Red
NY Fashion Week Nail Watch – Tibi
To accentuate the strong, powerful look of Tibi’s Spring 2009 collection, designer Amy Smilovic called upon CND‘s team of nail artists to give her models fiery red tips and toes. In a recent Fanatic Feedback discussion I brought up the theory of red nails exuding confidence. This look certainly propagates that idea. Pairing vibrant red lips with CND Wildfire makes quite a statement.
To make sure that each model’s nails are flawless while stomping down the catwalk, CND Ridge Out is applied as a base. It provides an even surface for the lacquer while a layer of Speedy quick drying top coat helps prevent smudges as the models rush to get dressed.
Thank you to my friend and fellow blogger Jamie from The Beauty of Life for granting All Lacquered Up exclusive use of her backstage images and info.
China Glaze Operation Colour for Fall 2008
 POW! BANG! SPLAT!
Operation Colour from China Glaze will certainly make an impact when it hits shelves this month. Inspired by the bold splashes of color found in graphic novels and comic books, this is not your typical Fall look. You won’t find any burnt, vampy or dreary shades here. Instead, China Glaze is taking on Fall in technicolor. |
 With the Costume Institute’s Superheroes exhibit coming to a close this weekend, it seems appropriate for this collection to come along as a way to keep a little superhero fashion alive in everyday life. It’s almost as if these shades were ripped right from the exhibit and red carpet. Just look at the Emilio Pucci dress Joy Bryant donned for the exhibit’s gala in May or the Thierry Mugler graphic novel inspired bodysuit on display at The Met and you’ll see what I mean. |
Overall, I think this collection is a fun change of pace. A nice twist on what we’d normally expect for the colder months. Though I must admit that I’m more in love with the concept and palette as a whole than I am with the colors individually. But I am impressed with the pigmentation. It makes the formula a bit thicker than I would prefer but even the lighter shades only take two coats. The first will be a bit streaky but the second smooths it out. The only one I had any major issue with was Agent Lavender, it didn’t spread out on its own. It required a bit of coaxing.
Secret Peri-Winkle is by far my favorite color in the collection. A gorg mid-toned combo of violet and sky blue, this creme is perfect for cool and neutral tones. I just love it!
Code Orange, like the other shimmers in the lineup, isn’t at all sparkly. The shimmer just adds a little glint of sheen to this tangerine hue.
As I mentioned above, Agent Lavender was my problem child. There’s one in every bunch, isn’t there? But what I love is that unlike most light purples I wear, this one doesn’t make me look like an alien. I find it quite flattering.
Golden Opportunity reminds me of the yellow brick road from the Wizard of Oz. Gleaming goldenrod at it’s best.
Revolution is a tomato ketchup red creme. Not utterly unique but a nice warm red.
Pink Underground is a shade with a twinkle in its eye. The fine bright pink shimmer gives this polish a slight blue/berry cast in the sun. This isn’t your average pink.
The Operation Colour collection is on sale NOW at 8ty8Beauty.com and I’m sure Head2ToeBeauty.com will have it up soon. What I really love… is that they’re releasing the set in minis (pictured right). I first saw them with the Immaterial Gurl collection and they’re just adorable.
So what do you think girls? Comic book colors for Fall. Is it genius or not for you?
Images: All Lacquered Up, China Glaze, Style.com & Flickr.com
China Glaze Rodeo Diva – Flannel Fixation
Looking at the Flannel Fixation shades from China Glaze‘s Rodeo Diva collection takes me back to my college days in the mid 90s when grunge was all the rage and I owned a seemingly endless supply of flannel. Which makes this palette of six cool toned shades so perfectly named.
Ahh how I miss the days of uber-comfy baggy clothing. Not that wrapping a flannel around your waist hid a big butt or looked flattering in the least but we all did it. Except maybe my pal Amber from Beauty Blogging Junkie who abhors the 90s fashion trends with every fiber of her being. BTW, if you share Ambular’s hate of the 90s but love yourself some 80s you MUST check out her 80s Ladies Week. In Amber speak, it’s TO DIE!
But I digress, let’s get back to the polish. The colors may be western flannel inspired but the look is way more chic. Gorg jewel tones with tonal shimmer, they are so hot for Fall. I’m telling you, China Glaze so got it right. And they sent us yet another green! Can life get any better?
All swatches are shown with two coats of lacquer and no top coat but they’re so pigmented I hardly needed the second. With the exception of Red Stallion they all flowed smoothly on the nail. For some reason my bottle was thick and goopy and took some play to get it right. I hope it’s just mine but buyer beware. It’s still workable just a PITA, ya know?
Cowgirl Up is berry based red-violet. It looks more burgundy or wine in the bottle but on the nail its purple side comes out.
Red Stallion was my problem child during application but this warm orangey red has a great Fall feel. In the sunlight the undercurrent of gold shimmer peeks out.
Branding Iron is rich and vampy yet not so dark you can’t tell it’s a burgundy. The shimmer gives this luscious shade its depth and character. Without it, it would be a very boring creme.
The buzz on the MUA nail board has been over Rodeo Fanatic and the possibility of it being a twin to the highly coveted MAC Whirlwind (see comparison below). Well kids, Rodeo Fanatic is not an exact dupe but its certainly the closest living relative. Whirlwind is more of a sea-green (heavier on the green) while I’d call Rodeo Fanatic a deep peacock blue. Either way, it’s a total winner and necessity if you love blues.
How much gushing over Gussied Up Green can you all take? Leaving my love of all things emerald aside, the intensity of this shade is unparalleled. Its luster does not dull. It is the epitome of forest green. I thought Zoya Suvi and OPI Jasper Jade were IT but in comparison (see below), Gussied Up Green has a richness the others don’t. LOVE, pure love.
Midnight Ride’s pure eggplant goodness really only stands out in bright light. Indoors the “almost black” thing takes over and it becomes difficult for anyone but the wearer to know its true identity. Though I’m a sucker for a purple vamp so stick a fork in me, I’m done. They got me!
The China Glaze Rodeo Diva collections, Flannel Fixation and Hay Ride are both available online at 8ty8Beauty.com and Head2ToeBeauty.com. China Glaze nail polishes can also be found at ULTA and Sally Beauty Supply but seasonal collection availability may vary.
Color Club Glitter Vixen for Fall 2008
Glitter me timbers! Color Club is going glam rock blingtastic for Fall. One of the two new collections from Color Club, Glitter Vixen’s glitz factor is no joke. Consisting of seven clear nail polishes packed to the hilt with glitter, these lacquers are not for the faint of heart.
Now you kids know I loves me some outrageous and sparkly nail colors but these are a bit much. Don’t get me wrong, they’re totally fun and for a special occasion I’ll be rocking the green (that’s a no brainer), blue and holo but the formula is what’s putting me off.
We all know that glitter polishes are a pain. They dry bumpy and are a b*tch to remove but these ones take the cake for me. Usually in a glitter polish, the base is pigmented so it doesn’t have to be as glitter packed but these are allllllll glittah! It took two coats of Seche Vite to get the surface smooth and removing the green was such a PITA (even using felt instead of cotton rounds) that I used a nail wheel for the rest of the swatches. The scratching was just too hard on my nails, sorry girls. So I’m showing the collection in both sunlight and artificial light on fake tips. All swatches use three coats of polish (two on my nails) and no top coat. Enjoy!
The Color Club Glitter Vixen collection retails for $1.99 each and is on sale now at 8ty8Beauty.com and coming soon to Head2ToeBeauty.com.
So what do you think gals? Too blingy or is there no such thing? What has you drooling?
Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Fall 2008
Last February I gave you a peek at the Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Salon Collection for Fall 2008 and a backstage look at the Tracy Reese show. Well now I can finally show the rest of the collection which will roll into stores in September.
Drawing inspiration from nature and weather, this collection is filled with soft dusty neutrals, dark earthy vamps, rich floral cremes with one FANTASTIC smokey blue thrown in for good measure. Overall, I’m pretty smitten with all the colors and more than pleased with how they apply and wear.
Moonstone is the perfect name for this pearly silver metallic. I found it to be slightly streaky but not so much that it’s unwearable.
Divinity is what the MUA nail board might call a BABB (Band-Aid but better) shade. A warm nude shimmer, I think cool toned girls would have problems pulling it off.
However, that’s where Quartz Chameleon steps in. This pinkish neutral shimmer will flatter most skin tones. And while I’m not the biggest fan of nudes/neutrals, if I were looking for one to wear, this is what I’d reach for. Very work friendly.
Torrid Bloom was the shade used for the Veiled Nail look on all the Tracy Reese models. It’s a glorious deep magenta creme. I can’t even begin to tell you how impressed I was with the application and pigmentation. I totally fell in love while putting it on.
Night Lily is a purple tinged deep berry red creme and it flows on the nail as fantabulously as Torrid Bloom. Like seriously, I normally dread applying cremes unless my nail beds are flawless because they pick up every flaw. But the two in this collection are like magic. Just perfect!
Cruel Heart is a blood red shimmer. Pretty but not a standout.
Alchemy is unique in that it’s a plum with subtle bronzey shimmer. The shimmer isn’t super apparent but it brings warmth to the overall shade.
Imagine melting a Hershey’s Special Dark and adding ribbons of shimmer and you have The Good Earth. This almost-black chocolate shade has more sparkle than Alchemy but isn’t glitzy. In brighter indoor lighting and sunlight, it’s a stunner.
I’ve shown you Stormy Blue before but I just can’t get enough of this steely smoked out blue. I even told you about my male friend loving it on his toes, making it a unisex shade.
Raven’s Wing is even more jet black in person but the micro-glitter makes it appear lighter to my camera. It’s actually an inky shade with floating silver and tarnished gold glitter that dries smooth to the touch.
Sally Hansen Salon Nail Lacquer is available at most drug stores and retails for $6 US.
My personal picks for “must haves” from the collection are Quartz Chameleon, Torrid Bloom, Alchemy, Stormy Blue and The Good Earth. Which ones will make your shopping list?
Lisa N.
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