Five Top Trends of 2013: #5 Indie Polishes FT. Spy Princess' Kir Royale

Happy 2013! Wonderful wishes for a fabulous new year! Mojo is clicking about something, but it's more likely " Ma, stop typing a hamster's gotta sleep." Welcome to the final installment of my top five trends. I have to say that this has been a lot of fun, so you might see more trend forecasting from me in the future.

I have to say this one was a no-brainer. Indie polishes are amazing for a few reasons. First, it's about the creativity. I look at each one being a little piece of art, the selection of colors and the time it took to craft. Second, I love the names! I have to say it, even if a color is just cool sometimes the name throws it over the top... Finally (and most importantly), its about encouraging small business, I come from three generations of small business owners and am a total supporter.

The polish I am featuring was selected by my husband, Jesse.  I had been showing him about 5,000 polish shades to give him ideas for Christmas. He snooped out my Etsy favorites and found this one. He loves purple. It was no surprise to me when I saw this color that it was the perfect gift from him.

Also, I am super psyched because it's a polish from Spy Princess. I have waxed poetic about Christina's line so many times. Seriously though, awesome colors, fabulous brand concept- you have got to love it! Kir Royale was a holiday release and is a great festive winter color. It is a sheer dusky purple jelly with silver, copper, black, and plum glitter hexes of various sizes. I have to say that I am partial to glittery polishes with colored bases, and this definitely fit the bill. This color can be worn on its own, but I layered it over Essie's Wicked for a more vampy look. Super sexy. 

Spy Princess is available at Etsy. Please check them out on Facebook and Twitter. I know that Christina is hard at work on a new release for 2013...

A few indie polish lines to check out for 2013. I have a feeling that they will continue to amaze...

Whimsical Ideas by Pam
Serum No 5
Sinister Benediction
Tough As Nails Lacquer
Maisie Shine
All That Glitters
Oopsie Daisies

And oh yes, a bit of a countdown extra... Elena's top ten of 2013:

1. OPI On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
2. OPI Unfor-greta-bly Blue
3. Julep Julia
4. Julep Ivy
5. Whimsical Ideas by Pam Magical Mystery Tour
6. Spy Princess Cloak & Dagger
7. Essie Beyond Cozy
8. Essie Mojito Madness
9. Tough As Nails Lacquers The Baconian Method
10. LVX Midori

I was trying to get a photo of Mojo "announcing" my number one color OPI's OHMSS. (I never wear colors twice any more, but I LOVE this color.)  He was not having it last night... here are some super cute (non-edited) attempts of trying to get the picture...

Look at that cute paw!

" I am not going to look where you want me to. The back of me is amazing."

"I will totally eat your ring, woman, if you don't put me down!"

What are your fave indie brands and polishes of the year?

Mojo interviews the It Girls of Julep: Otte, Delaunay, & Daphne

I heard so many people talk about how excited they were to get Julep Maven boxes each month I had to look into it. I love nail polish, I love getting packages in the mail- sounded good to me.

The concept is fairly simple. To sign up, you take a quiz that determines your style type: Bombshell, American Beauty, It Girl, or Classic with a Twist. Shockingly (not really), I came out to be an "It Girl".  From there it's $19.95 a month to receive 3 free products and a special treat in a nicely packaged black box. Typically you can find a code to get your first box virtually free. ( I used PENNY, you can also use MAVENINTRO.)

So within four days of my order, I received the It Girl intro box. In addition to three polishes, I also got two glitter pots in red and white. (More thoughts on that later...)

  First up is Delaunay. It's a rich chili-pepper red creme that requires two coats. This is a Trina Turk Fall 2012 collaboration color. It goes on pretty smooth and evenly. Now don't be shocked- this is another red that I like. (I have said many times that red doesn't do it for me, now in the last month Julep has made a liar out of me with Demi and Delaunay.) I really feel that this might be a cousin of OPI's Cajun Shrimp. 

  The second color I received was Daphne. This color was a surprise, on the website it read as more minty. Definitely the wrong herb- think sage, not mint. More specifically, it's a muted light blue-sage creme. It's about three or four shades darker than Essie's Turquoise and Caicos. I think I might just have to do a ruffian with T&C and Daphne- it would be stellar.

  Finally, we have Otte, another Trina Turk collabo. I wasn't particularly excited to get this color. Oh what a foolish thought! Mojo decided that this is his new signature color since it's his shade. That made me take a second look. This is actually a super sexy neutral that looks awesome on my olive skin tone. It's a great butterscotch creme with one coat coverage. It has more of a yellow tint than Revlon Graceful with none of the grey. 

Here are some thoughts on the glitter pots. The glitter is finer than the latest craft store rip off trend from the brand that starts with C. ( First, caviar, then velvet, now sequin- what next fur?) I am going to save these for a Christmas challenge.

Mojo's final thoughts were, if he were a girl and not a hamster he would paint his nails with Otte. The other girls were just too much for him. 

On the other hand, I think I am loving all three colors. I can also see a trigger mani with Otte and Delaunay in my future. Oh the possibilities...

Continued thoughts and well wishes go out to all those affected by Hurricane Sandy, especially Jennifer at Little J's Nail Corner.