Dior Vernis | Sunwashed, Sunkissed & Tie Dye Top Coat, Summer 2015

The Dior Tie Dye Collection for Summer 2015 is all about that bohemian vibe (ahhh …those lazy days ahead …), filled with an eclectic mix of both brilliant and diffused colours. The two nail lacquers – 319 Sunwashed & 239 Sunkissed (CAN $28.00 each, with a 3rd shade released in Europe) perfectly exemplify this theme with their sun-faded tone, while the Die Dye Top Coat (CAN $29.00) helps to jazz things up with a splash of translucent colour.

If you’re unfamiliar with Dior polishes, you need to change that STAT, because this formula and brush rank as one of my absolute favourites and definitely sets the bar high for all other brands. The lacquer formula was given an overhaul a little over a year ago and now displays an increase in pigments & colour saturation, combined with a built-in top coat for a long-lasting gel effect shine – all courtesy of advanced resins and Techno-Polymers. The brush is made of unicorn hair, or at least that’s what it feels like (how cool would that be?); dense and rather bushy-looking, the slightly chiselled edge makes application child’s play: with just the lightest pressure, the bristles splay perfectly along the nail bed for a precise and effortless application. As a nail polish fiend, I can’t extoll its virtues enough – trust me on this.

*Note that both the lacquers and top coat are all limited edition.

319 Sunwashed | This is a soft buttercup-yellow shade in a mid-sheer formula with jelly-like tendencies, both in application and its cushiony glossy finish. Displaying a sun bleached and rather weathered tone, it holds that patented Dior ‘secret shimmer’ that’s not very visible to the naked eye (unless seen in direct sunlight), but which adds a lovely overall depth. On shorter nails, full opacity will be reached at 2 coats, while longer lengths will still show a slight nail line – but I personally love this translucent effect, as it makes yellow so much more wearable this way, not to mention perfectly in line with the whole laid-back hippie theme. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

239 Sunkissed | Just when I thought that Dior had created the perfect nude shade with Lady (reviewed), THIS comes along. Bearing a perfect mix of peach, beige, and pink tones in the base, 239 Sunkissed takes things a step further and displays one of the best formulas for a nude that I’ve ever come across. Streak-free, self levelling, über-glossy at the finish and holding traces of ‘secret shimmer’, this shade not only comes to a smooth opaque finish at two coats, but I’ll go on record as saying it will suit basically all skin tones across the board – and that’s not easy to do when dealing with this colour family. Well done, Dior. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Tie Dye Top Coat | This is a more pigmented and deeper shade of rose than Dior’s Nail Glow, with a cooler-leaning tone due to the blueish tint in the base. This topper can easily be worn on its own, which is my personal preference, actually – and not only because I lack the necessary nail art skills to use it creatively, but for the candy-like look it gives nails: 1 coat provides a healthy wash of colour, with a deeper – but still sheer flush – at 2 coats. The formula falls on the thick side and has a tendency to spring back somewhat during application, but the glass-like glossy finish makes up for that slight drawback. Bonus: Relatively quick drying as well. Coats applied: 2, no other top coat

Applying the Tie Dye Top Coat straight up over 319 Sunwashed, gives the yellow base a peachier tone and due to the nature of this topper, it also provides a natural ombré effect; by varying the pressure of the brush along the nail, you can amplify this look quite easily (middle finger). Or, you can always get creative and use a dotting tool, a thin brush, or even bits of sponge to dab on patterns along the nails and create your own custom look. Finish off with a clear top coat to seal everything in, as well as to provide a smoother appearance.

Applied over 239 Sunkissed, the Tie Dye Top Coat provides a deeper pink colour that also takes this nude shade from warm into cooler territory (but still quite wearable just the same). Once more, you can easily create your own patterns using your preferred method – or experiment with new ways and see what turns up; random attempts usually create some fabulous designs (especially if you’re not a seasoned nail art pro, like me).

Dior surprised me with these; to begin with, I expected the usual brights, vivid, neons, etc and instead, there are just 2 shades in what initially appears to be rather lukewarm colours, and a cheery topper to add confusion to the mix. But looks can be deceiving; the second I began applying these shades, my love of deep hues was basically chucked out the window – they’re THAT fabulous (and I don’t even like yellow. Imagine that). Where things get a little tricky, is with the Tie Dye Top Coat; in theory it sounds amazing and the answer to every nailart-challenged person out there, but the application is not exactly there yet. Still, after playing with it for a few weeks now, I have surprised myself by finding new ways to apply it (not always successfully, mind you) and have realized that I prefer it solo. Please feel free to let me know how you’ve worn this – would absolutely love to hear! All in all, I don’t think it’s meant to take itself all that seriously – after all, it’s a SUMMER collection and that means: anything goes!

The Dior Summer 2015 Tie Dye Collection is available now through The Bay & thebay.com, Sephora & sephora.com, and Holt Renfrew stores across Canada (links provided for convenience). Fine more information via dior.com