I don’t know about you, but it takes me a LONG time to figure out what polish to wear these days.  When I’m just applying it to my fingernails, it takes a little thought, but I can generally pick a shade with relative ease (using the weather/season/my mood/event as a guide).  However, when the weather gets warmer and calls for bared toenails, attempting to pick a color combo that I’m pleased with is an entirely different challenge.  This morning I spent the better part of an hour trying to decide.  That is just not on.  So, in case anyone else has been suffering the same problem, I would like to introduce a weekly series on color combinations I’ve come up with – hopefully I can help inspire some ideas, as well as get feedback on the choices I’ve made.

Today, I really wanted to wear Essie’s ‘Meet Me at Sunset’ which I picked up in PEI this weekend, but I also have been eager to feature some shades I have yet to show you on the blog, and all the pairings I made with MMAS were with shades you’ve already seen, so I’m putting that one off until the weekend.  I managed to come up with two colors that I haven’t shown you, and that I think compliment each other relatively well.

One of these shades I know many of you are intimately familiar with – last year’s hit shade (which spawned countless dupes) ‘Catch Me in Your Net’ by OPI:

Above, natural light

Below, both in indoor lighting

I joined the bandwagon late on this shade, and only managed to pick up a mini-size by the time I came around.  Again, it’s one of those shimmering shades with I’m just not really into right now, and even though I’m a sucker for blue shades, aqua on the other hand doesn’t always hook me – as I’ve said before, I’m not sure it’s flattering on my skin tone.  However, one I put this shade on my toes, I was fairly pleased.  It’s a fun color and the depth of the sparkle is alluring.  I still prefer more feminine shades on my toes, like pinks/reds/purples, but this is OK.  I’m not upset that I only managed to get a mini size, as I think it’ll just be enough for the amount of times I’ll wear this.

The second shade, my mani color, is a pale yellow from Revlon called ‘Sunshine Sparkle.’  Earlier in the season I was craving a pretty yellow shade to satisfy me enough to avoid picking up Chanel’s ‘Mimosa.’  In past years I was seriously adverse to yellow polish, as it made me think of jaundice, but after seeing Mimosa, my mind was changed.  Since I had heard it had application issues (which has since been rebuked by Eugenia at ommorphia beauty bar), I felt it was a better idea anyway to grab a cheaper version.  Unfortunately, I made the mistake of going with Revlon as the replacement brand – I have yet to have good luck with any of the polishes I’ve gotten from them and I swear after this to not return.  This is not to say that the shade isn’t pretty:

Natural light

Indoor lighting

The second swatch is the most accurate – the color is indeed more lemony than the first picture shows, which makes it look very pale.

My issue with this shade is this:  what you see here is three coats, and there is still slight VNL and patchiness.  Yuk.  Just overall I don’t like Revlon polishes so I could be biased, but I’m not too pleased.  The color is nice, with a touch of shimmer to spice it up a bit, and neutral enough so it’s not too aggressive for the office, but it’s no Mimosa.   Oh well!

So, how do the two look together you ask?  Here are a few shots – tell me what you think!

Natural light

Indoor lighting

I don’t think it’s too shabby.  I’m sure I can come up with something that has a little more pizzazz, but I feel they at least don’t clash!  And it’s two shades off my list of must-swatch colors.

Opinions, please!  And does anyone else have a dislike for Revlon polishes like I do, or am I being ridiculous?

Happy Monday, and thanks for reading!!