Neon Nail Polish

Room for Debate: A Running Commentary on the News

The truth is, unique and outrageous nail polish shades aren't exactly new. In the 1980s, neon colors were all the rage. And those crackle nail polishes that people are suddenly so gaga over? CoverGirl went there and did that at least 15 years ago. So what makes this evolution of nail color so different? Why is it more widespread and accepted than ever before? I attribute it to two factors.

One, the economy. In recent years, nail polish has replaced lipstick as an indicator of the economy. What Leonard Lauder coined the Lipstick Index, meaning the rise in cosmetic sales inversely correlated to economic health, is no more. Nail polish sales are growing in leaps and bounds, surpassing lipstick, due to its affordability.

A Chanel handbag may be out of your financial reach but a Chanel nail polish is a budget friendly way to bring those interlocking C's into your lifestyle. Thanks to designers incorporating nail color into their runway looks, nails have become an accessory and an inexpensive way to inject the hottest color trends of the season into your wardrobe. The price tag on those Fendi color-block shoes you've been coveting may make your wallet cry, but buying blue and orange lacquers to color-block your nails is within everyone's price range.

The second factor is our obsession with all things celebrity and the ungodly access we have to them thanks to Twitter and Facebook and all the blogs and Web sites out there. A single Twitpic of Katy Perry's flower patterned nails caused a run on Minx nail appliqués and a number of knock-offs for at-home use. Beyoncé wearing a turquoise Chanel nail polish in a music video sold out the shade.

Tweens, teens and twenty-somethings will always be early adopters to trends, but thanks to its low price tag and celebrity support, nail art and wacky nail polish colors have worked their way into the hearts of the more mature set.

Beauty Addictions: American Apparel Neon Nail Polish Collection ...

We are loving the neon craze that has taken over the world of beauty. It reminds us of our brightly colored childhoods which were filled with neon Jellies, bracelets, half-tops and even Converse sneakers. As the 80′s has dominated the beauty industry, one of the best ways to wear the decade’s bright shades is on your tips and toes. We are so in love with the new neon collection from American Apparel. These opaque nail lacquers go on super bold and bright and last for days without chipping. These are the brightest polishes you can find and they work wonderfully well with the summer’s hottest style trend white on white. How awesome is that neon green? It’s the perfect pop of color for the summer!

Mention Veronica Webb to fashion lovers of a “certain age”, and a kaleidoscope of images comes to mind, but beauty AND brains pretty much sums it up nicely. We found a really cool video that Vogue Black did featuring Ms. Webb where she talks about the challenges of being a black model, her cosmetic contract with [...]

Since debuting her collection in 2009, British shoe designer Sophie Gittins has been flying elegantly under the radar.  Her shoes strike the perfect balance between feminine charm and the strict achitectural discipline that keeps Gittins’ pieces from veering too far off into the “precious” territory that luxury shoes all too often find themselves in.  Her SS11 collection is [...]

We recently learned of yet another amazing nail care company that has some of the most spectacular polishes in the business. Julep Nail Colors are known for their stylish shades, sophisticated packaging and chip-resistant formulations. The Summer 2011 collection is beyond gorgeous, its a must-have with three of the top summer shades! • Niecy: The [...]

Every now and then, we get the same complaint from our stylish vegetarian and vegan friends about the lack of cool accessories that aren’t made from animals? While it is true that calfskin leather, croc skin or fur are all over the collections in some form every season, if you take the time to track them down, there [...

Neon Blue

Product marketing for beauty industry retailers & manufacturers

The Greenwood encyclopedia of clothing through American history 1900 to the present

Brands and their companies, consumer products and their manufacturers with addresses and phone numbers

Live Like Your Nail Color Even If You Have Naked Nails, Discovering Sanity, Confidence, and Fun at the Tips of Your Fingers Or Toes!