I don’t often veer into the “beauty” realm in these columns (or ever, really - it was literally just 2 months ago that I first purchased foundation from someplace other than CVS), but this week I’ve been thinking a lot about NAIL POLISH and am hoping to get some input from the more BEAUTY-INCLINED.
To the best of my LIMITED KNOWLEDGE, so-dark-they’re-almost-black reds and purples and blues are the polish colors of choice right now. I DON’T GET IT. Remember last summer (and I mean Summer 2006), when ACTUAL black polish reigned? And then how EVERYBODY picked up on it and it lasted straight into 2007? Which is really way too long for anything to last? And don’t you just feel like these ultra-dark substitutes are ONLY a BFD because people still WANT to wear their Chanel Vamp and OPI Onyx but some sort of style decree came from on high and told them that they COULDN’T? WHY AREN’T PEOPLE SICK OF BLACK NAILS?
Apparently the alternative to the ultra-dark nail is the “I’d never expect it” color, meaning KELLY GREEN or SKY BLUE or GREY. And while I think grey is totally chic to wear with jewel tones, it’s a lot like SILVER, which (along with white) really had its whole moment this past summer when neon and fluorescents were big. As for the greens and light blues, they just feel awfully 7th grade to me - remember Hard Candy? OG Hard Candy with the rubber ring attached? They just seem so WRONG next to both the coolly androgynous and sweetly feminine looks going on right now (not to mention pretty holiday party dresses) - and the same goes for all that end-of-summer bright orange, ripe purple, hot pink and lime green.
So what’s left besides BROWN and RED? And why is red the absolute hardest color to get just the right shade of? Too bright and clear and it’s REAL TRASHY; too dark or maroon and it’s just REAL OLD. I think a nice balance between the two is ideal for RIGHT NOW: think Kirsten Dunst’s manicure on the cover of the latest Lula. It’s a tomato-y, valentine-y red that’s classic but soooo not boring, and on short, well-kept nails it looks totally classy and fresh. And wow, I actually hadn’t even thought of wearing brown before, but I feel like a light cocoa would be unexpectedly PRETTY (as opposed to, well, unexpectedly UNEXPECTED). Look out, Beauty Island!
Alright so clearly I’ve just been thinking WAY TOO MUCH about nail polish as of late, and if it makes you feel any better I also read a book (it makes me feel better). Beauty-obsession shame aside, I really would like to know what ALL OF YOU have been sporting on your nails as of late, and I’m holding out hope that at least one of your answers includes this:
i have been biting my nails since the day I was born but every once in a while I go an get myself a pretty manicure.
Chanel Vamp is dark but definitely not old.
It is the little black dress version of dark/deep reds.
I like either that or just plain buffed nail.
Buffed to shine.
that is one light-skinned sister in the picture above.
December 20, 2007 at 12:46 pmi love nail polish. the right color nail polish can be very seductive and rebellious! for now i have to agree that black nails are OVER. you can’t go wrong with revlon reds for the holidays - frankly scarlet is a nice one. also i think hott pinks look good this winter (new rave/pg county style… and they’re selling it at urban outfitters!).
December 20, 2007 at 12:51 pmi love what Kristeen Young is doing
white short nails with her pale white skin
almost makes me want to experiment with black
or the darkest of blood reds or midnight blues, with my olive complexion
with my schedule though, no more time to do my nails
only for special, special occasions
where someone might actually be paying attention
i am so glad you reffed tomato–i have two staple colors of polish that I buy and buy and buy again [obvi] at the ceev [cvs].
maybelline wet shine in juicy tomato
[the quality of the polish is actually excellent and it always has a wet, you know what i mean i say wet, wet look]
revlon in pure pearl
[its cute in the summer and doesnt give a sick bic white-out look]
opi lincoln park after dark was my dark snag when i saw the blacks come back in a 2005 issue of WWD [trade or b2b mags are a year early, so you are clearly correct with your 2006 factiod]. its obviously not cute anymore, while peeps still seem to think they are being risky or unique when they slick dark.
note* in that 2005 summer i was super eager to go black and i sported it to a pig roast [ew] and a family friend mom figure gave me shit for it and called me goth. swear to you, next summer, at that same annual pig roast coincidentally, the same woman had on the same shade of polish she gave me shit for the summer before. and i asked, “um, maybe its just me or its really sunny out here and theres a drop shadow on all ten of your fingernails from ten bugs flying precisely above them, but that looks like, haha, and um, im just throwing this out there, but that looks like a shade of lincoln park after dark on your nails?”
December 20, 2007 at 8:02 pmit’s all about the shimmery. i’ve currently got on redish/purple-y with shimmer (can’t remember official name). it’s happy.
December 21, 2007 at 12:31 amso am actually wearing super_dark_purple_it_looks_black_most_of_the_time nail polish. only because was too lazy to take it off after office “rock and roll” themed christmas party. however this winter i’m leaning towards the dark burgundy/coffee browns with no shimmer, just slick wet look. but really, who cares, girls should wear whatever color makes them happy that day.
December 21, 2007 at 12:29 pmlex - i think maybelline wet shine is being phased-out at the ceev! or perhaps discontinued even though it is one of the best!? the only way to find out - fact finding mission to Ulta.
December 21, 2007 at 12:55 pmI’ve been wearing black uninterrupted since Summer ‘05 on both my fingers and toes, and I’m surprisingly not sick of it yet. I may not have started the trend, but I do feel that after two plus years of wearing nothing but OPI Black Onyx/Chanel Black Satin that I can call it my signature color.
I’m not really sure why a color needs to have an expiration date, whether it be on your body with clothing or on your nails with polish. As long as it’s well-manicured and you like it, ain’t no problem in my book.
December 21, 2007 at 1:54 pmMorgan - You are too cute for writing a column about nail polish exasperation.
I’ve never been able to wear polish on my fingers b/c my nails take kind of a beating what with the rock music and all. My toes, however, are always painted. Who cares about trends? I just paint them according to what palette I’m wearing that season- typically lots of brights in the summer, copper/ bronze/ browns in the fall, pinks in the spring, and that old bastard purply black in the winter. I figured most people did the same.
and YES - finding the perfect red shade is like finding that perfect strapless bra that somehow supports but doesn’t give you a back fat roll.
December 21, 2007 at 9:50 pm*high fives to sara*
Finding a good red is like finding a good stapless bra. I would love to read a good article on finding strapless bras (that fit!!!!) in the city.
NARS has some lovely pinks with just enough edge to them to save ‘em from being completely girly and froufy. Schiap, Bohemia and Pussy Galore (yup, there’s actually a nail color named after a Bond Girl, or I suppose, a vast quantity of nookie) are all good bets–pretty with a slight edge.
As for reds, you can do no wrong with Jaguar by Essie. It’s a nice candy apple red with a slight sparkle. Looks best on short nails.
January 15, 2008 at 1:28 pm
i thought you might be interested in this article.
December 20, 2007 at 10:45 am