Sometimes it’s GOOD to be bad, or wrong in this case. 🙂
I’d first thought the recently released limited edition NARS Vintage 2009 Nail Polishes ($16 each) were only available through the NARS website, but it turns out Nordstrom has them as well (check your local store for availability).
I got a look at the collection yesterday at the NARS event I attended in the city (more on that in a few).
One of the shades that I’d really wanted to see in person was Tallulah, the deep purple.
It sure looks different up close and personal than it did in the promotional pics…
Zizi
Cha cha cha
Hunger
Blue Lagoon
Tallulah
A few quick notes on the shades…
- Zizi: I’m not a major glitter gal, but I like how the blue, green, gold and purple glitter in this sheer peach apply without looking too blinged out. I’d totally wear Zizi, either by itself or layered on top of something else.
- Cha Cha Cha: This shimmery, golden orange looks intriguing in the bottle but not so much on my nails. It applies thick and streaky, with lots of bubbles.
- Hunger: On the Nordstrom site, Hunger looks like a deep red, but in person it’s more like a creamy orange/reddish coral. It applies with consistent rich, non-streaky color, though, and of these shades it’s my favorite!
- Blue Lagoon: A shimmery cool blue, this polish was a little too sheer for my taste, but if you like sheer colors, it could be a real winner.
- Tallulah: I couldn’t wait to see Tallulah in person. It looked like a creamy purple in the promotional pictures, but on my nails it looked more like a creamy wine, and the streaks — THE STREAKS! Way more than I expected.
After the nail polishes, I took a closer look at the limited edition NARS Loves San Francisco Makeup Set ($75).
If these four eye, cheek and nail shades aren’t like others in your collection now, it’s a pretty great deal for the price.
One huge reason why I was so excited about the NARS event was that I’d heard that Francois Nars HIMSELF was going to be there.
With a copy of his fantastic book, Makeup Your Mind ($26.37), under my arm, I’d hoped to meet the man behind the makeup.
Francois NARS at Nordstrom
It was his first appearance in 10 years at an event like this one, and he was on hand to sign copies of his book and to chat with fans.
The book is spiral bound and hardcover, which makes it easy to stand upright or to lie flat for use as a reference while applying makeup.
I’m a visual learner, and it’s one of the best how-to makeup books I’ve ever seen. Beyond the tips, it’s packed with detailed overlay face charts and before/after photographs of each respective look.
I felt like such a goof ball when it was my turn in line. I got a little star struck (it was Francois Nars, for crying out loud!). That’s about when the verbal diarrhea struck, oops!
I vaguely recall telling him about Tabs, thanking him for the genius that is Dolce Vita lipstick and quoting Wind Beneath My Wings (oh, gawd!).
After pulling myself together, I asked him which of his Multiples he likes best. Turns out homeboy loves St. Barts (a shimmery taupe) and Copacabana (a shimmery pearl); NARS makes a Multiple Duo featuring both shades in a single compact for $45.
Added to wish list: CHECK! 🙂
Tips and Tricks from NARS National Trainer Janice Daoud
With Janice Daoud
The NARS makeup team was also on hand to give makeovers and to answer questions.
I spoke with Janice Daoud, NARS national trainer and stylist (and occasionally Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist), who offered a few tips…
- Highlighters like the Golden Gate Bridge cheek color in the NARS Loves San Francsico Set can be used in multiple ways. For radiant, glowy skin, apply it with a fluffy brush at the temples and down the bridge of the nose. Or, for a shimmery eye look, press and pack the highlighter on the eyelids with an eyeshadow brush.
- For some colors similar to the ones in the NARS Loves San Francisco set, try Goldfinger Eyeshadow ($22) en lieu of the Golden Gate Bridge cheek color; Angel Island eyeshadow, the purple shade from the SF collection, resembles Night Fairy eyeshadow ($22).
- If you’re a Kim Kardashian fan like I am, then consider picking up the Hula Hula eyeshadow duo ($32), with its shimmery pink and shimmery gold eyeshadows. Janice recently used it on Kim, who said she loved it.
Hi, girls!
I ran into a few MBB readers and fellow makeup junkies at the event — Alexzandra, Irene and Jeanne (from Periodic Style). Thanks for saying hi, gals!
Take me out to the ball game
After the event, El Hub and I zipped over to Oakland to catch an A’s game. It was my first baseball game in YEARS.
I should come clean, though — the main reason I wanted to go was to see Jordin Sparks, (the pop singer and American Idol winner), who held a concert after the game. Damn, that girl sure can sing… She did most of her hits (Tattoo, No Air, and a bangin’ cover of Michael Jackson’s Pretty Young Thing (PYT)).
I can’t believe the weekend’s almost over… What are you doing tonight? I’m sitting on the couch, watching Love & Basketball for the thousandth time.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
So, so cool. I really like “Hunger” – it reminds me of the limited polish from Victoria Secret’s Beauty Rush. “Zizi” is nice but I’m not sure I could wear it alone.
I don’t think I could attend something like this- when faced with my favourite designers I think I’d freak and revert back to 19-year old mode!
Hi Marmar,
🙂 You could do it! Just don’t quote Wind Beneath My Wings while you’re there and you’d be set.
Hiya!
I’m glad you had fun at the NARS event, I wish I coulda made it! This morning I ended up going to an Aikido seminar (that was originally going to be elsewhere but moved to my dojo at the last minute) taught by the current head of our entire Aikido style!(!!) It was really amazing, and an incredible workout! So I kinda got my celebrity fix after all! 😉
You look so gorgeous in all those pics! Janice Daoud is quite pretty too! I want her T-shirt!
Hi Glosslizard,
How fun! I am glad you were able to get your sweat on. It’s been ages since I’ve worked out so I’ll have to vicariously live through you.
Did ya’ll work on weapons? I know that’s your thing. 🙂
I WISHHHH my weekend wasn’t almost over! I just started it, it feels like. Ugh. Summer school is such a downer — especially when all your friends want to go out, drink, and have fun generally hanging out together but you can’t do any of it. Boo.
*sigh*
Otherwise, I went canoeing and didn’t get sunburnt! YAY!
Hi Kim,
That’s always a good thing. 🙂 Did you go swimming in the water? I hope it was warm.
Great post! I love that you quoted ‘wind beneath my wings’ hahah. Slow evening at home for me, watched SYTYCD and now just doing some paperwork for the trip.
Hi Shiny,
LOL! That’s verbal spew for ya. The weirdest stuff comes out!
When will you be leaving?
that is so amazing. i would freak out a lot worse if i ever met francois nars! loll i’ve just started getting into nars products; i got luster, this GORGEOUS blush a few days ago, and i’m in love. i’ll have to check out that multiple duo compact. thanks so much for sharing <33
Hi Cutie_Pie,
Sure! A few others to check out: Orgasm the Multiple, Amour blush, Dolce Vita lipstick…
Whoa, did you seriously get your book for $26 and change? The girl I talked to on the phone told me it was $40. Anyway, it was all good, I got to say hi to him briefly while I was getting my makeup done. I think I just kept staring like a freak though 😀
Alexzandra´s last blog post..Nars Loves Chicago Too!
Hi Alexzandra,
I saw it for a little less on amazon. I bought it for $40, though.
NARS is soooo cool!
I don’t wear nail polish but I love all the 5 colors.
If I were there, I would’ve bought both the LE sets! And risk getting nagged by Hubby…hahaha!
Vonvon´s last blog post..Bobbi Brown Makeup Workshop With Vonvon
Ga ha ha ha, I’m sure I’d be so starstruck I would be speechless. I’m so incredibly shy and soft-spoken (my speech therapist had to teach me to PROJECT my voice so my teachers could hear me I’m that quiet naturally) and when I’m flustered, my lisp and stuttering problem rears its ugly head on top of turning cranberry red. Not to mention I’d be more shy as there was probably a million people there. I may not be speechless with Francois Nars, as I haven’t checked his book out but if I saw Hugh Laurie in real-life, I’d be utterly speechless. I love Hugh Laurie!
Hunger is my favorite color. The rest disappoint me now that I see your swatches.
How awesome that you got to meet Mr. Nars! I absolutely love his book, wish he would come out with another one already.
Did you by chance get the Nars SF set? I wonder where else he will be traveling to in California. That would be awesome if he did a different set for each city.
I used to love Nars and collect like crazy. Not so much in recent years, but I need to reshop my stash.
Lina´s last blog post..Nars Makeover Event: Sugarland Duo Eyeshadow Duo + Luster Blush
Nice! I like Zizi & Cha cha!
Anne´s last blog post..Wisdom
Hunger is so pretty! I’m going to have to find a less expensive dupe of it because I don’t think ANY nail polish should be worth that much money (especially if it streaks like Tallulah). If you want a good purple creme nail polish try Lael from Zoya, Pretty As A Portrait from FingerPaints, or Can You Dig It? from OPI. All three are actually purple, don’t streak, and are cheaper than Nars.
Tammy´s last blog post..My Weekend Mani
I liked Cha Cha Cha and Hunger for summer and Tallulah for winter, but I already have similar OPI (only $8) shades in my polish collection so I’ll pass.
I don’t know where I’ve been hiding, but I had never heard of Nars’ book until now. I jumped on Amazon to buy it (it’s about $26 on Amazon) but after reading the customer reviews I think I have to take a look at it in person and flip through it. A lot of the one and two star reviews were pretty detailed and I think I might have some of the same concerns.
Oh Karen! He’s so young and handsome,no? I’ve only ever had regional “trainers” do my make up at special nars events and that are normally…ok….oh to meet the nars! I would give him a hug and a tickle under the chin!
Rowena´s last blog post..01.jpg
Hi Rowena,
LOL! He looks very huggable. 🙂 And oh so stylish…
Hunger is amazing! Really cool that you have met Francois!
Hi Wendy,
I like that shade, too. 🙂 It’s going to look so elegant on toes this summer!
I didn’t actually go “swim.” Hows this for cowardly: I dove in, froze, and immediately jumped back out to hope the sun would dry me LOL. And of course, as fate would have it, the wind started blowing so I was even colder.
By the way girl, congrats! I found this this morning. You made Sephora’s blog!
http://blog.sephora.com/2009/06/awesome-tip-alert-keep-cool-when.html
Hi Kim,
Ha! And here I thought lakes were always supposed to be really warm…
Oh, thanks for letting me know about that link. I’ll pop on over and tell Jenny hi. 🙂
Wow – what a cool weekend! I love Nars’ book… reminds me – I should get it out and flip through it again 🙂
Hi Tuprnut,
I flipped through it last night and bookmarked a bunch of looks I want to try. 🙂 I can’t wait!
Hey Karen, I’ll be leaving on July 3rd.
Hi Shiny,
Wow, so your count down is on! Are you a good packer? I am the worst one, ever, and tend to pack everything and the kitchen sink into my luggage. 🙂
WOW, Francois is cuuuuuuute 😀 Is he gay or straight? ROFL!
Hi Redhead,
He’s totally cute. Gotta love a stylish guy in glasses!
Yay! It was so nice to meet you! And it was fun to get to play with the San Francisco colors, even if I didn’t manage to snag a book in time to meet Monsieur Nars. When I called in to see if there was still a possibility to get a book, I had no idea what to call him when I talked to the girl — I was like, “Would it still be possible to get to meet, um. um. Mister Nars?”
So glad you had a fun weekend!
Jeanne´s last blog post..NARS at Nordstrom!
Hi Jeanne,
It was nice to meet you, too!
Are you enjoying your new colors?
Yay Karen! You met “the Man” himself..how cool is that! Hope you had a great time at the event.
How amazing!!! ALl the colors look great (only the purple is not to my taste).. sounds like a great event!
Tali´s last blog post..Tropical Look
Hey!! That’s my Ate Irene! LOL…she told me she met you and to check for her on your website. I should of went but I made plans that I couldn’t back out of=( We love your reading your blog! I know it’s my fav out of allllll the ones out there. Anyway, I had a question. Can you pick up Makeup Your Mind at Nordstrom or is it online only?
I love Copacabana! It’s my favorite highlighter. I always felt like it never got enough love on the internet. Glad that Mr. Nars himself feels the same way I do about it.
i’m still so sad that i missed this event – i would have stood hours in line to meet him if i didn’t have a previous family engagement. i totally would have cried if i actually spoke to him in person hahahahhaha!
OMG! I’d love to meet Monsier Nars!!! Ever since I saw Lisa Marie as an alien girl in Mars Attacks he’s been my hero.
I’m wearing 3 coats of Blue Lagoon at the moment and the intensity of the colour and the the deep glow you only get with multiple layers of semi-sheer pearlescent nail polish is to die for, it’s the most amazing product. Takes hours to dry though.
Hi Karen,
Funny thing… I have the same exact pictures as you do from the event. But mine was takin with my janky a** phone!! Agh, I can’t believe I forgot my camera!! It was so cool to have meet you there along with Janice and Mr. Nars!! That was such an awesome event. Did you get a makeover done by Janice as well? BTW… Happy Birthday!! Enjoy your day!!
Irene
Hi Irene,
It was nice to meet you! 🙂 I didn’t get to stay for a makeover… I had to hustle on out to the baseball game. Did you get a makeover?
I did!! It was kind of by coincidence that Janice Daoud happen to be the one to do it!! She was like gurl, you don’t exfoliate huh? I guess my kiehls micro-dermabrasion ain’t workin!! lol!! So she recommended the brightening serum and hydrating freshening lotion(suppose to be an everyday exfoliator) and a face primer for me!! As for the make-up portion of it… She did a smokey eye using black with a little blue, mmmm… didn’t like. I’m too dark for that look!! lol!!
Hi Irene,
I can see you working the smokey eye with a touch of blue… it looks really dramatic against tan skin. 🙂
You just reminded me — I need to exfoliate, oops!