Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Hong Kong-based indie polish maker Too Fancy Lacquer is a brand I've admired from afar for some time and now I finally have one of Too Fancy's offerings for my own. I came across Smoke and Ambers in a post on Love Varnish, and Deborah's lovely swatches caused my exaggerated covet response to go into high gear. As quick as you can say "add to cart," I was finishing up my purchase from Llarowe. 

Smoke and Ambers is a handsome blackened coppery brown linear holographic polish with strong undertones of violet, magenta highlights and abundant scintillating golden bronze fleck shimmers that twinkle with sparks of peach, red and magenta through the base. It's an complex, smoky color with a bit of a chameleon quality, shifting from a coppery chestnut look in some circumstances to a murky violet-tinted deep taupe in others to a glowing russet in still others. It's hard to pin this one down, and that may be the key to its intrigue. In direct sun the linear holo display is subtle but distinct, with an ethereal flame of violet edged by sparkles of green, blue and red floating over a rich semi-metallic sheen of golden brown.

Application was transporting. Holy cow, what a great formula! The consistency is fluid, smooth and perfectly balanced, with a velvety glide over the nail and outstanding self-leveling properties. Pigmentation is also outstanding with wearable opacity in one easy coat. I used two for this manicure, the second mostly to finesse some lines that were left wanting after the first, but it really wasn't necessary in terms of coverage. Cleanup was easy and straightforward, with only a few sticky shimmery bits. Smoke and Ambers dries naturally in good time to a smooth finish. Topcoat plays up the violet and magenta tones and highlights the sparkle. 

Photos show two coats of Smoke and Ambers over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. I try very hard to capture the subtleties of polishes that I feature, but in this case I don't think that my photos do this lacquer proper justice.

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Too Fancy Lacquer Smoke and Ambers

Unusual and unexpectedly feminine on the nail, Smoke and Ambers is beautifully composed. It has a kind of structural grace to it, like a finely-made hand-polished cherry wood table, that gives it a sleek, streamlined vibe. You can't help but admire it, even if if the color is outside of your aesthetic. Complex browns are definitely within my purview and I think this one is simply splendid. It may be a little out of place for the current season, but can't you just see it working beautifully for fall and winter?

Smoke and Ambers appears to be gone from Llarowe, but there are plenty of other Too Fancy Lacquer creations available. I believe that reasonable international shipping is available directly from the maker as well. If this sort of creativity and quality is representative of the brand, and I have every reason to believe that it is, I highly recommend seeking out other Too Fancy offerings. And if you come across Smoke and Ambers in a blog or destash sale, grab it for your fall and winter polish wardrobe!

love,
Liz