nails - The Seventh Sphinx

I mentioned this Essie polish just recently but I like it so well, here it is again. Dressed to Kilt, from Essie’s Fall 2014 collection. A rich, dark red that’s great for fall/winter.

iittala sarjaton metsa/white mug

Two coats of Dressed to Kilt worn here with OPI nail envy base coat, which I like so much, and OPI rapid dry topcoat, which I don’t like so much but which I am not going to throw away because while completely extravagant at times I am just as often cheap and long-suffering.

That said, there sometimes comes a point, after some months or years of eking functionality out of a mediocre or even actually poor product, when, in a fit of de-cluttering, which is really a fit of rebellion against this conservative, salvaging self, I take great pleasure in throwing such things away.

Thanks to my friend Katy for recommending this shade!

This is MAC Living Legend lipstick, from their new The Matte Lip collection, much blotted. Their matte formulas are not my favorite (neither my favorite matte formula (NARS velvet matte lip pencil) nor my favorite MAC formula (creamsheen)), they can be patchy and drying at their worst, but they are mostly good (you have to asses on a case by case basis, not uniform in behavior, which is usually the case anyway no matter the brand). For the right color, more than good enough.

[I’ve only just noticed how well it matches my bag! This is what happens when you consistently go for the same shades regardless of context.]

I like the plaid contrasted with the leather here. Especially such a bright plaid with black leather.

This is not a bad formula for an interesting outfit: put together two very different outfits, each reflecting a uniform aesthetic, wear half of one and half of the other. Or put together three, or four, and so on.

This is an Essie polish in Dressed to Kilt, a dark blue-toned red from their fall 2014 collection. Once you find a red lipstick you like, try to find a nail polish in that color (or vice versa), odds are good you’ll like it on the nails as well. I should do a post trying to match a lipstick to this. Don’t let me forget.

Allsaints leather jacket, J Crew oxford plaid shirt (I kind of went to town in the J Crew fall sale…you’ll see), Express tuxedo leggings, New Balance Stadium Jacket sneakers, Free People tote, double-sided faux pearl earrings (eBay, originally a Dior design. Quite cool, I think, though maybe better to wear only one at a time).

Tag: nails

on the nails: essie dressed to kilt

plaid & leather