Deborah Lippmann Fashion

Mannequin hands: either you love 'em or hate 'em. Personally I think they are extremely chic, but you do need to make sure to choose a shade with some warmth and depth. Deborah Lippmann Fashion is an attractive option for a wide range of skin tones.

The reason? Fashion doesn't try to slavishly imitate a single actual human skin tone. Rather, the shade is a skillful mix of warm beige and cool grey that looks good even when it's not an exact match. The creamy finish also lends a sophisticated elegance to your manicure. While the above photo was taken in direct sunlight, the below photo captures the color more accurately as it shows up on my hands. In person, to my naked eye, Fashion pulls distinctly grey; at a distance, my nails do blend into my fingers.

I wish I didn't have red fingertips. I've had them for as long as I can remember, and they can render certain nail polishes unwearable. Due to the ring of red around each nail, it's probably impossible for me to achieve true mannequin hands. Nevertheless, Fashion is excellent for when I need to keep my nails a grown-up neutral but don't want to do a stuffy French manicure. Wear time is superb -- after five days, there's still not a single chip.

There are plenty of mannequin-hand shades out there, but Deborah Lippmann Fashion has that certain louche-cool je ne sais quoi that rescues it from being boring.

fin

Nails: Deborah Lippmann Sarah Smile

I could care less about Sarah Jessica Parker as a celebrity, but her nail polish for Deborah Lippmann is quite likable.

Deborah Lippmann Sarah Smile is a pale and sheer yet creamy pink. There's just enough white so that the effect is somewhat modish. It's a very clean look. With two coats, there is slight VNL. A VNL-less look can be found on Kellie Gonzo, while Be Annabell has a beautiful soft French manicure look.

Sarah Smile is innocent but not girly. It's a great complement to tailored clothing, and I like to wear it with black. I had it on for my Chanel makeover. This is a darling polish that hits the sweet spot between pink and white.

fin

Nails: Deborah Lippmann Stormy Weather

When it comes to nails, I like dark, tough, unusual colors, like Deborah Lippmann's Stormy Weather.

One could be forgiven for thinking from the bottle that it is a simple medium gray. In reality, the color is a cool deep gray-blue with even a touch of green.

I spent the weekend visiting my brother in New York, and it rained nearly the entire time. Perfect! This color looks best under an overcast sky. However, don't give in to the temptation of wearing dark clothes with this nail polish; this color deserves to be shown off. Ivory, beige, and camel colored fabrics all make for a chic juxtaposition. Like most Lippmanns, Stormy Weather is a two-coater. On the trip I put my nails through a lot of wear and tear, and on the fourth day they began to chip. This is why I like bringing my own nail polish to the salon: it means do-it-yourself repair jobs on the spot.

Stormy Weather is a surprising and intriguing color that grabs attention in a "I-don't-really-care" way. I could live in this color from October through March.

fin