly!
I never received an e-mail from Ginger & Liz. It doesn’t matter to me that “Boy Toy” was/is out of of stock as I didn’t order that color. I am wondering if my order was received at all? Anyway, I will e-mail contact@gingerandliz.com
I, too, ordered Swagger on Feb. 20 and received the “we shipped it” email on February 26, have emailed them twice and have received no reply. What gives?
I finally received my Ginger and Liz order today after a bit of emailing back and forth with Ginger. She was super helpful and, once we established the issue, actually mailed my order UPS 2-day.
So for those of you that haven’t received your orders yet, don’t worry, they’re ready and willing to fix it!
Also, many thanks to Michelle for helping us get in contact with them!
Amazing..i’m wondering if we have it here in saudi arabia!!
I know Ginger (in passing), she works on the same floor as me at MTV! She’s GORGEOUS and really sweet! That said, these colors are to die for!
Hi! Super random (and late) question: what kind of stone is in your ring? It’s really beautiful!
That’s a tanzanite. One of my favorite gemstones.
I recently bought Swagger, and LOVE the color. But today, about 3 days after applying, my entire index finger flaked off in one big piece! I’m wondering if the base/top coats I used were an issue. I used essie all in one for the base and seche vite for the top. Do you think the seche vite was the issue? I know they shrink certain polishes..
Hmm, Seche Vite could be the issue but it shouldn’t come off in one big piece. That’s a bummer. I personally don’t use Seche Vite for long lasting wear because it is so thick. I find that the thicker the layers/top coat, the easier it is for polish to chip and peel. I prefer thin top coats like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, Nails Inc Kensington, Out The Door.