Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London calls Pillar Box Red a "classic red-orange creme." There is a drop or two of blood orange in this well-pigmented medium-toned vermilion lacquer, about enough to safely call it a fine tomato red. What I really wanted to know about this color was, it is really the color of the columnar UK letter boxes, aka pillar boxes? 

source

Judging from the results of a google image search, I'm inclined to say yes. Pillar Box Red does indeed have a certain visual conspicuity, an easily recognized boldness that one might associate with painted landmarks and signage. It's kind of like the school bus yellow of reds, or the traffic cone orange of reds. Highly functional, almost administrative, but also archetypal and dynamic. This is a red that communicates, and what it says is "I am RED," with all the associated images, concepts and cultural references efficiently packaged in a sleek glossy creme. No moodiness or sensationalism here, just fresh bright color.

Application of Pillar Box Red was great. It has a light and liquid consistency,  enough so that if you're prone to the occasional flourish while applying, as I now realize that I am, you might want to pay close attention to your brush wielding because the feel is a tad slippery. You know what I mean, right? It also seems to be slightly prone to bubbling with thick coats, but the consistency makes it easy to apply thin ones. Pigmentation is awesome -- this polish could easily be a one coater. Pillar Box Red dries in good time to a glossy finish. 

Photos show two coats of Pillar Box Red over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. One comment about the light in these photos. It's the low angled golden light of a midafternoon in late fall and it adds a certain amount of romantic translucence to the color that doesn't really belong to it. Not that this polish lacks luminosity, but it is a little bit flatter, creamier and denser (if you will) in person than what you see here. At least, I think so.

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

Butter London Pillar Box Red

This is a great "getting things done" red polish and the application is wonderful so I'm glad to have it in my stash. Personally I tend to prefer cooler blue-based reds, I feel they are more forgiving of my pinkage. Pillar Box Red feels a little, just a little, too sleek and rapid and efficient for me. I do think it's a fantastic red for a pedicure though. Not on my piggies, they don't like being painted. But perhaps on my sister's... Kate, are you paying attention?

Speaking of pedicures, Eleanor do you ever paint your toe nails? Inquiring minds want to know!

love,
Aunt Liz