In the mood for all his kissin'
In the mood his crazy lovin'
In the mood what I was missin'
It didn't take me long to say
I'm in the mood now
When I hear Glenn Miller's "In The Mood" I can't help but picture the scene from Cannery Row in which Debra Winger and Nick Nolte swing dance with competitive ferocity. The same image came to mind when I first saw Essie's Spring 2008 collection, In The Mood, with it's cheeky names and sweet girly shades.
For the most part all the polishes applied smoothly with no streaking. Looking For Love being the exception. It was just too difficult to get a fluid sheer look. Even after the three coats I applied it was still semi-sheer and splotchy (see below).
Body Language - Is a pinkish gray nude. A very neutral and wearable creme. I honestly didn't expect to like this one at all, this is so not a part of my normal color range. But once I had it on, I loved the clean chic look.
Great Expectations - An opalescent gray, the shimmer is extremely subtle to add depth. I see light to medium grays becoming more and more popular. In fact this color would have fit right in with the silvery/pearly whites that were seen on the red carpet at the SAG Awards.
Hard To Get - A bubblegum pink creme with a hint of lavender in it's base. It didn't really mesh with my skin tone but I think it would be a fun pedi shade. With it's high gloss shine, Hard To Get is the slight deeper sister of one of my favorite patent finish polishes, China Glaze Go Go Pink.
Hi Maintenance - You know sheers and I aren't friends so even though this milky pink makes a great french manicure base, it's not for me.
Looking for Love - This one was the big disappointment for me. Lilac and lavender shades make my hands look alien-esque so even though I love wearing purples, the lighter ones are a no go. Though regardless of the color the formula bit it, big time. Major application issues makes me give Looking for Love a double "thumbs down".
Secret Affair - Is my other favorite from the collection. The shade is hard to describe which is why I find it so intriguing. Is it nude, pink, taupe or a combination of all three? With this one, it really depends on the light which makes a Secret Affair a winner in my book. 
The In The Mood collection is available for sale now online and is slated to be in stores and salons on February 1st.
Who's buying what? How many of you are going to clutch your dark polishes, run and hide in a cave vampire-style until all this pale sheer madness goes away? And who is starting to venture towards the light? As much as it pains me to say, I'm kind of loving the freshness of these light colors. Shh, don't tell! My green and blue polishes may revolt and run away.
Essie Spring 2008 - In The Mood
Creative Nail Design Spring 2007 - Optix
There isn't a lot of info to be found about Creative's spring line. These few pictures are the best I could do. Optix is the name of the new collection but to be honest, they might want to call it "Spring 2006: Part II" Some of these new colors look like they're just a deeper version of what we saw last year. I'm just hoping they're more opaque. Especially the green. You know I'll have to have it.
Top Row (l-r): Milky Way: a lilac patina, Cosmic Coral: an edgy peach shimmer, Hyper Fresh: an opalescent white
Bottom Row (l-r): Aqua Jet: an opal mint lustre, Blue Nirvana: a translucent periwinkle, Pink Chrome: an opalescent pink
I found an interview with Jan Nordstrom-Arnold, co-founder and style director of Creative Nail Design, on the Gulf News website. In it, she comments on the upcoming trends in nails.
Spring: The collections have layered, sheer fabrics in pastels with translucent undertones. To complement these we have nail colours such as cosmic coral, blue Nevada, which is great with jeans, a soft luminescent lilac called Milky Way, aqua green and pink chrome. Hems are shorter and necklines are higher, so the accent is on legs and perfectly polished toenails are important. There is also a trend for a futuristic look which will see longer nails with a metallic silver or gold tip and Swarovski crystals on the nails.
Summer: The little white dress is big. We have designed longer almond shaped white eyelet lace nails and marblising effects to go with the dress. Glittering gold nails will be big and we have experimented with crocodile prints with metallic chocolate brown on gold. Lavishly decorated feet will also be the trend in summer 2007. Red, fuchsia and gold are the main colours of the season.
Autumn/winter: The attitude of the season is imperial anarchy or a London punk rock look with a regal touch. There is a lot of plaid with metallic undertones. Our palette for the season includes burgundy with bronze undertones, anthracite metallic, copper pearl, royal purple, metallic burgundy and fuchsia.
Orly Color I.D. 2
Orly has introduced another Color I.D. collection; colors that are supposed to "beautify and enhance natural skin tones."
The colors are (l-r): Truly Tangerine, Fabulous Flamingo, Lovely Lilac, Precisely Poppy, Beautiful Blush and Wonderful Wisteria
I've always considered myself light medium/medium but that lilac color does not appeal to me at all. I've tried lilacs before and they make me look deathly. Maybe they should have split the collection into two parts, one for warm skin tones and one for cool skin tones. I love to wear corals like Precisely Poppy but, that's because I'm warm. I don't know that the same color would work on a cool skin tone.
What do you think of the shade meant for your skin tone?
Essie Spring '07
Even though I'm not an Essie fan, in the interest of fairness to all brands, I present their spring collection. I must admit, I do like the Mod theme they have going on and I'll probably pick up a bottle of Guchi Muchi Puchi & Pinkadelic for the names alone.
Anyone that was disappointed with last years brights will be a happy camper this year.
And, can I get that bottle-heeled shoe? That would get me to rush to the stores.
Names are (l-r): Cool Lots, Guchi Muchi Puchi, Jackie Oh My, Mini How High, Mod Squad, Pinkadelic
