Adina describes this polish as a "dusky purple with rainbow glimmer and glow." To my eye, it's a medium-dark richly shaded violet with A-England's signature scattered holographic finish. This sort of holo gives the polish a gently speckled look and produces beautiful nuances in the base color that give the polish a gorgeous dimensional look in almost any light. In direct sun, the holo particles light up with rainbow hues in a display that, while not strictly linear, still sparkles with color.
Application was wonderful. The consistency of Lady of the Lake is fluid, creamy and dense with a buttery, self-leveling slip over the nail that is easily manipulated with A-England's round flexible brush. Pigmentation is excellent; with a generously loaded brush and the proper mojo this has the potential to be a one-coater. I used two medium coats for this manicure. Cleanup is a snap. Lady of the Lake dries naturally in good time to a smooth, shiny finish.
Photos show two coats of Lady of the Lake over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.
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So mysterious and elegant!
In Arthurian legend, Lady of the Lake is the titular name of the ruler of Avalon. She plays a pivotal role in many stories, including giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, enchanting Merlin, and raising Lancelot after the death of his father. Of course, I can't think about the Lady of the Lake without recalling the exchange between King Arthur and Dennis the Peasant in Monty Python and the Holy Grail....
King Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. That is why I am your king!
Dennis: Listen. Strange women lying about in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony....
King Arthur: Be quiet!
Dennis: You can't expect to wield supreme power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you....
King Arthur: Shut up!
Dennis: I mean, if I went around saying I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!
King Arthur: [grabs Dennis] Shut up! Will you shut up?!
Dennis: Ah! Now we see the violence inherent in the system!
King Arthur: [shakes Dennis] Shut up!
Dennis: Come see the violence inherent in the system! Help, help, I'm being repressed!
King Arthur: Bloody peasant!
Dennis: Ooh, what a giveaway!
love,
Liz
Hahaha this post was the very best way to start my day. I've never seen the entirety of Monty Python but this ^ is brilliant. Just had to go watch the segment... "Ooh, oh, did you see that? Did you see him repressing me?"
ReplyDeleteI have thought about buying this polish so many times, and when it finally went on sale at Llarowe briefly, I was like, ah, nah. What's wrong with me? This is gorgeous on you!!!
Our family converations inevitably include quotes from Holy Grail -- "help, help, I'm being repressed!" is a favorite as is "bring out your dead!" Such a fabulous, hilarious movie, I love this particular scene with the peasants. "Oooh, Dennis! There's some lovely filth down 'ere!" and "King of the who? Well I didn't vote for you." My sister and I also like to do the "We've decided to have the budgie put down" dialog from And Now for Something Completely Different. "Missus Essence flushed hers down the loo!" "Oooh that's dangerous! For it makes you get huge flocks of soiled budgies flying out of people's lavatories infringing their personal freedom...."
DeleteWell it took me long enough to get Lady of the Lake myself, so I can't chide you too much for not picking it up... but on sale? What is wrong with you, woman? *lol* Just pickin'.
For real, though! I honestly make the worst decisions **ever** when them Llarowe sales go live, and everything is selling out, and the cart clock is ticking... I panic! And neglect to grab A Englands, argghh. The most important thing at that time though was that I managed to snatch a Princess Tears from Color4Nails, which is the A England that I had been dying over for months. Not that I've worn it yet... but it's the soothing presence of its beautiful nearness that counts, right...? I'm glad you're here, Liz, because none of the nuggles would understand that statement but I feel like you will :P
DeleteShopping sales takes the kind of focus that I can't seem to muster, I either have it or I don't and usually I don't. Usually I just end up overwhelmed and not buying anything.
DeleteI love the feeling of having great polishes ahead of me, it's one of the things that keeps this blog going! Kudos to you for snagging Princess Tears, it's one of those A-Englands I've admired for years now but haven't gotten round to purchasing yet -- much like Lady of the Lake was until recently. I'll look forward to drooling over it on Tiny Twinklings!