Since I’ve only just begun getting myself into Summer mode, it feels almost like I’m cheating on the season by showing these shades, but that’s the world of fashion/beauty for you — always a few steps ahead of us mere mortals! For their Fall 2013 Collection, Essie takes us back to basics – but with a fresh & modern twist. According to Essie Weingarten herself, Founder and Global Creative Director of the brand:

“How do you convey all the richness of fashion’s dizzying array of textures in a polish? That’s what I always ask myself when creating a collection. For example, what does fluid cashmere knit look like in polish from? With textile innovation and the never-ending invention of style, we have seen so many exciting fashion mash-ups on the runways, so much layering, so much, well, fun with fabric. Case in point: Michelle Obama’s inaugural coat of silk twill, fashioned from fabric normally reserved for men’s neckties.

More and more, the unwritten rules of fashion are changing, caution hasn’t merely been thrown to the wind, it’s become a dirty word. And the mixing of colour and texture – like heavy flannels and silk chiffon – has become standard practice.

This season’s sensual allure comes from exactly that: a glorious mix of luxe, languid knits, warm woolens and elegant lace. It’s a look that’s incredibly sophisticated, and yet completely cozy. Bouclé knits and tartan plaids wrap the body in amply cut overcoats and delicious sweater dresses. Feminine frills add a touch of femme fatale flair to loosely tailored, boyish looks.

So, how do you bottle a cashmere bathrobe, exactly? That, my dears, is a trade secret.”

The six shades of this collection all offer something of interest – 2 types of shimmer, luxurious creamy finishes, intense saturation, and even colour-morphing properties, turning this grouping into a perfect reflection of today’s diverse trends.

Did I mention how absolutely STELLAR the formula is on each? Oh yeah ….

 

Essie – Fall 2013

Essie – Fall 2013

 

For The Twill Of It – a multi tonal grey/teal metallic base hue with pink iridescent flashes – that also colour shifts to purple in some lights, green in others – in a medium density flowing formula with amazing colour saturation. Self levelling and coming to a shiny finish, brush strokes are barely visible to the naked (although my high resolution photos may show otherwise), with a natural ombré effect seen along the nail tips at certain angles – GORGEOUS! This is a easily a triple chrome type of shade, and needs to be seen in person to be fully appreciated – the following shots are just a sampling of its many facets. Confession: every time I say the name of this shade, I think of Tweety Bird, lol! Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Essie – For The Twill Of It

Essie – For The Twill Of It

Essie – For The Twill Of It

Essie – For The Twill Of It

Essie For The Twill Of It

Essie – For The Twill Of It

Essie – For The Twill Of It

 

Cashmere Bathrobe – a concrete grey base hue with marine blue undertones and filled with ultra fine silver shimmer bits in a jelly-esque formula, bearing an excellent pigmentation & flow and with a self-levelling application plus glossy shine at the finish. Definitely not deep enough to ever pass for black, I love how the shimmer is visible in all lighting. Cool leaning but can be easily worn by warmer skin tones as well, this shade is non-staining upon removal. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Essie – Cashmere Bathrobe

Essie – Cashmere Bathrobe

Essie – Cashmere Bathrobe

 

The Lace Is On – a vibrant magenta/fuchsia hue with purple undertones and some blueish tints seen under certain lights, filled with fuchsia glass-flecked ultra fine shimmer, all in a hybrid crème-jelly formula that applies like a dream. Cooler-leaning and ending with a fabulous shine at the finish, there is that “lit-from-within” glow emanating from this shade which I’m a total sucker for – absolutely spectacular! Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Essie – The Lace Is On

Essie – The Lace Is On

 

Vested Interest – a sage green hue with definitive blue/grey undertones in a formula that applies like a crème but with the characteristics of a jelly: totally self-levelling and in an ultra-glossy manner. While understated in initial appearance, I found something so strangely compelling about this shade – reminds me of sharkskin for some reason, Bonus: no staining upon removal. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Essie – Vested Interest

Essie – Vested Interest

 

Twin Sweater Set – a blue-based true crimson red hue in a jelly-esque formula that is total perfection in its formula: self-levelling, ultra high gloss shine at the finish, easy flow and relatively non-staining upon removal — a bonus for a colour this intensely saturated. While cooler leaning, this shade can paradoxically be worn with ease by all skin tones along the spectrum. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Essie – Twin Sweater Set

Essie – Twin Sweater Set

 

After School Boy Blazer – (oy … the name!) a true navy hue in a formula that leans more jelly than crème, with superior colour pigmentation – this can bascially pass for a 1-coater if applied thickly enough. With a self-levelling application and insane mirror-like shine at the finish (which almost makes wearing a top coat superfluous – but don’t skip it just the same), there were absolutely no staining issues upon removal. While definitely deep in tone, there is enough colour in the base to prevent this shade from looking black in low lighting, with direct light really enhancing its rich glow. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Essie – After School Boy Blazer

Essie – After School Boy Blazer

 

Last word: I confess that when I first laid eyes on this collection, I gasped … like in the cartoons … for real. There is not one shade of the six that I am not 100% in love with and while there’s a part of me that enjoys wearing offbeat nail lacquer colours, there’s something to be said for mainstay hues – although there is nothing remotely commonplace with any of Essie’s Fall 2013 Collection lacquers. ‘For The Twill Of It’ delivers on all the promise seen in the bottle – in SPADES, and has all the makings of a mega-hit … so, be warned; get yours while you can.

 

 

 

Kindly provided by Essie for my unbiased consideration