Essie The North fork Collection Summer 2009
This is a pretty surprising collection for Essie, not a pink or red in sight, I love it. With the exception of Shelter Island, these colors are pretty unique and I hope to see Essie release more shades on this side of spectrum. *Channels images of green glitter a la Essie Ruby Slippers and Essie Starry Starry Nights to Essie Weingarten* (Just an aside, but has everyone gotten a load of the dark greens this season or what!?!?!?! I know all the bloggers love greens but I can’t help but to feel a little responsible since I constantly complain about that lack of greens on the market. It’s just my poor luck that I’m on a no buy now that we’re finally getting some options! Still though, it’s great to know that we’re finally having some influence over the market.)
Ah, reviewing colors is not as easy as it used to be. I’ve been away from the nail polish game for so long that my color match recall is not up to par. Greenport is a muted green toned aqua creme. I want to say that it’s similar to Misa Dirty, Sexy, Money but not a dupe, I believe DSM is moodier. I really can’t say for sure though and finding DSM in my once immaculate but now disastrously messy stash will be next to impossible. But I do plan to do swatch comparisons as soon as I can get everything in order once more. (When will I stop making excuses you say? Neeeevaaar!) In any case, the color itself is unique and I’m glad to see variations on aqua because I don’t have many in my stash. This was a 3 coater for me; not the greatest application ever but not excessively streaky either.
Shelter Island is a somewhat muted sky blue in the same vein as Zoya Yummy, OPI Just Groovy, and Misa Right Here Now, No More Later. It might be a dupe but, again, I can’t say for sure. There will be a comparison post of all four in the very near future. This was a three coater for me, but the application wasn’t horrible.
Sag Harbor is the stand out in this collection. The color is a cementish light bluish gray. Yes, I know, cement is not usually associated with attractiveness but it works here. The finish is a light frosty pearlescent shimmer that is barely visible, it casts depth to the color. The consistency was a little thick so I had to use 3 coats to even everything out. This color is a little deceptive. In my photo it’s a bit bluer than it should be, it’s more gray in real life. In the bottle it’s like a lightly blue tinted gray but on the nail (this possibly has something to do with my skin tone) the blue is a lot more obvious. So… looking at the bottle on Sunday night I thought, “hey, I might be able to get away with this at work!” Not quite, it’s waaaaay too noticeably blue. I’d say it’s okay for most office environments save for the markedly conservative offices. But I do love the color so I’m wearing it anyway.
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Disclosure: This collection was sent to me for review by Essie.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
It’s great to see you back! So sad when life gets in the way of our MU.
Sag Harbor was my total fave in that collection, I like to layer it with a gold holo (in a funky french), blue nails, gold tips. Makes me feel very pre-revolution French.
August 11th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Welcome back!
I’m actually glad that you’re in an ultra conservative environment because I am too! I work at a large commercial law firm and lament the fact that my nails are always nude/light pink/lightest taupe. And I just bought Misa DSM and Toxic Seduction from Transdesign and never get any opportunity to wear them! Boohoo
So please feel free to do more ‘work appropriate’ colour posts because I for one, will eagerly read them!
My fave from this collection is either Greenport or Sag Harbour, can’t decide, love them both.
August 11th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I love the North Fork collection too! I totally agree with you Steph, with Sag Harbor being the standout. Greenport is surprisingly close to For Audrey!
August 11th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
I love the North Fork collection. Shelter Island not so much..
August 12th, 2009 at 8:59 am
I’m not really an Essie fan at all, but I’m sooo glad to see you back!! And again, I eagerly look forward to the arrival of Orbis Non Sufficit in my mail!! green green green!
August 12th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Sag Harbor went completely grey on me, not a trace of blue: it looked awful: I have very pale skin. Greenport I love and it’s quite different from Dirty Sexy Money which is much well, dirtier and which I love too: it’s exactly the green of dollar bills, while Greenport is a much happier colour. People comment on it a lot.
August 12th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Good to have you back!
I loved this collection, it was the first time I branched out into greens and blues, I particularly liked sag harbour too, it looked great with my super pale skin tone.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I have Shelter Island on my fingers right now. I don’t have any light blues so I like it.
I feel like an outsider because all the blogs are always talking about green and I don’t care for them but I’m thinking I may need to try a dark green.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
It’s so great to have you back! I picked up all three from this collection. They’re all such gorgeous colours! :D
August 12th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Sigh — I found Sag Harbor and Shelter Island, but I’m still trying to get my hot little hands on Greensport!
BTW, I nominated you for an award on my site!
August 13th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Goodness, Sag Harbour looks great! It’s too bad that Essie isn’t commonly found in the UK.
Glad to have you back =)
August 13th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
It’s nice to have you back Stephanie =)
This collection made me rethink Essie and purchase my first (3) bottles. I know everything about the brand is supposed to be dainty and feminine (from the bottle design to the tiny brush) but I actually love Essie. I bought my mom a ton of red/pink Essies because she fell in love with their signature jelly finish.
Now if only they would make more blues and greens… and if only Essie wouldn’t reply to questions like “Will there be any more greens?” with “As you know, there is Essie Greenport…”
Have you tried their newest collection yet? I’m especially pleased with the orange =)
August 13th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I’m so glad to have you back blogging! I love your posts, really.
I scooped up all three polishes in the North Fork collection from Ulta. My unexpected favorite is definitely Sag Harbor. Like Alison, it looked really nice with my extremely pale skin tone. I’ve worn Greenport more than once on my toes this summer.
By the way, I love your nails this length!
August 14th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Welcome back!
I was on a no buy this summer as well, but I found Sag Harbor in a 50%off bin last weekend and could not resist. It’s am amazing color.
August 14th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
**and if only Essie wouldn’t reply to questions like “Will there be any more greens?” with “As you know, there is Essie Greenport…”**
lol, yb. I am so with you!
August 14th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
So nice that your back blogging again. Your pictures are just the best. I love this collection. I don’t have too many of Essie. I think this brand is getting much better color wise. I for one am thrilled by more greens. They are my favorite polish color. My favorite shade on me is Poison Ivy by BB Couture. Sorry got off track. I wore Shelter Island and couldn’t stop looking at my nails all day. All three colors look lovely on you. Looking so forward to many more posts.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
The Greenport looks great. I feel it’s combination between green and blue but it’s a more complex color. I just love it, definitely must try it.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Gosh I LOVE these colors! I am buying them all even though I have been on a Fall colors kick lately and am usually a die-hard Zoya fan. Speaking of.. I have a question! Can anyone PLEASEE tell me if Zoya has a dupe or interchangeable color with OPI’s Mink Muffs? I lovee mink muffs but would prefer to always buy zoya if I could. Those milk chocolate browns like Mink Muffs are so hot right now and I would lovee to mybe even see a comparison. If anyone can give me an answer- that would be awesome! Thanks :)
August 20th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
It’s me again. I did a comparison of For Audrey and Greenport today and they’re not quite the same. For Audrey is lighter and chalkier, more a light turquoise and less a green. Greenport is easier to apply and lasts longer: I remember that For Audrey is very prone to chipping. They’re both three coaters.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I know you don’t really go for the drugstore nail polishes, but I think these would be something for your collection, since they have different fruity smells when they dry. There is even a light blue in the collection.
http://www.revlon.com/ProductCatalog/ProductDetails.aspx?CategoryID=4&SubCategoryID=15&ProductID=194
September 1st, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Wow, those are really beautiful colors. Is Essie formaldehyde, toulene and DBP free? I just posted about these toxic chemicals that we need to avoid!
September 10th, 2009 at 4:34 am
I loved the North Fork collection too!
September 18th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I love those baby blue nails.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Just wanted to thank you for your swatches. They really came in handy when I placed an order for some China Glazes!
October 3rd, 2009 at 5:42 pm
great shades if you’re a tweeny. i’m not.
December 29th, 2009 at 12:18 am
I am lving the Essie Greenport. For some reason I have really been partial to blues and teals here lately.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Can’t find Greenport anywhere :( I’m too late…
Do you know a dupe as fresh as greenport? DSM is too muted..
September 24th, 2010 at 11:42 am
I wore Essie Greenport on my toes all summer. It was the perfect beach colour. I spent the summer in Europe( mostly in Barcelona) and I couldn’t believe how many complements I received on the colour