NOTD: CHANEL Vendetta

Hello everyone!

I think this might be might last post of 2008, so I wanted to go out with a bang! I have mucho mega packing to do tomorrow and then we fly home to Michigan on Christmas day. We have a wonderful 6:30 a.m. flight that I am really looking forward to *wink*.

Today I am wearing the lovely CHANEL Vendetta, which is new for Spring 2009. Ohhhh I am in love with this one. On to the swatches!

CHANEL Vendetta indoor natural light:

CHANEL Vendetta sun:

(click pictures to enlarge, especially the sun ones to see shimmer)

CHANEL Vendetta is very similar to CHANEL Blue Satin in the sense that the shimmer is only visible outside in full on sun. It also has a very similar glossy, satiny and deep finish indoors. I think they should have called it Purple Satin or Violet Satin. The first picture of CHANEL Vendetta indoors is very true to life as far as the color goes, even though the shot is a bit blurry for my standards; it also represents the satiny finish very well. CHANEL Blue Satin has been my favorite nail polish for a long time but I think that CHANEL Vendetta *might* take the top spot from it. Maybe a tie. CHANEL Blue Satin is the only nail polish that I have ever bought a backup of. CHANEL Vendetta might be next.

Well, since this might be the last time that I am here in between now and the new year, I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you loyal readers. All of your comments and e-mails really add to to my enjoyment of blogging! I hope that all of you have a wonderful Christmas!

xoxo,

Katee

p.s. I apologize for the obnoxious watermark, I tried to make it as unobtrusive as possible. I am just sick of my pictures turning up everywhere on the Internet, being copied without my permission. Someone even had the nerve to post my pics to their Flickr photostream!! Now at least if people copy my pictures they will look like jerks, since they say "DO NOT COPY".

CHANEL Moscou/Moscow Nail Russian Nights Collection Swatches

Hi everyone! 

I know you've been waiting for these so I am just posting these swatches quick. I will edit later with more commentary. Bottom line is, they are freaking gorgeous, all of them. These pictures DO NOT do them justice. 

**EDITED TO ADD BABBLING COMMENTARY**

When I say that these pictures do not do them justice, it is because these polishes have a lot of sparkle and fire in the sun that my camera just would not pick up. I almost feel like my pictures make these look a bit flat, and flat they are not. I photographed these in the late afternoon and typically my late morning/early afternoon sun is better. I am going to photograph these again later in the week, the next time the sun comes out. If I am able to get better pics I will share them. 

My favorite is Nuit De Russie, followed by Feu De Russie and Or De Russie, in that order. Click on the pics to enlarge the shimmery goodness. 

CHANEL Nuit De Russie:

Blackened base that is loaded with teal and green micro glitter. There are also sparsely placed pieces of burple micro glitter that really add extra fire and sparkle in the sun. 

CHANEL Feu De Russie:

Blackened base with burgundy, almost magenta shimmer. There are also some larger pieces of red and hot pink glitter.

CHANEL Or De Russie:

Blackened base with gold shimmer. There are also pieces of orange and green micro glitter. This color definitely has an olive look to it. 

Application on all of these was a bit on the thick side but nothing problematic. Sometimes I appreciate a polish that is a bit thicker because I feel like I have greater control over the application and less clean up to do.

So the main question everyone probably has - are these worth $30 bucks each? I think that can only be answered individually. For some people this might feel like a major splurge. Others might not think it is a big deal to plunk $30 bucks down for little luxuries like this. I am sure there are several people that simply can't bring themselves to spend the $30 on a bottle of nail polish. I say, if you like it, and have the money to spare, then get them. And I also cannot blame the people that won't drop the cash and think it's foolish. If I wasn't blogging, and didn't feel the need to show you the latest and greatest, I probably would have only sprung for one or two of these. But I am glad I have them and will definitely wear all of them. 

Well that is all for now. I am spent! LOL literally.

xoxo,

Katee

Happy Halloween!!

Today's Halloween NOTD is Chanel Black Satin, OPI Orange You Glad It's Summer with a little Essie Carnival over the orange nail polish. The OPI polish was a hot streaky mess to apply but it is the only orange I have. 

Please visit me again on Monday, I am going to have some new Laura Mercier nail polishes to share with you!

Have a Happy Halloween!!

TruBlue: Some of my favorite blues!

Hello dear readers!

I absolutely love blue nail polish. Everything from light blues to dark and blackened blues. Today I am sharing with you three of my favorite blue nail polishes.

First, OPI DS Fantasy, a true navy blue with small holographic glitter. The formula of this polish is amazing, it goes on so smoothly. It is opaque with one coat but I suggest using two coats for good measure. For all of you ladies out there that don't like the blackened blues, this one would be a great choice for you.

OPI DS Fantasy Artificial Light:





OPI DS Fantasy in the Sun:



Next, Essie Starry Starry Night. This WAS a VHTF (very hard to find) polish that Essie discontinued and then re-released. It is available again at essie.com and even though they are charging a $2 premium for it over their other polishes I can still say that I highly recommend it. Starry Starry Night has a jelly like formula and the dark navy blue is complimented with silver glitter. It really does look like a starry starry night! This is another true navy, not blackened blue. I suggest using three coats of this polish.

Essie Starry Starry Night Artificial Light:




Essie Starry Starry Night Outside in the sun:




Finally, one of my all time favorite polishes, Chanel Blue Satin (current NOTD). I am a big fan of the blackened blue shades and this one does not disappoint. It is opaque at one coat but I always use two. The shininess and glossiness of this polish is amazing. When you take Blue Satin out in the sun it has a very fine micro shimmer to it. I had to use a flash in my photos to get the shimmer to show because we were having a cloudy day in southern California. Now on to my one beef that I have with Chanel polishes. They chip like CRAZY!! Why is it that a $20 nail polish chips so badly? I just do not get it. I put this on yesterday and within 3 hours I had two little chips. That is nuts. But Chanel keeps on coming out with the "color of the moment" and I just keep on buying them. I like the color of Blue Satin so much that I even bought a back up. I just wish Chanel would do something to address the wearability issue because I know I am not the only one that has had these problems. I am not a consumer that requires a long wearing polish because I change mine almost daily; so imagine how frustrating this must be for someone that likes to go a few, say 4 - 5 days with the same mani. I have heard that using Chanel's base and top coats can help extend the wear of their polish but I don't subscribe to the mantra that I should have to use the same brand top coat and base coat as my polish. I have my Orly Bonder, CND Sticky, and Seche Vite. That is what I use. Chanel needs to work with it. OK this turned into a little bit of a rant. Hopefully someone at Chanel is listening. OK now on to the pic spam, I mean swatches!!

Chanel Blue Satin Natural Light:




Chanel Blue Satin w/Flash:





Chanel Blue Satin in the Sun (it was barely out on this day):



So readers, I want to know, what are YOUR favorite blue nail polishes? Let me know! Thanks for stopping by, reading, and hope to see you back soon!

p.s. random tidbit from the nail salon today - I was getting my bi-weekly pedicure today at a new place that I had not tried yet. The woman doing my pedicure asked me where I got my acrylics (finger nails, not toes, LOL) done! WOW. When I told her that they were my natural nails, no acrylic, she immediately inspected them , and complimented me on how nice they looked. I must say, that is the biggest nail compliment that I have ever received. 

p.s. if you have a moment check out my poll below :) And don't forget to tell me about your favorite blues!