chanel no. 529

Previously, I had mentioned my new obsession with nail polish, and my particular love for Chanel's nail polish color, Graphite. It's a shimmery 'griege' shade that, according to The Ultimate Makeup, "goes from a metallic gunmetal with shimmer, to a dark tarnished gold shimmer, to a flashy silver color", and is incredibly versatile.

Unfortunately, I cannot justify $25 for a bottle of nail polish, and immediately set out to find a close dupe.

Ladies and gentleman, I have found that nail polish. And no, it is not Revlon's Carbonite.

haphazard update

I have not forgotten about my blog, friends. I have actually managed three drafts for this week (I have found my Chanel Graphite dupe! And it is not the illusive Revlon shade!), but two of these require permission from other fashion blogs to use their pictures, and another requires my scanner.

My last year of school also started for me this week, and taking all upper division classes and a writing intensive English course (which means it'll make life extra crispy) will not make my schedule... casual. That said, I'm super excited for my courses. Who even knew such a thing as Creative Nonfiction ever existed?!

I also made a trip to the Fashion Museum on campus (with my half-willing boyfriend) this week to see an exhibit on Katharine Hepburn's stage & movie costumes. One of my posts -- the one that requires a scanner -- is dedicated solely to that visit.

And now, on to black nail polish.

From Chloe of Chloe's Nails

the times are a-changin

I feel it. Every time I consider my nails, my three - three - nail polish colors (Pink, Peach-pink, Pink-ish nude). Every time I consider my makeup bag and its empty space.

Nail polish. I'm absolutely convinced, what with my lack of funds for fashions finds - like, say, shoes or blazers - that the cheaper nail polish market will inevitably fill that black hole in my soul that feeds upon narcissism.

It started with the nude trend that is detailing itself in shoes, dresses, lipstick and now nail polish. It continued with my absolute love for Bleachblack's Dickweed and its unapologetically edgy, duochromatic beauty, and my search for a conscientious dupe as the color stays consistently sold out. Now, I've gone off into the deep end of the pool: Chanel.

i heart nail polish

Thank goodness for the nude trend that is popular right now. That, more than anything, has helped pique my interest in nail polish.

I should probably explain myself: I am a notorious nail-biter.

photo from Walgreens

Nail Polish Dupe (?!)

I am, for the sake of generalities, a very conventional girl when it comes to fashion.

I feel I almost have to be, having been raised in a traditional setting (no tattoos, multiple piercings or dyed hair for me!), and possessing that ‘traditional’ hourglass figure that screams to be put into waist-emphasizing dresses and a-line skirts. Safe, neutral, classic. That’s my motto.

Every once in a while, though, a small part of me screams for the edgy fashion trends that define a generation.

This is exactly why I look to blogs like BleachBlack: it lets that piece of me explore fashion terrain I dare not expose myself to publicly. And with my recent obsession with nail polish , it was a match made in heaven when BleachBlack came out with their lovely duo-chromed polish, Dickweed.

Now, of course, with Maybelline’s newest nail polish LE collection for Fall 2011 Fashion Week (detailed by Nouveau Cheap), I am hoping against hope that there is a similarity between Dickweed and Maybelline’s Be Scene in Green.

photo fromNeedsupply.com