Question for SO's on Nail Polish

[Jamie Ann]

      Within the last week or two, I have received catalogs from JCPenny, Victoria’s Secret, and Fredericks of Hollywood. The first company, of course, caters to mainstream fashion; the second and third cater to more exotic and/or sexy tastes. I had not given this matter much thought until recently, but I noticed that none of the models in any of those three catalogs was wearing colored nail polish. It is possible, of course, that some were wearing clear nail polish, but there were no bright red nails — not in the whole set of catalogs!

      Now, the majority of the times that I dress — and practically always if I think I am going to have my picture taken — I wear bright red lipstick and bright red nail polish. In my mind’s eye, this is feminine and helps to make me as attractive as I am capable of being. But am I living with an outmoded stereotype?

      For the genetic women who read this message board, do you personally wear bright nail color? In your judgment, when genetic women in general want to look their best, do they wear bright red or other colored nail polish? Any comments or discussion would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for any insights you may be willing to share.

      If persons other than SO’s have insights on this question, please feel that you are welcome to offer them.

[Jassmine(SO)]

Hi Jamie Ann,

Hmmmm.....Interesting question. I have a tendency to use a color that suits my mood at that moment. When I am feeling particulary outgoing and vivacious I will go with bright red. When I want to re-capture my youth, so to speak I use silver, gold, or multi colored glitter polish. For my goth moods I tend towards silver and black. Mostly though, I go au natural



*Hugs*

[Love (SO)]

Hi Jamie Ann,

but I noticed that none of the models in any of those three catalogs was wearing colored nail polish.

I'm not sure what the models were modeling, but I think they might not have been wearing any colored nail polish because the companies don't want to draw attention away from what they are trying to "sell".

I personally wear all different shades/colors of nail polish, from pearl, pale pink, to bright reds. The way I chose the color depends on:

1) the season; I wear brighter colors in the summer time, and deeper darker colors in the winter time.

2) What looks best for "my" skin tone...not all nail polish colors look "great" on everyone

3) I used to work in a salon (before I had our children) and I'm do my own manicures each week. So, I also try to match my clothing to my nails color for that week (red nail polish- I try to wear something in the red family, or something that goes well with that color.......pink nail polish-the same.......I don't like to clash clothing with nail polish)

4) the occasion, if I'm going to a wedding or someplace special, I'll chose a color accordingly to fit the occasion

5) and sometimes, I just chose a color to suit my mood (as Jassimine said)

I sometimes "play" with colors and try new things and I have around 50 different colors.

[Kristen]

Love, I think your totaly right about the models not having a choice about color of their nail color or that matter their own hairstyle. The art director would have the final say , even ahead of the photogragher.
I like the pastels in nail color on myself and gg's. The dark red is kind of agressive. I have done 200 wedding's or so and I would have to say the girls wore mostly clear or pink on their nails. I would always reccomend a pastel to the bride for the greatest photograhpic effect on the hands and rings shots. Red was hard to reproduce in photo's because the dye takes both developer and bleach to complete the dye. Okay I'll shut , I'm so full of uless info. Well happy polishing . Kristen

[Love (SO)]

Kristen,

I agree with you. For a wedding, all of the brides that I have known have worn either white pearl or a French manicure. I personally think red nail polish for this occasion would draw too much attention away from the bride's dress and her new ring

*A French manicure is very nice, it can be "dressed up" for a more formal occasion, by adding some airbrushing in the same shades of neutral, and yet won't "stand out" and "take away" from an outfit.

[Kersten Lee]

Hi,
I have been using OPI Blackberry? Changing of the Garnet, a salon deep
purple(which was to light for my taste), a salon dark red brown, and latest
No I'm not a Waitress (which is a bright medium to a little darker red
glitter).

With help from a sales woman I bought the Garnet and I went back and I
decided on the waitress red to go brighter and more adventerous. When
my salon finished with the waitress red, I felt quite self conscience.
When I went to the drying table a 30 something very attractive business
woman commented right off that she love that color and asked the name.
I know I blushed and told her. She said don't be embarrassed. I said
I had been getting darker colors and thought I overdid it. She said don't
worry that color really looks good on you. I was blown away. I still didn't
wear my sandals in stores until I seen my therapist. First thing she said
was, I really love your new nail color. It was so funny as I explored my
feelings. I thought the other colors were more manly. Now is that a hoot?
I've been all over now and do love the red like I did when I picked it out.

I answered bright other colors, even though I do love red. Sorry I had to
go with the story.

I wish I had all Love's bottles. Although I would probably have to do
another therapy session to get unconfused because I couldn't make a
decision on which one I want this month!

Kersten

[Jamie Ann]

Hi Jamie Ann,

but I noticed that none of the models in any of those three catalogs was wearing colored nail polish.

I'm not sure what the models were modeling, but I think they might not have been wearing any colored nail polish because the companies don't want to draw attention away from what they are trying to "sell".

I personally wear all different shades/colors of nail polish, from pearl, pale pink, to bright reds.

Love (SO),

      That is a good point. Consistent with it, none of the models is wearing highly conspicuous jewelry, an exotic hairdo, or anything else which might upstage the items the company is trying to sell.

      Still, it is possible that genetic women might have somewhat different ideas about what is attractive than most CDs do. For instance, in the Victoria’s Secret “Fall Preview” catalog, a pair of velour drawstring pants is described as “hot and sexy.” Although the pants in question look nice, my guess is that most CDs would reserve that kind of description for a mini-skirt. To be sure, I have a limited perspective and I could be wrong about this inferred difference.

      Thanks again!

[Jassmine(SO)]

Still, it is possible that genetic women might have somewhat different ideas about what is attractive than most CDs do. For instance, in the Victoria’s Secret “Fall Preview” catalog, a pair of velour drawstring pants is described as “hot and sexy.” Although the pants in question look nice, my guess is that most CDs would reserve that kind of description for a mini-skirt. To be sure, I have a limited perspective and I could be wrong about this inferred difference.

Thanks again!

Ah, you are correct. Different people will view things differently. But I don't think that makes anyone's perspective particularly limited. I feel it is more a question of likes and dislikes, and personal "taste". From my vantage point, I think that it is the person that makes the clothes sexy, not the other way around. As the old saying goes, "Beauty comes from within". And of course I can't leave out the oldie but goodie, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

*Hugs*

[Jamie Ann]

Ah, you are correct. Different people will view things differently. But I don't think that makes anyone's perspective particularly limited. I feel it is more a question of likes and dislikes, and personal “taste.” From my vantage point, I think that it is the person that makes the clothes sexy, not the other way around. As the old saying goes, ... “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!”      

Point well taken!

Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder

     [Author Unknown]

She was not beautiful.
Nothing about her was extraordinary.
Nothing about her made her stand out in a crowd.
She grew up in a family of six.
The eldest, she learned responsibility at an early age.
As she grew stronger and more insightful,
She instilled a sort of light cheer to whomever she met.

She was not beautiful.
But she made others feel beautiful about themselves.
She met a rebel boy who thought he was all man.
Befriending him, she taught him how to read,
A little boost the man needed to get an education.

They became friends fast, and she fell
Fast in love with her rugged, handsome student.
The “man” then found himself in a dilemma.
He soon found himself in love with a girl.
A girl so beautiful, she turned even the grouchiest men’s heads.
Her hair seemed like a halo of light around her,
Her eyes were as blue as a clear ocean.

“Like an angel,” he told his tutor,
“Like a beautiful angel.”
The girl swallowed a lump at her throat.

She was not beautiful;
And she did not possess the heart of the one she loved.
But she did not care.
As long as he was happy,
She would be, too, or at least she would try.

She helped him write the most beautiful letters to his angel,
All the time envisioning that it was she herself
Receiving those very letters.
And so the girl helped him choose the right words
And buy the right gifts for his angel.
His angel brought him much joy,
Though much pain to the girl who cried behind her smiles.
But that never stopped her from giving more
Than she would ever receive.

Then one day, the boy suffered a rude awakening —
The angel he loved had left him for another man,
A richer, more successful man.
The boy was stunned.
He was so hurt that he did not speak for days.
The girl went to him.
He cried on her shoulder and she cried with him;
He hurt and so did she.

Time went by,
And so the wounds healed.
The boy realized something about his friend/tutor
He never realized before:
How her laughter sounded heavenly,
How her smiles brightened up the darkest days.
And how beautiful — yes beautiful — she looked!

Beautiful.
This plain, simple girl was beautiful to him.
And he began to fall.
Fall so in love with this beautiful girl.

One day, he worked up all his courage to see her.
He walked to her house, nervous and fidgeting.
Running his thoughts over and over in his head.
He was going to tell her how beautiful she was to him,
How wonderfully in love he was with her.
He knocked, but no one was home.

The next day he found out that the beautiful girl
He fell in love with had suffered a brain aneurysm,
Which put her into a coma.
The doctors were grim and the family decided to let her go.

One final time he got to see her.
He held her hand;
He stroked her hair.
And he cried for this beautiful girl.
He cried that he would never see her smile again,
Or hear her speak his name.

He cried,
But it was too late.

The beautiful girl was buried and the heavens
Broke out in a shower, a cry for their loss.
She truly was the most beautiful girl in the world.

Look around you.
Aren’t there a lot of plain faces?
Take a better look —
A real good look, or you might miss out
On that beautiful person for you.

Forever.