Zoya: SS14 NYFW Custom Color Development and Show Participation

Zoya Nail Polish continued to be a fashion force of color during New York Fashion Week by providing custom nail colors for designers Peter Som, Zang Toi, Timo Weiland and Rolando Santana.

The time required for custom color development is worth the effort; previous collaborations have resulted in increased recognition for nails as a key part of each shows individual beauty story. Brand awareness is a benefit of the recent fashion week success of Zoya. According to Leo Reyzis, Vice President of Art of Beauty (parent company to Zoya Nail Polish), “in merging the world of fashion with that of professional beauty, Zoya has created a unique custom color opportunity the benefits both the designer and the Zoya brand’. The custom color collaborations allow designers to see color via a different medium than the fabrics they are accustomed to working with. “Creatively, it gives designers a risk-free way to venture into nail polish without having to launch their own beauty line”. Overall, it’s a wonderful experience for all parties involved. As a courtesy, Zoya also suggests the designers name each color for a woman representing the collection, brand or as a nod to someone special, “it’s a bigger part of the collaboration than most people realize” says Reyzis, “naming the color makes it personal… and that’s special”. Most of the designers also choose to gift the color to show attendees, allowing everyone to take home a piece of the show right away!

Each designer nail palette was created in direct collaboration with Zoya Color Developer, Rebecca Isa, who held true to the brand commitment to provide toxin free*, long-wearing, beautiful professional nail color for natural nails.

Isa delivers an extensive background in cosmetics and a one-of-kind knowledge resource to designers taking the nail color plunge. Her cosmetics color understanding on behalf of Zoya Nail Polish marries well with that of the designers understanding of fabric allowing the color to seamlessly meld with the collections and remain as attractive in the Zoya bottle as they are on the nail.

Peter Som: For Peter Som, Isa developed three new polishes; Zoya Edie (blue cream), Zoya Alexa (green cream), and Zoya Stella (peach cream). “The inspiration for the Peter Som custom trio was - Where land meets sea… - the serene marine blue represents the water, the vibrant green represents the lush plant life surrounding the water and the soft peach is the delicate first bloom of spring flowers. Eddie and Alexa are full coverage and very pigmented so that a shaded half-moon mani can be achieved; which is exactly how the shades were worn coming down the runway”.

Zang Toi: “The inspiration for the Zang Toi trio was found at the ballet and in the beautifully lux fabrics he used to create his modern ballet babe” says Isa. “The two softer shades in the collection were a Spring blue (show name - Boy Toi) and a soft pink (show name - Ballet Babe) - both have full coverage with two coats so they are more dense than traditional spring pastels. The drama comes from the onyx black (show name - Black Swan) with a full glossy finish that looks almost like liquid vinyl. For the show Zang Toi chose to put all the models in high drama wearing the black polish with irregular stripes of matte top coat to add texture and accent”.

 Timo Weiland: “For Spring 2014 the design team of Timo Weiland was looking for a rich signature indigo that would perfectly balance the blues in the beautiful collection.” The indigo Isa created for Timo Weiland “is fully pigmented and balanced so that it stays blue even with multiple coats; it flatters any skin tone and is a wonderfully wearable shade that looks especially fresh for the season”. In addition to the custom blue, the Timo team selected an existing color, Zoya Maura, as the perfect red for some looks. Models wore either solid Timo or Maura nail on both hands.

Rolando Santana: “The inspiration for Rolando Santana’s trio was the artwork of Frida Kahlo - bold, bright and beautiful. For the show, models wore a combination of Natasha (nude cream) and Sara (yellow cream), creating a nude base with a vertical yellow petal accent which was fresh and original a perfect accent to his beautiful collection” said Isa. A third color, Maria (a deep fuchsia cream) was created as a compliment to the others for the show gift box.

Fashion week also drew Zoya attention at the shows of Nicholas K., Chadwick Bell, Mark and Estel, and Alexandre Herchcovitch, all of which selected Zoya Nail Polish as the nail color and care provider for their amazing shows.

Nicholas K.: Kicking off Mercedes Benz Fashion Week as the very first show, Nicholas K. paid tribute to the designing duo’s childhood memories of Native American traditions in monochromatic hues flowing from white, to tan and finally to black. For the nails, Zoya manicurists applied two coats of Zoya Noot (charcoal green-gray cream), topped by a matte and then finally a chevron “arrow tip” to each nail in Zoya Edyta (deep sparkling green).

Chadwick Bell: “For Spring and Summer 2014, layering color is going to be a strong trend” said Isa. Designer Chadwick Bell created his own custom layered look using several popular Zoya colors starting with a nude pink-beige base (Zoya Erin), topped by a sheer white-gold shimmer (Zoya Gaia) on most nails and then added a random accent nail of nude (Zoya Jacqueline) under a single coat of gold (Zoya Goldie) and topped that nail only with a matte topcoat. Chadwick wanted the nails to be extensions of the Anndra Neen jewelry which was also featured in the show.

Mark and Estel: There is nothing subtle or uncreative about the new world collection of design duo of Mark Tango and Estel Day, with Zoya Noot (charcoal green-gray cream) on hand the models walked the runway in solid nails that smoldered and complimented the black “cat eye” liner and Avant Garde Jewelry designs. The Made in the USA line featured monochromatic colors in untraditional Spring and Summer use of heavy fabrics and was awash with cutouts, zippers and sheers. The collection was a crowd pleaser to all senses with a live performance of the music and fashion duo for the show finale.

Alexandre Herchcovitch: Black but not basic, the Zoya Raven (satin shimmer black) and an ultra-glossy Zoya Armor top coat manicure on models added edge to the almost solidly black and white, graphic collection of Brazilian fashion design sensation Alexandre Herchcovitch for the 2014 Spring and Summer collection.

Join Zoya on the new live.zoya.com for all of latest shows, events and happenings images and follow Zoya Nail Polish (@ZoyaNailPolish) on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for all of the latest looks…
*BIG5FREE: Zoya’s vegan friendly formula is free of formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and camphor.

ZOYA IS THE NEW COLOR OF FASHION!
zoya.com

*Info sent by PR

O.B.A.G. ULTA " Alter Ego"

Yep, it's time for another "Oldie But A Goodie"!

I recently cut my nails down, so I decided to break out an older color that I love, in order to cheer them up, LOL!



I was first introduced to this color by a fellow blogger, who told me it was the perfect base color for OPI "Absolutely Alice".  Since AA is such a HTF color, I knew I wanted to conserve my coats when applying, so a base color was needed ASAP. Plus when you use a smooth base color under a glitter, the manicure is easier to remove. :)

Once I found the color, I thought, hey this is gorgeous enough to stand on it's own!

ULTA "Alter Ego".
2 coats, no top coat

ULTA "Alter Ego" is a frosted blue with added golden shimmer. It's gorgeous, and I'm not sure whether you can still find it , since I believe it was part of their core line. The bottles have changed since I bought mine, but I'm sure if you find it, it will be the same color *polished fingers crossed* :)

It applied well in 2 coats, no issues and dried in a decent amount of time....relatively streak free! Streaks in frosty shades bother me, which is why I do not own too many, so when one comes across my desk that has no obnoxious streaks, oh yeah...it's a keeper!

Keep It Sweet!

OPI Supports Breast Cancer Awareness with Seventh Annual Pink of Hearts Promotion

OPI announces the launch of its seventh annual limited edition Pink of  Hearts promotion, featuring the classic sheer pink shade Pink-ing of You and the new sparkle-packed hue More than a Glimmer. Pink of Hearts 2013 will also include pink ribbon and crystal decals (10 each) to embellish nails.

This duo pack is designed to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and support. In 2013, OPI will donate $25,000 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) to Susan G. Komen^®. OPI will also donate $5,000 to Rethink Breast Cancer in Canada.

“OPI is proud to support Susan G. Komen and Rethink Brest Cancer with the seventh annual Pink of Heartspromotion,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI co-founder & Artistic Director. “I encourage women to create and customize their own Pink of Hearts manicure, wearing these colors as a visible way to honor everyone whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.”

Pink of Hearts 2013 includes two shades sold in one pack – the pale pink Pink-ing of You and the vibrant More than a Glimmer. This sparkly lacquer is packed with both micro and macro matte glitters in a rainbow of colors and should be worn without a top coat, either alone or layered on top of Pink-ing of You. Each bottle also features a special pink ribbon cap wrap in support of breast cancer awareness, and every set offers 10 each decorative pink ribbon and crystal decals.

Pink-ing of You and More than a Glimmer feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application.Pink of Hearts 2013 will be available September and October 2013 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com for $15.95 ($19.95 CAN) suggested retail.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

About OPI

As the world leader in the professional nail care industry, OPI is committed to providing high-quality products and services to both salons and their customers, along with a focus on industry safety and innovation. Known for its exceptional formula, fashionable colors and iconic names, OPI’s heavily-pigmented lacquers are super rich, long-lasting and chip-resistant – offering an affordable luxury to consumers. OPI nail lacquer is available in over 200 shades. Each lacquer features OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application. Currently, OPI is available in over 100 countries and retails a full line of professional items, including nail treatments, finishing products, lotions, manicure/pedicure products, files, tools, gels and acrylics.

About Susan G. Komen®Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Suzy, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. Today, Susan G. Komen® works to end breast cancer in the U.S. and throughout the world by investing more than $750 million in breast cancer research and $1.5 billion in community outreach programs over the past 30 years; providing funding to help low-income and uninsured women get screened and get treatment; advocating for cancer research and outreach programs; and working globally in more than 30 countries. Visit komen.org.

About Rethink

Rethink Breast Cancer burst on the scene in 2001 with a desire to change the face of breast cancer—to show that young women get breast cancer too. Our mission is to continuously pioneer cutting-edge breast cancer education, support and research that speaks fearlessly to the unique needs of young (or youngish) women.

*Info sent by PR

Cooling down with Color Club!

Happy Day, it's September and it is still amazingly HOT here in Southern California. So, to help cool us down for Fall, I have two amazing colors from Color Club from their latest Fall and Winter collections for 2013.

Left to Right: Color Club "Williamsburg" from the Girl About Town Collection for Fall 2013 and "Lady Holiday" from the Harlem Nights Collection for Winter 2013.

First Up...

Color Club "Williamsburg"
2 coats no top coat

This is my kind of blue. This stunner from the "Girl About Town Collection" is gorgeous! It is a dark navy blue shimmer, with highlights of brighter blue that jump out in the sun. JUMP!

Applied well in 2 coats, and dries to a nice shine.  I know we have seen blue shimmer with the same effect, but seeing those bright blue flecks jump at me underneath all this deep navy shimmer, never gets OLD! NEVER!

Color Club "Lady Holiday"
2 coats, no top coat

This cool toned grey is simple and I think "the new nude". It's easy to apply and easy to wear.  It is true, this type of color and texture is nothing new we haven't seen, so I'm not super excited about it, but you can never go wrong with a wearable, trendy color like this.  Sorry for the paint on the sides of the nail, I thought I got it all cleaned up before picture time, but I guess not :(

Out of these two colors, my vote is for "Williamsburg", in fact I'm surprised this color was not in the Winter Collection versus the Fall Collection.

Color Club retails for $8.00, and can be found at your local retailer or at shopcolorclub.com. Also don't forget to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

Keep It Sweet

*Product sent by PR for review.

ZOYA: Harmonious Cosmic Color for Winter/Holiday 2013: Preview

ZENITH

Harmonious Cosmic Color for Winter/Holiday 2013

Enter the color cosmos with this new collection of six perfectly harmonious nail polish beauties by Zoya.

ZOYA ZENITH WINTER/HOLIDAY 2013

ZP689 - Seraphina: Polaris Silver Metallic. Full Coverage Formula (bottle shown above).

ZP687 - Cassedy: Celestial Pewter Metallic. Full Coverage F Formula (shown above).

ZP678 - Belinda: Cosmic Purple Metallic. Full Coverage Formula (bottle shown above).

ZP688 - Payton: Galactic Cranberry Halo. Full Coverage Formula (shown above).

ZP686 - Dream: Deep Space Blue Halo. Full Coverage Formula (shown below)

ZP643 - Mosheen: Astro Ice Blue Topper - great for layering over other hues (bottle shown above).

Ultra long-wearing, nail lacquers by Zoya are BIG5FREE - all formulas are completely free of harmful industrial chemicals such as toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.

Find over 300 stunning Zoya colors on www.zoya.com. Each and every color has a name as unique as the women who inspired it.

ZOYA IS THE NEW COLOR OF FASHION!
Zoya Zenith Collection

$8.00 ea. (US)
Available on Zoya.com

FALL COLOR – AVAILABLE OCTOBER 01, 2013

*Info sent by PR.

Wet Paint Nail Polish: Swatches and Review

Today I have a new kid on the block, Wet Paint Nail Polish.  The Wet Paint Nail Glaze System, is all about layers. The idea is to start off with a base color, called "Base", and then layer on top the colored "Top Coat", and then the "SPFX" colors which are special effect colors that add another layer of color.

 The line has 31 base colors, 17 Top Coat Glaze's and 6 SPFX color.   There are multitude of options!  They have a "Try It On" tool on their site, so you can see what certain colors look like layered.

Here are the first set of colors I played with...

Base "Aqua & Shock", Top Coat Glaze "Wicked", and SPFX "Carmel Breeze".

There are actually six SPFX colors in the line, but I played with three of them.

SPFX colors "Carmel Breeze", "Moonstone" and "Onyx".

First I applied...

Base "Aqua & Shock"
2 coats, no top coat

Then I applied 2 coats of "Wicked"...

Then on three of the nails, I applied the SPFX colors...

Left to Right: "Carmel Breeze", "Moonstone", and "Onyx". 2 coats each.

Overall, I am not pleased with this system. The base color was actually the best part of this system.. It applied very well, in fact probably the best baby blue creme I have ever worked with.  :)

My problems begin with the top coat glaze "Wicked". I found it to be very streaky and even at two coats I could not get it to look even.  Thankfully, the SPFX color "Carmel Breeze" was amazing and covered up the streaks, while at the same time it dramatically changed the polish to a very pretty opalescent electric blue. :)

The remaining SPFX colors, didn't change the polish as much as it just covered them up. I was hoping I would get a nice smoked blue and a darkened navy by adding them, but all I got was 1 grey nail and 1 black nail :(

The colors are very affordable, the base colors are $6.00, the top coats are $8.00 and the SPFX colors are $8.00.  They also have certain colors paired together in collections, as well as nail treatments.

I will give this nail glaze system one more try, stay tuned.

Keep It Sweet!

*Product sent by PR for review.

OPI joined Reem Acra

Photo Credit: OPI

OPI joined Reem Acra for the designer’s Spring 2014 presentation at Lincoln Center on Monday. 

Photo Credit: OPI

Photo Credit: OPI

The models’ intricate and complex hair was balanced by fresh and clean makeup and nails, which were polished with OPI "You Callin’ Me a Lyre?" for an overall look evoking 70s glam. 

Photo Credit: OPI

Photo Credit: OPI

For continuous coverage, visit social.opi.com/nyfw/

OPI joined Joanna Mastroianni

OPI joined Joanna Mastroianni at Lincoln Center for her Spring 2014 runway show Sunday evening, where the designer unveiled a colorful look featuring the bright yellow shade OPI "Need Sunglasses?" on models’ fingers and toes. 

Mastroianni selected the nail lacquer to complement her bold-hued long dresses in striking tangerine, yellow and aquamarine shades inspired by Gaudi’s architecture. 

Please enjoy the great backstage and presentation pics.  

I love the designers nail color choice, PERFECT! :)

For continuous coverage, visit social.opi.com/nyfw/

*Info sent by PR

OPI Walked the runway with Houghton

Photo Credit: OPI

  On Friday, OPI walked the runway with Houghton, where models wore pale pink lacquer in I Theodora You on fingers and toes.

Photo Credit: OPI

Photo Credit: OPI

Photo Credit: OPI

This shade complemented soft abstract patterns, flowing dresses and brocade detailing on clothes. 

Photo Credit: OPI

Her ring is AMAZING!!!

Photo Credit: OPI

Enjoy these backstage and runway images, as well as a cute pic of Houghton designer Katharine Polk wearing the same shade as her show's models.  :)

Photo Credit: OPI

For continuous coverage, visit social.opi.com/nyfw/

*Info sent by PR

OPI @ NYFW: BCBGMAXAZRIA Runway Nails

Here is a great video showcasing OPI’s backstage and show coverage!

 *Link sent by PR

Keep It Sweet!

Announcing The PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2014

Announcing The PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2014

"Designers take a modern twist on the traditional for spring 2014 by pairing soft pastels with vivid brights to create a colorful equilibrium. Inspired by a mixture of blooming flowers, travels abroad and strong, confident women, designers use color to refresh, revive and defy conventional wisdom.

"This season, consumers are looking for a state of thoughtful, emotional and artistic equilibrium," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "While this need for stability is reflected in the composition of the palette, the inherent versatility of the individual colors allows for experimentation with new looks and color combinations."

Three very adaptable pastels sit on one end of the palette, and, because we are so accustomed to seeing them as nature's background, they can be creatively combined with any other color in the spectrum. Placid Blue, like a picture-perfect, tranquil and reassuring sky, induces a sense of peaceful calmness, while Violet Tulip, a romantic, vintage purple, evokes wistful nostalgia. Similar to the verdant shade of springtime foliage, Hemlock, a summery, ornamental green, provides a decorative touch that's very different from the greens of recent seasons. Pair any of these versatile pastels with a bolder hue for an au courant look.

Sand, a lightly toasted and amiable neutral, conjures images of the beach and the carefree days of summer. Try pairing Sand with Hemlock for perfect, natural balance. Paloma serves as a quintessential neutral, interesting enough to be worn alone or combined with any color for sophisticated poise.

Cayenne, a high-pitched red, adds a dash of spicy heat to neutrals, and heightens the excitement when mixed with Freesia, a blazing yellow that is sure to illuminate wardrobes this season. A tropical, floral-inspired shade, Freesia's warmth and energy help set the stage for Celosia Orange, an optimistic, spontaneous hue. Pair Celosia Orange with Violet Tulip for a captivating vision, much like the setting summer sun.

The palette is brought full circle with Radiant Orchid, a bold counterpart to Violet Tulip, and Dazzling Blue,a scintillating, polar opposite to Placid Blue. Surprisingly, these strong, vibrant colors also pair well across the palette: They are perfect companions to pastels, and add confidence and vivacity when mixed with other bold colors.

For more than 20 years, Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season's most important color trends. This report previews the most prominent hues for spring 2014."

You go can to this page and vote on your favorite! 

When I voted "Cayenne" was in the lead, LOL !

http://www.pantone.com/pages/FCR/default.aspx?season=spring&year=2014&pid=3

"Dazzling Blue" looks good, along with "Freesia", "Hemlock" and "Paloma".  I think these colors go very well together :)