OK so we’ve discussed pricing before and it seems that most of you don’t want to spend over $10 for a bottle of nail polish. And when I posted swatches of Chanel’s Gold Fiction (see below) last week, you loved the color but there were definitely some jaws dropping over the $30 price tag. Yet I’m sure plenty of you have dropped $25+ on a lipgloss, eyeshadow, blush, etc. That leaves me with the question… Are we spoiled?

Unlike most beauty products we are fortunate to have lots of low cost options thanks to online sellers. Even retail pricing for most salon brands doesn’t hit the $10 mark. Though if you consider that nail polish lasts longer than the majority of beauty products should we really be bitching over paying $15+ for a lacquer? Tons of us drop at least that much on a tube of mascara only to have it expire in three to six months. Or do we have every right to complain? Sound off ladies! Are we a bunch of spoiled brats or totally righteous?

In today’s New York Times there is an article on wearing chipped nail polish and how it is becoming a trend, not just a sign of laziness. The experts they interview (Ji Baek & Deborah Lippmann) suggest you have to be either wealthy and well accessorized or skinny and fabulous to rock the look.

That got me thinking to my own experiences. Thanks to this blogging thing I have had the opportunity to meet many gorgeous and chic women, including my fellow bloggers. And the one thing I hear most is apologies for the state of their nails. As though I’m the nail police, handing out citations for dry cuticles, peeling polish or naked tips. So if these “in the know” gals feel the pressure to be put together, who are these women that want perfectly chipped nails to accompany their designer duds?

Are you one of them? Do you embrace your tip wear and chips? Or do you hide your hands as you reach for your wallet at a checkout counter? What do you think when you see people with blemished manicures?

So I was out shopping for shoes yesterday since the nice weather seems to be here to stay. And being the nosey person I am, I can’t help but notice other people’s manicures and pedicures, even the fugly ones. Seriously, who goes shoe shopping with broke down feet? Clip your nails or stay home!

But I digress. The whole reason for this post was inspired by one woman’s pedicure. OMG I had to stop in my tracks and ask her about it. So so cute. I’m just glad she didn’t think I was crazy and run away. Turns out she had found a picture in a magazine and took it to a local nail shop that day. Her big toes were a bright bold green, which is what first caught my eye, while the rest were painted a soft pink. And they were all adorned with tiny white polka dots. Adorable! I wish I had brought my camera because I totally would have snapped a shot to share. Instead, I found this adorable ladybug design.

So my question to all of you is… Toenail art – Yay or Nay? And I’m not talking french pedis, actual nail art. When do you think it’s appropriate? Or is it never a good thing? Sound off!

When it comes to choosing what polish to wear, formula factors into my decision as much as color. After all, if a lacquer doesn’t apply well or last long, what’s the point? Of course there are days when I know that I’ll only be wearing a shade for an event or a couple days and then it’s all about the color but when it comes to building my collection I focus on quality.

So what makes a nail polish formula great for you? What level of viscosity are you looking for? Thick, thin, somewhere in between? Is it the pigmentation that brings you back to a certain brand?

Tell us what what you love and which brand is hitting it out of the ballpark every time.

We all want a bargain. Who doesn’t love a sale? But there are some things you’re just willing to pay more for. Is polish one of them?

Let’s hear your thoughts on nail polish prices. What is your limit? How high is too high? Are there some brands/colors that make a higher cost worthwhile? Other than free (obvious answer), what is your ideal price?

Do you think that high end lines have quality on their side to justify the $15+ per bottle? On the flip side do you think that inexpensive drugstore brands are overlooked or underestimated?

Sound off!