The solid colors were inspired by runway trends and they include both full-coverage cream as well as metallic shades:

Cho: Full coverage, vanilla shimmer metallic

Farah: Full coverage, latte beige cream

Bevin: Full coverage, pale sage green cream

Skylar: Full coverage, silvered slate blue metallic

Tru: Full coverage, gilded purple orchid metallic

Lotus: Full coverage, light lotus purple metallic

No matter which of the shades you opt for, they all work well layered underneath one of brand’s new flecked glazes. The glazes can be worn alone but, personally, I always feel like there’s something missing when I wear glazes solo so I would opt to layer them over a full coverage polish. The new glazes this season are:

Maisie: Blue tint with mylar green fleck effect

Opal: Green tint with mylar green fleck effect

Chloe: Pink tint with mylar green and gold fleck effect

Ahh…gotta love the endless possibilities!

My fave combo is Bevin and Chloe, and while I haven’t worn any of these shades long enough to speak for them directly, I’ve worn a ton of Zoya hues and they usually last me about a week (note though that nail chemistry varies from person to person so polishes don’t always last equally long for everyone).

Images: Zoya

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When it comes to nail polish collaborations, it’s pretty much impossible to top OPI. They’ve teamed up with everyone from Katy Perry, to Glee, to The Muppets and, come early 2012, they’ll be launching a killer collection they’ve created in partnership with bright-color-loving singer Nicki Minaj. Seriously, the only performer that could top this is Lady Gaga.

Fittingly, the limited edition collection includes brights and sparkles, my favorite being a neon lime that I’ll be wearing next week when I’m in Miami. I was able to preview the six shades and, like all OPI nail colors, they’re super long-lasting (even the non-glitter ones), and despite Minaj’s out-there style, the hues are surprisingly wearable (seriously, even the lime!). The collection includes five shades and one top coat, each of which is named after one of Minaj’s songs and will retail for $8.50 come January 2012.

What I love about the collection is that it’s perfect for this time of year when so many of us are traveling. It’s literally got all bases covered from classic pink, to party-worthy sparkle, to a sun-and-surf bright. Plus, we’re seeing so many glitter polishes right now that it’s nice to see one that strikes as truly original (see Save Me with its confetti glitter). The shades include:

• Pink Friday (Bubblegum pink)

• Metallic 4 Life (Charcoal with sparkles)

• Save Me (Silver-rainbow glitter)

• Fly (Aqua)

• Did It On Em (Neon lime)

• Super Bass Shatter (Purple top coat)

Image: OPI

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The combo I’m wearing above is Zoya Pandora with China Glaze Medallion. Zoya Anja (the plum shade above) would look great with the gold polish or paired with the China Glaze Silver Lining. Here are a few more options that I think look great together and will be pairing together for my next manicure.China Glaze Traffic Jam paired with Some Like it Haute would be perfect for to match a LBD for your holiday parties! And if you want a fun Christmas mani, try pairing China Glaze Holly-Day with Twinkle Lights.

Are you loving glitter polish, too?  If you’ve been wanting to try it but aren’t 100% convinced by a  full 10 fingers of sparkly glitter, I hope this single-nail trick will inspire you to still try it out!

Image Source: I am Style-ish

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What I love, however, is Fall. It’s not too hot, not too cold, I’m not confronted with a deluge of florals and flip flops, and beauty and fashion finds are brimming with rich jewel colors. I have an affinity for nail polish and have an embarrassingly vast collection that now, much to my delight, includes Duri’s Fall 2011 collection. Launching in September, I was able to preview the shades and love the range of deep, rich colors.

Inspired by wine, the collection is called the Wine Tasting Party Collection and each of the polishes in the six-product range retail for just $5! The collection range includes a warm plum, a shimmery violet and shades of red and deep garnets, all of which are versatile to pair with a wide range of colors and patterns.

The Fall 2011 polishes are:

Cognac – Warm orange-red
Bloody Mary – Classic red
Pinot Noir – Deep garnet
Cabernet Sauvignon – Blackened aubergine
Dragontini – Shimmering violet with fuchsia iridescence
Grape Swirl – Frosted lilac gray

I don’t like black nail polish, but I love dark shades when I’m wearing a black outfit with a lot of bright accessories, so my favorite hue in the range is the Cabernet Sauvignon shade.

All of Duri’s polish are DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde-free.

P.S. If you’re not mentally ready to deal with Fall yet, check-out Duri’s Ultra Brights Collection.

Image: Duri

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The colors we choose to wear can sometimes serve as more than just a trend. They say you are what you eat but, when it comes to style, what you wear can be an expression of who you are and how you feel. But going beyond the closet, your true colors can come through in other ways, such as your nail polish (really!). Have you ever wondered why your outgoing best friend is the queen of hot pink polish, or why your demure office mate stays away from all nail color? Find out in this fun nail color guide and see what your nail polish says about you!

Red

Red has long been associated with passion, love and power. If you love having a red-hot mani and feel your most confident when you do, then perhaps you, too, are like the color. Wearing red polish indicates that you are not afraid to take control and be in command. You are confident, self-assured and passionate about what you do and are often regarded as a go-getter and leader.

Pinks

Light pinks, such as baby pink and cotton candy, are sweet, feminine and youthful. Similarly, if these are your go-to nail color shades, you have an innocent personality and love to see the positive side of things. While you may come off shy, your child-like inquisitiveness keeps you on the forefront of a friendly conversation.

Bold pinks, such as hot pink and fuchsia, are a little more like their red counterparts, although not as aggressive. You are feminine, outgoing and never shy away from being the center of attention. You love being a girl and proudly show it with your feminine and coquettish style.

Blues & Greens

You’re a free spirit and comfortable with yourself. You aren’t afraid to be unique, although you don’t necessarily make the conscious effort to stand out above the rest. At first hand, you may come off as aloof, but only because you like to remain unobtrusive, although you genuinely enjoy a good conversation. You are also closely in tune with and have a great appreciation for nature, music and the arts.

Black

Black has long been associated with all that is serious and the macabre, but when it comes to nail color, it doesn’t always mean you’re in a deeply emotional state. As a staple color in fashion (Hello, LBD and black pumps!), the choice to boast black nails can also indicate non-conformity. You like to push the envelope of style and appreciate unconventional beauty. You are confident and unafraid to stand out, even if it means going against the odds.

Au Naturel

Nails sans color or with a color that resembles their natural state (such as nude), indicates simplicity and straightforwardness. You like to keep things uncomplicated, low-maintenance and are confident with your natural beauty. You have a no-fuss style and take a less-is-more approach to beauty and style.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/zitona/4733601645

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Here’s an example of one of the polish combinations I did.  I didn’t do the full five-finger ombre, but I thought the 3 shades were pretty together.  I also added a matte topcoat on top to make it a bit different.  It’s so fun mixing and matching nail polish colors and, if you are a polish fanatic like me, it gives you the chance to use many more of your colors!  I change my nail colors on a weekly basis and love choosing which color combination to go with next.  Another way to add just a subtle mix is to just paint one finger (usually, I paint the ring finger) a different color.  It’s just a fun and unexpected way to wear your nail polish and reflects a bit of your personality in it!

Readers, what do you think?  Will you try out wearing different colors on your fingers?  What has been your favorite polish trend?

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Blue, Teal, Turquoise and Green

1) Destined Nail Color – Blue; 2) Savvy Totally Teal; 3) Orly Green With Envy; 4) Stripe Rite Paint in Green Grass

Pink, Coral, Orange and Yellow

1) China Glaze Neon Shocking Pink; 2) OPI Conga Line Coral; 3) Orly Orange Punch; 4) Finger Paints Art Nouv-Yellow

Light Neutrals

1) OPI Makes Men Blush; 2) Orly Sheer Nude; 3) Deborah Lippmann Prelude to a Kiss; 4) Savvy French White White

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We think itÂ’s a great way to get good nails and good karma.

For just $6.50, you can get in on Glamour’s Woman of the Year with their limited-edition nail polish. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the awards, Glamour and L’Oréal Paris have created a creamy burgundy-berry polish to benefit this year’s Woman of the Year fund honoree, Ob-Gyn Dr. Hawa Abdi and the Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation (see dhaf.org), which aims to provide good health care to all women and children it works with in Somalia, East Africa. The foundation provides “quality medical and preventative care [and creates] treatment environments that foster hope.” Glamour.com states that Dr. Abdi “has made it her mission to provide food, shelter and medical care to women and children escaping from violence.”

For every bottle of Glamour Woman of the Year nail polish sold, $3 goes directly to Dr. Hawa AbdiÂ’s foundation.

According to Cindi Leive, editor in chief of Glamour, “The Glamour Woman of the Year Fund is something I am incredibly proud of… and we are thrilled to be partnering with LÂ’Oréal Paris for this effort. LÂ’Oréal ParisÂ’ limited-edition Woman of the Year nail polish offers our readers a fun and fashionable way to support the good works of women around the world.”

While supplies last, you can buy Glamour’s Woman of the Year nail polish at The Condé Nast Store Web site, as well as at other establishments nationwide.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/photogaby/3183983782

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First, Fulerton is always behind the scenes at the hottest fashion shows, works with the top stars and knows whatÂ’s going to be a hit trend seasons before it is. She knows what youÂ’re going to want to be wearing on your fingers next fall before itÂ’s even a glimmer in your fashionable eye.

SheÂ’s also incorporated some pretty interesting concepts into the range. ThereÂ’s a stand-alone kiosk that is stocked with double-ended bottles, nail art, glitter, nail tools and all sorts that Andrea has clearly thought long and hard about. In fact, I bet most of the products came about because she wanted them for her own use and couldnÂ’t find them previously, like the credit card-slim buffing block. There are 78 SKUs in all.

Chic Profile quotes Fulerton saying, “I noticed wherever I went that there were no one-stop nail boutiques. I wanted professional nail products that I use in my everyday world — prepping nails for celebs and magazines — to be readily available for the girl out there that loves a bit of nail art.”

I met up with Fulerton back in June to see the range. Each of the double ended polishes — all named by FulertonÂ’s friend Nigella Lawson — can be worn alone or combined to create a fabulous new color (so you get three colors for the price of one, hence the name of the product — Color Layering Trio). She worked for ages perfecting the undercoat and top coats. Plus, 24 of the shades sheÂ’s created are named after the celebs sheÂ’s worked with like Sienna, Nigella and Kylie. I wanted to sweep the entire range into my handbag and take it home with me then and there.

The range is a multi-tasking breath of fresh air. ItÂ’s meant to be fun (enter the glitter puff and nail gems) and, at the same time, is bang on trend. Instead of splashing out dozens of dollars for the YSL nail polish duos, why not just buy a bottle from AFNB instead to create that dual-colored manicure?

And itÂ’s all affordable, priced from $3 to $12.

Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique is available online at Superdrug.com and launches at Super Drug stores and at andreafulertonnailboutique.com later this month. Sign up to the newsletter and be first to get AFNB news.

Image Source: superdrug.com/new-andrea-fulerton-nail-boutique/page/andreafulerton/

Sources:

• Interview with Andrea Fulerton, June 2010
• http://www.britishbeautyblogger.com/2010/08/andrea-fulerton-nail-boutique.html
• http://www.chicprofile.com/2010/09/andrea-fulerton-launches-her-nail-line-in-september-2010.html
• http://beautysbadhabitblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/andrea-fulerton-nails-at-superdrug.html
• http://alicehartdavis.com/blog/?p=146
• http://www.andreafulertonnailboutique.com
• http://www.superdrug.com/new-andrea-fulerton-nail-boutique/page/andreafulerton/

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