Fall 2011 Nail Polish Trend – Real F*cking Grey Is Back!

October 22nd, 2011

I dont know about you but I am so sick of greige and griolet and every other bastardization of grey nail polish. To the point that its extremely refreshing to see the real deal re-emerge as a hot nail polish trend for Fall 2011. Its not exactly like grey has been on hiatus for the past few years but it was feeling pretty tired post-2008 and Im ecstatic to see it coming back.

During NYFW Teen Vogues Eva Chen tweeted from backstage at Rag & Bone about the Revlon Stormy Canvas nail color Manicurist Jin Soon Choi used. Jin was quoted as saying, I love this color because its a true grey. Im sick of greige, and upon reading that all I could say was, Yes! Real f*cking grey is back! Sorry, Im just not the type to use effing in my everyday vernacular. The boyfriend, who I constantly embarrass with my ill-timed, foul-mouthed outbursts, would concur.

Black and grey are pretty much staple colors in most fall wardrobes but it wasnt until 2007/8 that grey really became a staple in nail world. Before brands like Rescue Beauty Lounge and China Glaze started producing hot greys, we were left to franken our own. I still remember, with longing, the dove grey CND previewed at the Fall 08 shows that was slated to go into production before they overhauled their polish line. Now, we have so many grey nail polish options it would make Rachel Zoe proud.

Grey is the new Grey (Fall 2011 Release) all polishes are shown using two coats

From left to right - Pop Beauty Foggy (laying down), Zoya Tao, Deborah Lippmann Stormy Weather, Nails Inc Paddington, Finger Paints Stunning Stiletto (laying across), Essie Power Clutch, Sally Hansen Dorien Gray, China Glaze Concrete Catwalk

China Glaze Concrete Catwalk ($3, Head2ToeBeauty, TransDesign. $6, Sally Beauty) is a blue-based wet cement creme. Its the moody, blackened older sister of fan fave China Glaze Recycle.

Deborah Lippmann Stormy Weather ($16, DeborahLippmann.com, Barneys, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom) is a deep granite creme that was created with Narciso Rodriguez for his Fall 2011 collection. It doesnt bear any resemblance to that other Stormy grey we all know so well (see below). Its much darker and moodier and blue-based as opposed to green.

Essie Power Clutch ($8, Essie.com for locations and online shopping) I feel completely colorblind when it comes to this color. Its described by Essie as green and yet Ive been wearing it for over a week and do not see it as green, no matter the lighting. Yes, it has a green base but I would never file this away in my green Helmer drawer.

Finger Paints Stunning Stilettos ($4.99, SallyBeauty.com) really would make a stunning shoe color. Id probably scuff the heck out of them in a week this blue-based mid-tone grey would pair perfectly with any ensemble.

Nails Inc Paddington ($9.50, Sephora.com) is knocking on the door of almost black territory so this green-based grey is great for all the vampy nail polish lovers out there.

Pop Beauty Foggy ($10, PopBeautyCosmetics.com, ULTA) isnt really a fall collection release but its relatively new enough for me to include. It has a neutral, rubbery base color thats been glammed up with silvery shimmer and micro-glitter. I dig that they didnt pack in so much sparkle that it messed with the integrity of the color. Its still a grey at its core.

Sally Hansen Dorien Grey ($7.99 at drugstores and mass retailers nationwide) is the palest of the new greys and has that fresh and clean feeling that I love about dove hues. Its work safe for even the most conservative offices but still on trend.

Zoya Tao ($8, Zoya.com) is unique in that its a medium grey with shimmer that doesnt venture into the more traditional gunmetal territory. Its softer and more feminine while maintaining that urban edge normally associated with grey. Think uptown meets downtown.

The OGs The Original Greys in my stash

Not all of these shades are still available but if you have them in your nail wardrobe, now is the time to rock em.

Click the names to view swatches: Illamasqua DWS, RGB Steel (laying across), Orly Mirror Mirror, ULTA Concrete Evidence (bottom), Zoya Dove (top), Rescue Beauty Lounge Stormy (laying down), China Glaze Pelican Gray.

CND Asphalt, American Apparel Factory Grey (laying down), Barry M Grey, Essence Movie Star, China Glaze Recycle, Barielle U-Concrete-Me (laying across), OCC Dangerous, Models Own Moody Grey.

Best colors to pair with Grey Teal, eggplant, sapphire, plum

Thoughts on the Real Grey nail color trend? Are you happy to see it make a comeback? Or did you never stop wearing it? Are you over greige as much as I am? Which new colors do you plan to pick up? What are your favorite grey nail polishes?

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