Essie
Essie North Fork Collection – I’m Smitten!
 It’s been a long time since I’ve been so over the moon about an Essie polish let alone a whole collection but when my eyes landed on the North Fork collection I actually shrieked. You can ask the boyfriend, he had to hear it and suffer through me holding bottles in his face saying, “Can you believe these are Essies? Can you? LOVE THEM!” Of course, as much as he tries to care and be involved in what I do, he doesn’t get it like you all do.
It’s not like Essie hasn’t stepped out of her conservative niche and given us some amazing colors, she has. Hello Starry Starry Night, Dominica Green and Summer 08 Neons. It’s just been a while. Well Ms. Essie, color me wowed. I seriously can’t compliment you enough on these gorgeous, sandwashed shades. |
The North Fork shades are the perfect beachy accompaniment to lazy days at the shore. Every single one makes me long for boating season even though I detest sailing. I like to think of the ‘rents sailboat as a floating condo. A great retreat until we get a powerboat of our own.
Anywho, back to the polishes. Each of these tranquil variations of blue is a winner in its own right. They are all shown with two coats and applied like a dream with the exception of Shelter Island which gave me a bit of trouble and required thee coats.
Greenport is a muted, creamy aquamarine. It’s not a traditional creme in that the finish is uber-glossy like a jelly even though the lacquer is way pigmented. Very unique indeed.
Sag Harbor is LOVE. OK not really but it’s a swoon-worthy color. It’s like dove gray and powder blue had a baby. This is totally random but it reminds me of a t-shirt I have from a bar at my fave summer destination, Put-In-Bay. It’s a purposely weathered blue and Sag Harbor is a perfect match. The shimmer in this one is subtle, adding just a hint of sparkly sheen.
Shelter Island is as blue as the sky on a hot, cloudless June day. It’s a bit more vibrant on the nail than in the bottle but not neon. Like I mentioned above, this was my problem child in terms of application. It has the same texture and feel as Greenport but for some reason it kept dragging at my cuticles even though I waited a few minutes between coats. Odd.
The Essie North Fork collection will be available beginning in April 2009 at Essie.com and fine spas, salons and beauty destinations worldwide. Polishes retail for $9/ea US, $11/ea CDN.
What do you think kids? Are you feeling these blues?
Essie North Folk Collection Sneak Preview
No offense to Essie but it’s rare that I see promo pics of a new collection and get uber-excited but within minutes of setting sight on the new North Folk collection, I had already IMd with two of my fellow beauty bloggers to rave. I’m just not the target Essie demo, I prefer my polishes crazy, bold and vampy. So with the exception of last summer’s brights and winter’s few vamps, I haven’t been riding the Essie train of late. However color me on board now!
There’s something about these soft seaside blues that make me yearn for boating weather, sailing with the fam on Lake Erie.
Within the soft palette of hues that floated down this season’s runways, one color stood out among the rest…. blue. Dreamy blues reminiscent of bright open skies and deep welcoming waters lead essie founder Essie Weingarten to create The North Fork Collection – named for the quaint vacation villages perched around the waters of Long Island’s East End .
“The new nail colors remind me of the most beautiful blues that surround The North Fork,†says Weingarten. “Tranquil yet playful, the colors cross over in fashion and in nature.â€
The nail colors in The North Fork Collection capture the essence of blue. The fashion-or azure fingertips lounging under the sun.
Greenport, Sag Harbor and Shelter Island , each named after areas around The North Fork and Long Island Sound, are an homage to the beauty of nature.
GREENPORT – Dreamy aquamarine paradise
SAG HARBOR — Cool silver blue
SHELTER ISLAND – Sky blue radiance
The North Fork Collection is a limited-edition collection, available beginning April 2009 at www.essie.com and fine spas, salons and beauty destinations worldwide. SRP $9.00 USD, $11 Canada .
Essie Winter 2008 Collection
 As much as I would love to jump ahead straight to Spring, the gross, gray weather and piles of snow outside my door keep reminding me that it’s still Winter. Spring seems a far cry away which too depressing for words. Is one day without a visit from the plow guys too much to ask?
Before I start inundating you with Spring collections, let’s take a look at Essie Winter since most of us are still wearing dark shades and haven’t started the seasonal transition. I must admit, Essie’s winter collection surprised me. I’ve come to think of Essie as playing it safe, targeting the conservative consumer with more reds, pink and sheers than you can shake a stick at. So to see a collection with purples and gold made me happy. Very on trend Essie! |
My only disappointment was with the pigmentation. All the shades, with one lone exception, required three coats. Es no bueno! Though I was pleased to discover that, for the most part, application was phenomenal. I wasn’t sure how the first batch of shimmers in the new toluene and DBP free formula would hold up but they fared well.
Sexy Divide – let’s start out with a bang, shall we? Sexy Divide is by far my fave of the group. She is everything I want in a purple; deep and rich without crossing over to that dreaded “almost black” territory. If you buy one Essie this year, this is the ONE!
Shift Power was my problem child. No matter how hard I tried or how many times I tried, I just couldn’t get this one to work out. The application was a major pain. I so wanted to love this golden beauty but as you can clearly see, it was not a winner.
It’s Genius has these amazing ribbons of gold running throughout its deep mauve-y base. The shimmer gives it a metallic look yet it applies smooth like a shimmer. Truly a fantastic polish. It reminds me of one of my all time favorite shades, China Glaze Steppin Out.
Rock Star Skinny was as much a surprise for me as it was for reader MooeySullivan. She’s totally right. Looks like nothing special in the bottle but on the nail… Ka-pow! Luscious, deep and captivating. This browned burgundy shimmer is a “rock star” though it really doesn’t translate in photos. You have to see it on the nail to understand.
Bold and Beautiful gets the snore award for failing to wow. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with it. It’s a classic Essie creme. Nothing we haven’t seen before. Probably thrown in to appease the more classic nail gal.
There’s something about Damsel In A Dress. I can’t put my finger on it but somehow this blackened plum has won me over. It could be the subtle silver shimmer, the way it reminds me of a grape popsicle or just the fact that my purple phase is still going strong but I’m totally diggin’ it.
The Essie Winter collection is on sale now and can be found at chain salons/stores like ULTA, Trade Secret and Regis or online at Essie.com and Head2ToeBeauty.com.
Thoughts? I’m sure some of you have indulged by now. Which ones are your favorites?
Have You Entered Yet?
Today is the last day to enter the Summer Is NOT Over essie Neon Giveaway. Don’t miss out on your chance to win one of two sets of the essie Neon Collection.
The Summer Is NOT Over ESSIE Neon Giveaway
Even though for most people Labor Day signifies the beginning of the end of Summer, I REFUSE to take it lying down. Until Sept. 22nd hits, I’m grasping on to summer with all my might. Like seriously, how is it already September? HOW?
So to keep us all in the warm weather, carefree spirit All Lacquered Up is having a giveaway sponsored by essie.
TWO (2) winners will receive a set of the essie Neon collection. Four full size bottles of eye catching neon shades. You can check out my swatches here:
It’s A Neon, Neon World With Essie & Orly
Winners will also receive one bottle each of essie firstbase base coat & good to go! top coat.
To enter, submit your name and email address in the form below.
Entries will be accepted until 11:59 PM EST on September 14, 2008. So get your entry in and GOOD LUCK!
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
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