butter LONDON Fall 2010 Collection Swatches & Review
As an editorial manicurist and butter LONDON Creative Director, Nonie Creme merges the world of fashion with nail color. So it should come as no surprise that when the fashion community experienced the loss of the brilliant Alexander McQueen, Nonie thought to pay tribute to his genius.
The butter LONDON Fall 2010 Collection polishes All Hail McQueen and Bumster are both nods to the designer. Marrow is Nonie’s second collaboration with the designers behind Vena Cava and Victoriana is a faded blue inspired by vintage British fabrics. |
Application & Formula: butter LONDON is known for its 3-Free formula but it is actually 4-Free (no Formaldehyde Resin). The bottle has a smooth plastic outer cap that easily slides off (thanks to a bottle redesign) to reveal a ribbed, round inner cap used for polishing. The brush is thin and round with flexible bristles that easily fan out to cover the nail.
The consistency of these polishes is thick but spreadable. You can almost feel how pigmented they are. With the exception of All Hail McQueen I only used two coats of polish to get full coverage. However, I would suggest waiting for a few minutes between coats. I went to apply my second coat of Bumster a little early and ended up with a bit of dragging and had to start over to avoid using a third coat.
Victoriana is a patina-esque muted blue packed with silver micro-glitter. The base color reminds me a lot of Rescue Beauty Lounge 360 only this is a bit more vivid. I see a green undertone in this in the same way that 360 has a tinge of green, like murky seawater.
All Hail McQueen is described as a holographic taupe. On me, it’s a twinkling BBB (band-aid but better) shade. I love it because it’s a more wearable, sparkly version of one of my fave BBB shades, OPI Skinny Dip’n In Lake Michigan.
My only real point of contention with this color is the “holographic” claim. Yes, there is multi-colored glitter in the polish but you don’t really see it unless you are in the sunlight and even then you mainly see the rose colored glitter. I don’t see a holographic/prismatic effect. The polish is still beautiful but I wouldn’t classify it as a holo.
Marrow looks different than the custom mixed color Nonie showed me backstage during NYFW. See for yourself. Granted the lighting situation is much different but still, I remember it as a dusty plum. Much more like what you would expect dried bone marrow to look like. Used at the Vena Cava FW 10′ show, designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock named the reddish grape polish. A fine silver shimmer replaces the glitter seen in the runway version to add depth and shine.
I’m still not sure how I feel about Bumster. Named after McQueen’s famous low slung trousers, this dijon yellow creme is a bit daunting on the nail. I appreciate it for being so odd but I don’t know if I love it or hate it with my coloring. In poor lighting it looks like baby poop which is not exactly a look I’m going for. I don’t own it to compare but this looks a lot like Misa Hot Couture from the Runway collection which was another polarizing love it/hate it polish.
Bottom Line: If you liked RBL 360 or are into blues & greens like me you’ll love Victoriana. It’s my top pick from the collection and totally unique. All Hail McQueen is my runner up. It’s an amped up neutral that can work for day or night. I wish I could say that Marrow lived up to my expectations but it fell short. I think with all the purples that have come out this past year, including my own, they’re all starting to blend together.
The butter LONDON Fall 2010 Collection is available now on butterLONDON.com and ULTA.com. Beauty.com also carries bL but they seem to get the collections a little later than the brand’s website. Polishes retail for $14/ea for a .4oz bottle. The bL website has a Store Locator if you want to make your purchases in person. I don’t see any in Ohio yet but hopefully that will change soon.
What do you think Fanatics? Which colors are calling your name? If you already ordered from the collection, which ones?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided to me by butter LONDON. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
I loooove All Hail McQueen, and the others are nice too. I’m a bit disappointed in Marrow.
These can be found at Ulta now! I got Victoriana over the weekend…..LOVE it and am wearing it now.
Oh and right now if you buy 2 polishes you get a free matte top coat…
Oh, thanks for letting me know. I updated the post!! Are they in all ULTA stores as well? I haven’t been to mine recently.
Oh my gosh I almost had a coronary when I read this. I called the store nearest to my house and they don’t carry it there. They have it online but nothing about the free top coat. Can anyone fill me in on if this is online only? Ahhh I need these colors so bad!
When I purchased at ULTA, they had a sign stating that you get the free top coat…and I bought 3 BL polishes and they would not give me the top coat…I was a little irritated. They told me the promotion didn’t start for a few days…then take the sign down!
I really like them all with the exception of bumster. Though, for the $14 price tag I would definitely pick up Victoriana. It’s lovely.
I like them but I’m not *in love* with any of them. My wallet is cheering right now…
I have Victoriana and Marrow. I looove Victoriana and was definitely disappointed in Marrow. I think it’s a great color, but I was expecting a “dusty plum” as you said. I was totally regretting not getting All Hail McQueen, but now I’m not as anxious for it. I think I’m more excited about RBL Jane as my fall neutral. Although, I’m still planning to order it whenever I place my next BL order. Perfect swatches, as usual!
I really like this yellow-mustardish one, it’s quite cool on its own, but I think it may look nasty with my skin tone…it’s cold over here in autumn, so reddish hands-yellow nails, seem like a no-no. Shame.
I’ve already ordered Marrow, the only one appealing to me. I can’t wait to have it cause your swatch makes it one of the most gorgeous purples out there, IMO.
Thanks for sharing!
Dijon yellow indeed! Bumster looks like Grey Poupon. As for the others, I’m not a lover of greens/blues for myself, but Victoriana is GORGEOUS. It looks like the color of some fantastical dragon from a scary childrens’ book. I love it!
how does all hail mcqueen compare to SOPI under my trench coat? will you be doing comparisons on this? i am pretty disappointed in the change in marrow, though, to be fair, we were warned that it was going to lose its awesome glitter. i guess hearing about it and seeing in are 2 different things
The shimmers are so pretty!
I’m wearing Victoriana right now and I love it! I love that it looks blue or teal depending on the light. I also have All Hail McQueen which I can’t wait to wear. Beautiful shades.
I am totally diggin Victoriana and Marrow. So pretty!!!
I’m wearing All Hail McQueen which I really like, and I also bought Victoriana and Marrow. The yellow one, Bumster reminds me a little of MAC’s In the Buff which I own, and it’s similar enough that I don’t need another. AHM looks milky brown on me when it doesn’t have direct light on it, but when the light hits it it’s glowing.
theyre pretty, but im not gonna get them.
That purple one is very pretty
omg I love your photos of the swatches!! Thanks for the swatches!!
I ordered Marrow and All Hail McQueen. I knew I should have got Victoriana ugh.
Like the rest of you, I was totally thrilled by the photos on here from the Vena Cava show but in person Marrow is a let down for me. No glitter, only shimmer-it’s a Milky dark purple.
All hail McQueen is pretty, although I feel there may be a dupe for it somewhere.
Victorianna is stunning!
Hmm… I was going to get all but ‘Bumster’ (due more to the color than the name, though neither appeal to me), but now I think I may pass on Marrow as well. The other two are calling my name, I’m loving Victoriana big time and I’ve been looking for a good jazzed-up nekkid color, so All Hail McQueen looks promising for that. Thanks for the great swatches and review, as always!
I love that blue. It’s gorgeous.
All Hail McQueen doesnt really look anything at all like OPI SDILM….
Marrow- is an English slang for an aubergine or “eggplant”…as in the vegetable with a purple-ish skin.
GIRL you just re-confirmed for me what I knew all along: that I’m going to LOVE Victoriana and All Hail McQueen… AND THANK YOU!!!
I just ordered 3 bottles of Victoriana! I fell in love with it the moment I saw your picture. It has to be my favorite nail polish color ever. I love your website and have bought many polishes based on seeing your swatches.
Was on the verge of thinking that this was the first ever collection I actually needed all of, then I saw that baby poop yellow and had a re-think! The rest are lush though and I am seriously in need of Victoriana and Marrow. Great swatches as ever.
Victoriana and All Hail McQueen have me choked up right now, because I just put my entire glitter collection up on eBay for the offense of shredding my nails. *sobs* Is this the same type of sharp-edged metallic glitter, or more a mica or glassfleck?
Luckily Marrow is rocking that invisible shimmer trend that I am loving. I want them all, though. And the Jelly collection, too.
Marrow isn’t great. Bumster IS great but I love Hot Couture so that’s easy. Victoriana wonderful. McQueen – love it.
wow I love Victoriana! I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like it
Great blog! I’m reading it quite a time now, but this is my 1st post.
I instantly fell in love with Victoriana! I feel that here begins my mighty quest for this lover.
Thanks for great articles, swatches and fun reading it!
I’ve already got All Hail McQueen which is stunning. I was waiting for your swatches before ordering Victoriana and Marrow. Bumster is actually a really cool shade, but its one that will only work on a very few specific skin tones. Like you, I’m disappointed with Marrow. Its pretty and I’ll probably still get it, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I prefer the version from the Vena Cava show. I think it would have made it much more unique if they had at least kept the gold glitter that was in the Vena Cava version. Victoriana however is a MUST have for me!
Oh my gosh, Victoriana is impossibly beautiful. Must.Have.It.
BTW- they are selling these on Ulta’s website now! It just so happens I need to place an order tomorrow- and AHMcQ and Victoriana will be ON IT!
Thanks for swatching these!
I’ve been following you for a while. Love your stuff! Never posted…but was so excited when I saw this post come through my inbox. Thanks to ALU, I know exactly what to look for now. I visited ULTA for my very first time while on vacation in MD last week. I freaked when I saw their BL display…they had just received it the day before. I was able to pick up my first BL polish…I grabbed Victoriana, All Hail McQueen, and Marrow. I felt like a celebrity…mostly thanks to you…I would have never known about BL had I not discovered ALU!
I’m wearing Victoriana right now and it looks like a steel grey. I love it but shocked to see how green your swatch is.
I feel like I want to get Bumster even though I’m sure it will look disastrous on me. The Marrow is nice but I have so many purple nail polish that I wonder why I need another one, especially @ $14 a bottle.
Now I am just in love with Victoriana and I also like the Bumster. Maybe not for a full coverage nail, but loving it for accents.
I love love Bumster! Guess I am the exception on this
Usually I don’t like light greens, but Victoriana is different. I love the silver micro-glitter on it. All Hail McQueen is more for everyday use, but it’s not a common nude color. I absolutely will buy it. Marrow would be more beautiful if it would have a highlighted golden glitter on it. My other option for a plum/amethyst with glitter is Just a Little Dangerous from SOPY.
For Miami residents you can find that collection at GBS (Aventura) and Ulta (Sobe).
I admit I was looking forward to Marrow a lot, but, after Paradoxal (which I love so much) and Vendetta (another purple I love), I’m kind of indifferent to Marrow now. I think the lack of glitter as shown in the bottle from Vena Cava also plays a hand in this …
But Bumster, on the other hand: I’m loving how odd it is! Must have!
There is a Nicole by OPI Matte shade called Respect the World that is almost identical to Victoriana if you add a top coat. I’ve been wearing it for months and I love it!
Love Victoriana and All Hail McQueen!
OMG!!
I love this polish!
Verry nice swatches!
Victoriana OMG! Beautiful!
Sign me up for All Hail McQueen! That color is gorgeous, even in the winter on a pale girl like me.
Hey ALU
I love your blog so that’s why I tagged you in the Sweet Blog award’s!
You can see the post here: http://paintawaygirls.blogspot.com/2010/08/sweet-friend-award.html
Thanks :Dxoxo
All Hail McQueen! I love the colors, I have got to try those.
OMG I love them all, I gotta get to ULTA lol!
omg they are all so good! that yellow is so fancy!!!
I need ALL of these, I love every single one of them! <3
I want the entire collection. I’ve been on a yellow kick lately, but yellow polishes have never appealed to me.. except for Bumster. Thanks for being such an enabler!
OMG, I love all these colors. Specially the ‘baby poop’. Yeah, I think soon a Butter London package will come to my place in Holland
I ordered the absolutely gorgeous All Hail Mcqueen, but think there is a dupe. Maybe Color Club’s Love ‘em Leave ‘em from the Wild at Heart collection?
I thought it was just me when I saw Marrow come out. I was soooo looking forward to this color, but was VERY disappointed. It didn’t look like what I was expecting. I want the Vena Cava version that’s a grayed purple with multicolored glitter (just like I want the original Chanel Vamp color). Silver only shimmer doesn’t give it any depth. I’m glad you noticed the change. That’s why you’re the nail guru. Thanks.
Does anyone know if Butter London polish stays on a long time? If so what top and base coat did you use?
What about OPI’s ‘Hollywood Blonde’ as a match for ‘All Hail McQueen’?
I am loving this collection and sorry for the loss of Alexander McQueen, over a week ago. This is a wonderful way to pay tribute to him. Love the colors in this collection. especially “Marrow,” gorgeous plus shimmer and “must have it.” LOL Butter London polishes are very special and go on flawlessly, at least for me. The colored glitter in both “Victoria” and, “All Hail Mc Queen look amazing in the close-up. I am also partial for “Bumster,” and to me it looks like soft creamy butter. Nameste.
I’m in a yellow kind of mood lately and I think I might try the yellow a little further into the fall.
I really like Victoriana and All Hail McQueen.
i love the first two!
So late with these but it occurs to me that Victoriana might compare with Nicole Respect the World Matte and Bumster with Sally Hansen Forsythia.
I think All Hail McQueen is also a close match to OPI’s ‘Classic’ from the DS collection. Also, I picked up Victoriana last week and it looks a bit darker on than I would have expected. Still a very pretty color tho
hi~i love victoriana n i m planning to get one! but i already got artful dodger n from the most of the swatches i have seen, their color are quite the same, except victoiana has shimmer, do u own artful dodger? r they really have very similar color?
Chiedo gentilmente dove si possono acquistare questi smalti in Italia?! Grazie
Hi Sara! I’m sorry, I don’t know if or where butter LONDON is sold in Italy.
Ciao Sara! Mi dispiace, non so se o quando il burro LONDRA viene venduto in Italia.