I had high hopes. I really did. I went out of my nail polish comfort zone and tried out two coral/peachy colors:
Essie’s “Shop Till I Drop” and Essie’s “Van D’Go”. In the bottle both colors look bright and beautiful, but on the nails, it’s a whole new story…with an unfortunate bad ending.
So, because pictures speak louder than words:
Essie Van D’Go:
Ok I totally realize my toes look so gross here and I painted all outside the lines…because the formula took 4 COATS to make the color even remotely wearable. I did like this better of the two, but it’s still pretty bad (side note: can you return nail polish at Ulta? If you know, please let me know in the comments below)
Then there’s “Shop Till I Drop” I think some people would like it but not me. It is VERY sheer. I had to use 4 coats and it still didn’t look super opaque. That’s just the formula though. I’m not a fan of nail polishes that give “a wash of sheer color” unless they are pink, white, nude etc. Even then, I prefer opaque formulas.
I just don’t love it. I’ve only had both colors on for 24 hours and the first thing I did when I got home was remove my polish and re-paint.
While repainting, I actually found that Essie’s “Wicked” is a great dupe for OPI’s “We’ll Always Have Paris,” one of my HG nail polishes.
Though my nail polish was a fail, I loved my outfit today so I will share that with you:
Top- Forever 21
Skirt- Banana Republic- it’s the one I got on sale and 35% off ($24!!!)
Shoes- “Me Too” at DSW
Necklace- Forever 21
So, in conclusion, coral in clothes, yes, coral on nails, no.
Dear lovely, insightful readers- if you know of any GORGEOUS CORAL or PEACHY nail colors, please enlighten me!
xoxo,
Veronika.
PS- I am so annoyed at Apple for whoring out their white iPhone all over the internet and then not making it available for the pre-order or launch. What’s the deal? Make enough stock, Apple!
PS- I am so annoyed at Apple for whoring out their white iPhone all over the internet and then not making it available for the pre-order or launch. What’s the deal? Make enough stock, Apple!
melissa says
Cajun shrimp by opi is my favorite coral color!! It's a few seasons old but I know most places still carry it.. I agree with the nail colors.. Not great! Loved your outfit though 🙂
Lilly says
I love that top and the color looks great on you!
I bought a MAC nail polish (from their new collection), it'c called Scorcher and it's pretty much the same color as your top. Very pretty summer color 🙂
Ashley @ Bride on a Budget says
Love those shoes!
labelslipglossandlifeinbetween says
I really like OPI's Conquistadorable. It's not exactly a coral but it's a really pretty pinkish red. Also you can return nail polishes at Ulta. I do it all the time when I don't like how the color turns out. That happens a lot with Essie's colors. They look so pretty in the bottle but it takes more than a few coats and it's gets so messy. LOVE your blog by the way. Good Luck!
-Clarissa
A.Co says
Awwww what a bummer about the nail polishes! Ugh, especially when you spend so much on a bottle. Frig.
I agree with you, I much prefer opaque polishes, but do really love OPI's 'True Ab-Original'. It's a shimmery coral, and although it is less opaque, it's definitly not sheer. Two coats and you're good, AND it dries quicker than opaque formulas.
The only qualm: if you just had a dark colour on your nails and couldn't get all the colour off from around the cuticle, etc. it won't cover the dark (so just ensure all previous {dark} colour is removed).
A.Co @ A.Co est. 1984
A says
I too hate coral nail polishes – I think that you have to have an incredible tan to pull it off, unfortunately I am pale. I love purple colors and my current fav is OPI for Sephora "Iris I was thinner." It's so pretty!
LOVE your outfit!
Anonymous says
I love OPI's Cajun Shrimp and Thrill of Brazil.
TheMorelands says
I second Cajun Shrimp by OPI! Its a fun summer-y color, it is definitely coral.. but not sheer. Also I used to work at Ulta and you could pretty much return anything, they have a very laid back policy.
Elisa says
I have returned nail polish at Ulta, so give it a try! My favorite coral-ish color at the moment is OPI's Party in My Cabana. It's more pink than peach but really wearable.
Andi says
Oh my gosh V, I think I bought the same exact F21 top this weekend! I love it! I bought it for July 4th…how funny.
I told you Van D'Go was bad 🙁 Yuck…I also like OPI's Cajun Shrimp, it's the perfect red with a tinge of orange.
[email protected] says
andi – I knew I should have listened! i wanted to love it!
isn't the ruffle top fab? the color will look amazing on you!
thanks everyone for the polish rec's 🙂
Nikki says
Another vote for Cajun Shrimp! I normally don't like coral polish either, too. Your outfit today looked adorable, I wish there was a F21 near me! I'm jealous, hehe.
Julie says
I'm not sure why but coral nail polish seems outdated to me, I'm sure I wore it in the 80's;) But everything 80's is coming back into style (much to my horror) so maybe another shade would work. I also agree that coral looks best of darker skin tones.
Kinsey Michaels says
Your outfit is great! The key necklace is a darling touch 🙂 that's too bad about the nail polishes. I completely agree with you on the first one – it's just not a flattering color, I feel it would be hard for almost anyone to pull off. I actually like the second one on you a lot! Coral is a color I've always wanted to wear but it's hard with my red hair!
Anonymous says
Do you have a link for the forever 21 coral top. I love that, but couldnt find it at my store or online. Help 🙂
emily☆ says
I hate how nail polish in the bottle is so deceiving! I want it to paint my nails the exact colour I see, in only two coats! I don't think that is too much to ask. lol
If you can get your hands on Finger Paints or China Glaze (both at Sally's) they both have large coral ranges and the few that I've purchased have been opaque. I do love that top tho!
Anonymous says
Do you realize that in every picture you stand pigeoned toed. Why? It looks horrible!
[email protected] says
anon- yes, I realize this, and it has been discussed over and over. If you don't like the way I stand in blog photos, then I recommend you stand differently when you take photographs of yourself so you don't look horrible! 🙂 good luck.
Amber says
That top looks great on you, I love that color!
Anonymous says
Veronika, Chill out. I was just pointing it out to you. Wow, somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed. She who has a beauty blog should be able to take criticism a little better. 🙂 I hope you have a better day today. You're crabby.
[email protected] says
I am chilled out. I stand this way in every.single.photo. That's just how I stand for OOTD photos. It has been discussed ad nauseum.
I am having a great day, thanks for asking! 🙂
also- my blog isn't a place for criticism, it's a place for positivity and sharing fashion and beauty tips, ideas and advice.
thanks for your comment, I assure you I am not crabby, just tired of hearing the same thing over and over.
Anonymous says
THEN STAND WITH YOUR FEET TOGETHER! Problem solved. Now is that difficult? NO!
[email protected] says
anon- I personally don't see the way I stand as a "problem." Please go read 100's of other fashion blogs and note that a lot of bloggers stand this way as well.
Deanna Loves Pretty Things says
Ha! Veronika, I loved your response to Ms. Anonymous.
I've found that the majority of the Essie polishes I own are far too sheer for me so I've stopped buying them. They look great in the bottle, but on my nails it's horrible.
China Glaze and OPI are the way to go. OR for a cheap option, check out Sinful Colors at Walgreens…the few I've tried have been nice!
Anonymous says
For someone who "tries" to be so put together you're not doing a very good job by standing with your feet pigeoned toed. Stand up straight! Feet too!
[email protected] says
Dear anon, please do us all a favor and stop saying the same thing over and over. We get it, you don't like how I stand…moving on.
Anonymous says
Hi Veronika,
I'm a fairly new reader of your blog and I just want to tell you I love it! I like to hear about a 'real' person's experience with certain products rather than just from a magazine or something like that. I think it's great you communicate with your readers too. One last thing: you are an example of how to be classy and unselfconscious when insecure, unhappy, and jealous individuals comment on your blog. Anyways, I guess I didn't need to put that in here, but oh well. 🙂
Robyn
Anonymous says
Can you at least TRY to fix it?
[email protected] says
Thanks Robyn. I don't know why people spend their valuable time trying to convince someone they don't even know what to change about themselves.
My motto is,"you can't please everyone." If you don't like my photos and how I stand, there's a big red X at the top right of your browser that you're 100% free to click 🙂
Anonymous says
It has nothing to do with being unhappy and jealous. It has to do with the fact that this is a fashion and beauty blog. It doesn't stop at your feet. You need to look good HEAD TO
TOE(S). Put your feet together.
[email protected] says
BECAUSE YOU ARE REPEATING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, I'M GOING TO DO THE SAME:
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T LOOK AT IT!
also, please take my advice and look at other fashion blogs and see that many fashion bloggers stand this way. Not just me.
thanks! 🙂 have a wonderful day 🙂
Anonymous says
I'm hoping that if I keep repeating myself you will listen. You look foolish standing with your toes pointed like that.
[email protected] says
OMG. Seriously? You think I care that YOU think I look foolish standing like that?
You are welcome to start your own fashion and beauty blog to show all of us bloggers how we should stand 🙂
But we'll probably still stand however we want to 🙂
Once again, if you don't like to look at the pictures, don't read the blog.
Anonymous says
It's called constructive criticism. Learn it!
Anonymous says
Give me a break. You're in a bad mood today.
[email protected] says
I would be delighted to give you a break my dear 🙂 we can start your break by ceasing your posting in this comments section and starting to do something else that makes you happy 🙂
I do hope you find that something else today :)xoxo
Marisa says
Wow – I don't know why this Anon is so worked up. Anyway, that coral color top is such a pretty color on you! Also, I liked the nail polish on your fingernails. I can understand why you don't like it in terms of the opacity but I still think what you did with it turned out pretty!
Anonymous says
opi on collins ave is a GORGEOUS corl-y color that looks good on everyone
Rebecca S. says
hey veronika!
hope your day goes well. i just had to post to tell you what i just painted on my toes! it is a SUUUPPPEEERRR cute coral/pink color. A little more pink than orange (looks better with my skin tone). it looks a lot better on than in the bottle. it is by FINGER PAINTS and it is called "my art belongs to you". i only had to do 2 coats (1 would have been fine too). i highly recommend it : )
p.s. i think you look beautiful in your pictures, and i have never noticed how you stand : )
– Rebecca
Anonymous says
Hey Rebecca, You'll start noticing now how bad it actually looks.
[email protected] says
I wish I had so much free time that I could spend it commenting on blogs I don't like or commenting on how people pose in photos! What's your secret?
Anonymous says
You seem to have a lot of time to keep on checking your comments. So sounds like you have tons of free time too.
[email protected] says
I don't randomly check my comments, I get EMAILS sent to my inbox every single time I get a comment so I know right when they are published. How convenient, huh?
ashley says
Anon- If you look at star tracks on people.com you can clearly see how celebs pose to look a certain way. Their feet are really never put together so your vendetta is pretty lame.
Moving on. I, too, really like cajun shrimp by opi. Have a great day!
Anonymous says
I have just started reading your blog (saw your link on thenest)& you have given me some great ideas on expanding my wardrobe and trying new makeup. Thanks for helping me out of a fashion rut! 🙂
[email protected] says
thanks anon! glad you found me 🙂
Natalie says
I love one of the sephora by opi corals- its called special request. It goes on opaque and looks great when your a little tan.
Natalie says
I recently got a pedicure, and I chose OPI's Torpical Punch. It looks like a pretty pink in the bottle, but it turns out to be a bright Coral color. It's super cute for Summer. I was happy with it, and it only takes two coats!
April says
I tried that top on the other day too! lol
I have an OPI polish like that. With 4 coats it takes TOO LONG to dry and I just end up ruining it. It just isnt worth it.
Enna says
Holy crap, whoever posted as anon needs to get a life. We get it- you don't like how she poses… here's a hint: STOP READING HER BLOG THEN. Of course she's going to have a strong response, people are stupidly critical of her for the dumbest reasons, including her posing when she photographs her OOTDs. Maybe I'm just super protective because I naturally stand sort of like that (pigeon-toed, as you put it) when standing still, but seriously. If you had truly constructive criticism you'd have the class and courtesy, anon, to tell her privately and not try to deride her on her blog comments section.
Veronika, your top is adorable, but I agree the coral nail polish isn't doing much. I definitely think darker skin (not just tan but naturally darker coloration) is needed to pull it off successfully.
[email protected] says
enna- you are so right, on a darker skintone, the corals would be gorgeous! 🙂 at least I tried!
🙂 thanks for your post
Anonymous says
Do you have a link to the top? I asked already, but you must have missed it.
MsHark says
i love that top on you! and I think you look cute standing like that 😉
[email protected] says
anon- i'm sorry I was unable to find the top online 🙁
Jackie Arhart says
First, you look great! You'd never know you haven't worked out in a month! Lucky girl you are!
Do you do have any workout DVDs? If I can't find the energy to drag myself to the gym after work, I can always pop in a DVD and get in a workout in the comfort of my own home.
Anonymous says
I must admit, I have been following your blog for some time now and really enjoy it. I actually just bought that same coral ruffle top! I am pretty sure it's a keeper, but it sorta fits a little big on me. We have a similar shape, however I am a bit shorter than you. I bought a size small, but wish it came in xs so it is more form fitting. What size did you get? It's super cute in any event!
I think your OOTD photos are cute. You always look fabulous. Some people are just bored with their own lives and/or are simply jealous.
Rinna
[email protected] says
Rinna- thanks for your comment 🙂 I got the top in a size small!
Beautygirl24 says
Awww I'm so sorry that those two colors didn't work for you. I rave about both because they really work on my skin tone. That's a bummer, I know you like really opaque formulas while I tend to favor both opaque as well as sheer. I hope you find something that works! And I'm sure Ulta will take them back…
Beautygirl24 says
Whoa, I just read the comments from this post and, uh…what is up with the bitchy anonymous comments? Why are people so rude? Oh well, all of us sane girls LIKE the way you pose. You do way better than me, that's for sure 🙂