NYC West Village - Borghese Plumaggio Purple Comparison

I thought these two might be dupes (they're close, but not quite) and thought I'd share pics in case any of you were wondering...or trying to pick only ONE of these two lovelies.
I like them both, but I'm happy enough with N.Y.C.'s price and the color that, had I known, I'd have saved my 8 bucks for some Nubar. LOL :)

Now, BEFORE You look at the pictures, I have to tell you that the length in that last mani was what I like to call "The Breaking Point" and I have a nasty tear on the index finger of my right hand. *tears* So, I got a week more out of the nail with my trusty Orly Nail Rescue, but after doing all the swatching I did Friday night and yesterday, it just wasn't holding well, and I need to give my nail a chance to grow out without making me BLEED. So I chopped 'em all down to a more "work appropriate" length (I can type faster now!) and yet they are still beyond my fingertips and therefore not nubbins. But I will tell ya, my fingers look nubby to me today! LOL. Long nails are slimming, period.

I give you my comparison: I have N.Y.C. West Vilage on index and ring fingers, Borghese Plumaggio Purple on middle and pinkie. My cuticles are dry from all the swatching. They're happy now, but cut me some slack for the next few posts. :)

in different lighting...

and a close up shot so you can see the different shimmer of each. NYC on the left, Borghese on the right

These both applied well, the brush in the Borghese is wider so smaller nail beds will struggle. They both seem to have the same teal base jelly with the shimmer adding the color. Both appear dark blurple but the Borghese has a red shimmer that adds to the effect. Doesn't much matter from a distance, but it's pretty up close. To prove my point:

So, how much are you going to spend for a drug store blurple? 

NYC West Village WNW Caribbean Frost Konad

I wasn't sure if I liked this one or not, but I did wear it for another 2 days before removing it to swatch and then settling on the next manicure which I'll show you in a few posts.

I used the dots on Konad plate M60. I am a bit frustrated by the last row of larger dots. It seems they are lined up just right for the scraper to leave a perfect line across their middle. I've seen that line on other blogger's designs too! I tried a few things to stop it, but generally gave up caring so I could get the damned thing finished.

I could use some Konading tips too...Those of you out there doing a bazillion Konad designs a day, share your tips on how you get the design straight, and other useful things please!!!

Then I wanted a whole 'nother look so I hit it with China Glaze Matte Magic.

It made the NYC polish look even more black and I noticed shocked looks at my nails from my co-workers. LOL. Oh well, I kinda liked the idea...but again, the execution needs work...looking for tips on straightening out Konad designs (especially helpful for those darned French manicure stamps!!!)

Thanks for looking! Wishing you a day of sunshine, I hope to get out today and enjoy some of mine!

NYC New York Color Minute in West Village

This is the first NYC polish I've ever tried. I cannot believe such an inexpensive polish can be so delightful to use and be so pretty. I couldn't stop looking at my nails today. Paused a little too long at stop lights after they'd turned green because I was gazing into the blue depths of this rich, dark, Navy blue. Look!

It isn't quite dark enough to look black in low light, it's just like navy blue anything...is it black? not really, but let me put it by something black just to make sure...see! I knew it wasn't black. This is truly a lovely dark blue with some of the prettiest shimmer to give it just the right amount of depth. I think this is 3 coats, it was a little streaky the first coat, the second was ok, but I did get some pull so I applied the third coat a little more thickly and that was all she needed. I Love NY but I have no idea why this dark blue is named after the West Village. Any New Yorkers out here wanna clue me in?

These were all taken under incandescent like. I can't wait for the sun to come back to Santa Barbara, mostly the longer days will help me get sunny photos of my swatches...I'll sit at the beach and do them. People will think I am nuts...and I like that!

This was the last polish I swatched Tuesday night, so I topped it off with some Seche and went to bed. NYC polish retails here for $1.99 USD but I got this on sale for .99 I think I got a super sweet deal! Do you like it?

Just a couple more days left in my Giveaway! Get in while you can...closes Friday, February 26, 2010 at midnight in the last time zone of the world.