Thursday, July 8, 2010

Taupe or Maybe Grey is the New Purple

Though I tried to convince myself I was being prudent by waiting for swatches of Chanel's Fall 2010 polishes before I decided whether to buy, there was really no chance I wouldn't get one of them. Jade Rose, yawn—I didn't want it last spring, and I do not want it now. But Paradoxal—a mysterious purple that doesn't necessarily stay purple once it's out of the bottle? Yes, please. It arrived last week, in a gift box because if I am going to pay that much for nail polish, I want as much gold and black packaging as I can get. (Sorry, environment; I promise to re-use the box.)

Indoors, in indirect light, it looks like really dark taupe creme, or a dark grey creme, or a greyed plum creme. Definitely not purple. Definitely not a shimmer.

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Indoors, in more direct light, a very small amount of purple shimmer peeks out.

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Outside, in direct sun, if one holds one's fingers at certain angles, pink AND purple shimmer show up.

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Chanel

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I don't have anything quite like this in my stash, but that didn't stop me from doing comparisons. I'd read Paradoxal described as Essie Demure Vixen's darker sister, so I included that in the lineup, thinking I might layer it with something, but that didn't work out.

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Left to right: Chanel Paradoxal, CHI Passionate Kiss, Zoya Ki, OPI You Don't Know Jacques, Essie Demure Vixen.


Chanel

Top to bottom: Chanel Paradoxal, CHI Passionate Kiss, Zoya Ki, OPI You Don't Know Jacques.


Passionate Kiss is a dark purple shimmer (and shows that, even indoors), but it lacks the pink highlights and murkiness of base color that Paradoxal has. Ki is more shimmery, and the duochromey-ness of it means it sometimes is closer in color to Paradoxal and sometimes farther away. YDKJ is not really anything like Paradoxal, but it might be a good place to start a franken because it does have that dark cool-toned taupe tone.

All in all, I'm happy I got Paradoxal, even though it was pricey. I can see myself wearing it a lot this fall. I might have to carry around a powerful lamp with me to show off the shimmer, though.

16 comments:

  1. I'm wearing this today as well, gorgeous! Its in a category all its own :) Great post!

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  2. after Particulière (that i didn't buy because of its price) I don't think I'm going to go mad for another color, I found the perfect one (taupe) and the other are all worse :)

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  3. I think I might need this one... I just want to see what it looks like in real life! All the pictures of it are different! I hope its not too late....I really like your swatches ;)

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  4. Love your new layout!

    I love this color, haven't tried it yet but real soon. It looks great on you :)

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  5. very pretty! I just got mine and blogged about it too! This polish is so great on, I am in love with it!

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  6. I had convinced myself, that I didn't need this. After seeing your pics. I must get it! Super pretty, and it looks wonderful on you.

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  7. I've read so much about Paradoxal lately, it looks like a really lovely and unique colour.

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  8. Great swatches, it's beautiful!

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  9. I love the statement "Grey is the new Purple". I would have to agree. :D You can never have enough!

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  10. so, this is actually very very pretty on you and makes you look like a rich lady, does it make you feel like you should be wearing a chanel ballgown or suit?

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  11. Nice, I've never purchased Chanel before. This one looks so pretty though.

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  12. Great swatch! I like the multi-personality this lacquer has.

    And you are right; there's nothing to compare it to.

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  13. Everyone is talking about Paradoxal, exactly the same as when everyone was talking about Particuliere. This is a very pretty colour on you, personally I wouldn't be able to get it though because of the price tag. :(

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  14. Dying to see a comparison between Paradoxal, which I have only ever seen online never in real life and Jessica Her name was Venus, which I was sent by a friend and am wearing a as my own low rent version of paradoxal! HNWV looks like it could be a dupe, but possibly runs more grey than taupe.

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