Thursday, July 23, 2015

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Rebecca Always Rebecca was released by indie polish maker Literary Lacquers as part of the Rebecca Collection in October 2014. This collection comprises a trio of polishes inspired by the 1938 novel Rebecca by English author and playwright Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning (1907-1989).  I recently purchased all three of these polishes and will feature the other two over the next couple of days.

Amy describes Rebecca Always Rebecca as an "eggplant linear holo with holographic sparkle." The color is complex and plush, a medium-dark aubergine that is heathered and nuanced by the holo pigment into shifting hues of murky violet, cloudy blue and reddish brown, and veiled by a twinkling net of tiny square holographic microglitters that throw out pinpoint sparks in rainbow colors. The ratio of these microglitters to the base is Goldilocks perfect, they neither overwhelm nor interrupt. The effect reminds me of cut crystal in candlelight -- it generates feelings of formal splendor and exquisite preparation. Direct sun produces a beautiful linear holographic display with a central flare of sapphire blue trimmed with bands of twinkling prismatic colors, the whole floating over semi-metallic flashes of silvery brownish purple. Around the flare, the polish deepens to a delicious murky violet-brown. The juxtaposition of the misty blue flame with the deep purpled brown is quite striking. Debbie of The Crumpet poetically calls it "every shade of twilight," which is perfect for the hushed, somewhat somber sensibilities of this polish.

Application was lovely. The consistency of Rebecca Always Rebecca is fluid, smooth and dense, with a velvety glide over the nail and outstanding self-leveling properties. The microglitters apply so easily you hardly notice them, and lay flat to the nail without tumbling or protrusions. This polish is composed with Amy's signature translucence; the first coat is somewhat sheer but builds surprisingly quickly to wearably opaque coverage in two coats. I added a third to bring more definition to some of my edges, and was rewarded with a slightly richer, more luxurious look.  I would recommend three coats to maximize the tapestried beauty of this polish. Cleanup was easy and straightforward -- even the microglitters swept up with ease. Rebecca Always Rebecca dries naturally in very good time to a smooth shiny finish. Topcoat does not diminish the holographic effects in any way. 

Photos show three coats of Rebecca Always Rebecca over Pretty Serious Rock On treatment and Pretty Serious All Your Base basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.


Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

Literary Lacquers Rebecca, Always Rebecca

I don't feel that I captured the true depth of the aubergine base color in these pics. For a better idea of this polish's purple soul, check out the photos in reviews from The Crumpet and The Beauty of Nail Polish.

I love how the holographic microglitters create beautiful, sparkling constellations over the bruised, dusky colors in this polish. It reminds me of being in a planetarium and produces a similar sense of awe, if on a smaller scale. The coloring of Rebecca Always Rebecca is similar to that of one of Amy's older polishes,  If It Pleases You, but the addition of the microglitters creates a completely different kind of look. 

From what I understand, because I haven't read it, Du Maurier's novel is a moody, resonant, suspenseful story about how a new bride's marriage and life are overwhelmed by an obsession with the previous wife, Rebecca, who has been dead for less than a year. This polish strikes me as a perfect embodiment of this sort of tale. I really want to read that book!

love,
Liz

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