Nailed It

I wrote about nail polish in our June issue—even The New York Times has written about the nail-polish craze—and I feel like it’s not even close to being over yet. I’ve been sucked in, myself. I’ve even given in to the dreaded filing—oh, how I hate the sound and feel of filing nails—in the name of perfect ovals to paint.

So which are my favorites? It depends by the day, really. But I’m in love with two so far this summer, so I wanted to share them with you.

The first is Essie’s Fifth Avenue (at upper right). This is actually my second summer wearing it, so I know it’s a true love connection. I’m picky about my reds (both lipstick and nail polish), and I never really wear red clothing. To me, this one rises to the top. It’s the perfect shade of red-orange: I love that it’s got such a bright, happy feel about it, and good, thick coverage. Best of all, it’s $8.

The second is actually kind of a surprise for me. I typically love to wear bright jolts of nail color—it’s practically risk-free! And it’s fun. So usually I shy away from softer, more pastel colors. But Chanel’s Distraction has a hold over me.

It’s a soft, slightly iridescent coral pink that looks great against my super-pale skin. It feels right on trend with both the coral craze and this transition from neons to pastels—you can always count on Chanel to come through on intense, complex nail color. It’s so feminine and summery. I’ve gotten tons of compliments on it. This baby will run you $26, but hey, it’s Chanel.

Are you into nail polish these days? What colors and brands are you loving?