Primp Your Nest - Greige

As in "gray" and "beige". As in e'griege'ously fabulous. As in...I'm having too much fun with this. Yes, "griege". It's an obnoxiously celebrity-couplesque name for a really awesome color. A color which, I might add, is currently residing upon my fingertips - hence the nature of this post. I've decided that, in addition to my monthly installments of "Movie Nerd" and the upcoming "Craft Weirdo" (ok, that name needs work...), I might as well start one discussing fashion and beauty trends. Or just things I like in that vein that have nothing to do with trends. Whatever. I do what I want!

Back to nail polish. Those poor, few, clearly misguided men who've stumbled upon this post (and any females who have either a a.) general disdain for nails or b.) habit of biting said finger accessories) can look away now. I'm sure there's something to your liking on tv. Catch up on that book. Go solve the budget crisis. Pursue your true passion, etc. etc.. I'm talkin' nails.

That's not to say that I, personally, am a girl who invests time, money or effort in manicures. I'm too fidgety to sit for one and too clumsy to keep them looking nice. Chippies and smudges abound in my life. Not to mention, I'm cheap. Actually, I prefer the term "Frugal-American". This, my friends, is where "greige" comes in. It's the no-polish polish. It keeps me looking all put together and adult and whatnot, without sacrificing my time and effort on touch ups. And by "time and effort on touch ups" I mean: "time worrying about the chip but actually doing nothing about it until I look like a deranged 13-year-old who got into her mom's nail polish supply again". With greige, because it's so mellow and chic and classy, chips rarely bother me.

This hybrid grey, beige, coffee and cream color is hardly new on the scene. The color's been seen on everyone's nails from Lily Allen to Gwenyth Paltrow, and, per usual, can be pinpointed to the release of a certain Chanel nail color. In this case, two actually. Two of the colors released as part of Chanel's Spring 2010 collection, Les Impressions de Chanel, Particulière and Inattendu spawned a mild frenzy, likened to the Jade debaucle of 2009, though much, much less...unreasonable.

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Though, if you're not willing to shell out $23 a BOTTLE for (granted, Chanel) nail polish, there are always alternatives. Such as:

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essie's Sand Tropez from their most recent collection: French Affair. $8.00
(this one's on my nails as I type, practically chip-free!)

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Another essie goodie - Mink Muffs (from, I believe, their Winter 2009 Collection - Cuddle With Color) - available on Amazon.com

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And the color that, for me, started it all - Grey Suede from Revlon's Summer 2010 Collection! Available at your local drug store for under $5 (I think)