Glam Queen- Dior Vernis 708 Gold Nugget

As far as I'm concerned, the best part of Dior's summer 2008 look, Golden Dior, is nail color. The collection has two colors, Coppery Ginger, pretty and lighter than you'd expect from the name, and Gold Nugget, which is more of a metallic mocha with golden shimmer. According to the sales assistant at my local Saks, the former is the bigger seller, which is understandable, as it's the more predictable of the two. But I prefer Golden Nugget.


This color is dark enough to make a statement, but still very summery. It goes well with the distinct 70s glam look of this collection. You just know the model is wearing classic white pants with a metallic belt and black strappy stiletto sandals (hopefully, her perfume is a vintage Miss Dior and not Charlie). What you see on the model is what you get in full light. The color in the photo bottle is closer to what it looks like indoors and at night.

The polish goes on smoothly, but you do need to stay focused, keep your hand steady and avoid streaks. I needed a couple of tries to get it right, and in the process was reminded why I rarely buy Dior nail color: the quality is excellent, but the brush is tiny and hard to maneuver, at least for my freakishly large hands. But other than that, Gold Nugget is my first choice for summer nails.

Dior Vernis is available from most department stores. I bought mine at Saks ($19). You can find it online at Nordstrom.com (bottle image comes from there). It's a limited edition, but still widely available, so don't give in to the crazy prices this is getting on eBay.
Golden Dior image: Debenhams.com

Nail Candy- Zoya ChitChat and Gossip Collections

I needed a good pick-me-up this week, and the second thing that worked (the first was perfume, of course) was making my nails look like candy. Zoya launched two collections for summer: ChitChat, which has six sparkly colors, all named after beauty bloggers, and Gossip, which I'm doing my best to ignore the fact that it was inspired by The Hills (said she who watched every episode of the Real Housewife of NYC and has no ground for being a snob).

The colors are so happy I couldn't resist playing with the bottles and taking the pictures, even if I can't actually wear many of them. The quality is as wonderful as ever. They go on easily and smoothly, the creamy ones only require one layer, a fact that I appreciate beyond words. It almost guarantees perfect, no mess application. All the colors, including the creams are quick-drying (see again: no mess, even if you're an über-klutz). And the best part is that the formulas are, as always, toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) free, which translates to less toxic and less stinky than most polishes.

I'm one of the bloggers who had colors named after them. The others are Erika, Annie, Bekka, Lianne and Elke. My favorites are Erika and Gaia (what are the chances?), frankly, because they are the less intense of the bunch. Erika is a very sheer baby pink that would require three layers to get the color of the bottle, but I'm very happy with only two. The golden shimmer looks lovely in the sun and gives the summery look without going overboard. My color is a shimmery white, with some gold undertone. It's classy and I wish it was available last year when I desperately searched for a white polish and ended up with a disaster that looked like I was playing with Wite-Out.

The one I really wanted to love was Bekka. Chartreuse is one of my favorite colors, and unlike many other people, I can actually wear it. In clothes and accessories, that is. But as much as I tried, it is just wrong for nails of a warm-skinned person, and please (please!) don't attempt it on your toes. Some things should never be yellow.

The Gossip collection is just as bold, but somehow easier for me to wear. Most of the colors make for very happy toes, and Audrina, a plummish fuchsia, is incredibly pretty in the bottle and even more gorgeous and flattering when you put it on. I have a feeling it'd look good on most hands (normally I'm not a fuchsia person, but this is balanced just right).

Bottom line: These colors might not be appropriate for the Queen's Garden Party, but they sure are fun.

I received both collection as a PR freebie. They are available from Zoya's website for $34 for a full collection or $6 per bottle.

Photos (and a back stairs handrail in a dire need of painting): all mine.

Stay Away From The Sun- Golden Dior Summer 2008

While we're waiting for Chanel's golden collection for fall, Dior already has something for us. It's more of a concept than a full line of products, because some of the items that make the look aren't really new and/or limited edition, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Imagine that: you might actually be able to find a favorite color several seasons in a row!

I was instantly drawn to the poster and the display on the Dior counter at my local Saks. It looked gorgeously summery and promising on a rainy and gloomy spring day. Upon closer inspection, while the whole thing was lovely, most of the individual items were not my thing. The glosses too light, the blush and one of the lipsticks too orange and I really (really!) don't need another bronzer. I loved the look and the idea behind the 5 color eyeshadow palette: gold, earth and khaki metallic tones, but it was too pearly and just not practical enough. Not to mention, way too close to other shiny eye shadows I already own, though nothing is quite like that, I admit (an excellent substitution, especially if, like me, you already have several shimmery and iridescent golds and browns, but are still mesmerized by a golden khaki: Bourjois Wet/Dry eyeshadow in Kaki Etonnant. I just saved you $40).

I ended up buying two things: a nail polish (the one you see in the picture, review soon) and a lipstick, Rouge Dior, in Must See Mauve (#713).

The lip color, while part of the Golden Dior look, is part of the regular collection and seems to be available everywhere: Sephora and all major department stores have it in stock. When trying at the counter, I liked the subtle shine and the sophisticated color. It's a mauvish, toned-down bronze, not too warm but definitely summery enough. However, the first time I tried to wear it at home in natural daylight I was mortified: the shine looked frosted (think 80s chic) and the formula clung to the lips emphasizing the natural texture and the tiny scar on my bottom lip. It was a disaster begging to be returned.

However, I gave it another chance at night and wore it over a non-sticky lip balm (Benefit Smooch, one of the best lip treatments I know). Apparently, that's how it meant to look. Beautiful color, a lit-from-within effect and an even coating of the lips. the quality is what I expect from Dior, reasonably well-lasting and comfortable to wear. Just avoid daylight.

Rouge Dior is available at every Dior counter for $27. I bought mine from Saks.

Golden Dior image from Debenhams.com, of all places.

This blogger is still cranky

I haven't written much about the Summer 2008 collections. The reason is that most of them left me feeling uninspired. There's only so much innovation one can find in bronzing powders, especially when said one is quite addicted to them and already owns at least one from each major luxury brand. And as for other makeup items, we've seen (and bought) it all before.

Two companies compete for the Outrageous Award of the season: First is Bobbi Brown, queen of the limited edition palettes that end up tripling in price on eBay has gone a step further. This season she doesn't offer a palette, but a collection: a lip trio, a metallic eye shadow palette and a mini brush set (why would they put a blush brush in a collection that doesn't even include a blush or any face product for that matter?). You can have it all for $140. The problem is that it's all or nothing: you can't purchase any of the items individually, even if you really don't want or need more makeup brushes.

No, thank you.


Another "oh no, they didn't!" moment comes to you from Chanel. While there are cute looking lip colors in each of their formulas and the nail polish in Antelope is gorgeous and elegant (it's a frosted fawn color. A bit 70s, but in a very good way), I couldn't believe my eyes even when I saw Oasis, the eye shadow quartet in person at the counter. Except for the khaki, this set is nearly identical to the one from two summers ago, Gold Rush (see the second picture, yanked from an eBay auction). It's not exactly the same, but I own Gold Rush and can promise you that you don't need both. I'm all for recycling, but not of ideas. Add to that the second nail color in this collection, Flamingo, a bright pink that looks suspiciously close to Biaritz from the same summer 2006 collection. What's the point?




Now, the last annoying move (though not nearly half as bad as the two above) belongs to Smashbox. They have an eye and cheek palette that are exclusive to Sephora, but the item I'm more interested to try, the Desert Chic palette (another eye/cheek combo) can only be found online, either directly from Smashbox or on QVC. I'm a veteran blind-buyer, but when it comes to face color (unlike lip or eye products that rarely go wrong) I prefer to play with it at the store.

Do You Want To Know A Secret?

If the spring collection from Zoya has made you yearn for warmer days and blooming trees, you're about to get a big craving for sandy beaches and long, hot summer days...

There's a very special collection for summer (to be launched in May) and it has me smiling from ear to ear. Michelle from All Lacquered Up has the full scoop and color swatches.

The official word from Zoya is that "my" color is a cool white metallic with gold undertones. I can't wait to see it on my fingers and toes.

Image by Deborah Jaffe from Jupiter Images