KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

Open Toad Shoes was just released by Indiana-based indie polish maker KBShimmer as part of the Fall 2015 collection this week. My order, placed shortly after midnight on 15 September, launch day, arrived at my door in North Carolina yesterday, 17 September. Whoosh!

Of the twelve polishes in this new collection, Open Toad Shoes is the one I've been most curious about. Based on the color Dried Herb from Pantone's Fall 2015 Fashion Color Report, it's got a pale laurel green creme/jelly hybrid base sprinkled with holographic flecks and sporting an eclectic mix of variously-sized metallic hex glitters in navy, burgundy and chartreuse. The color is actually softer, subtler and, I think, much more appealing than Dried Herb, with a gentle organic presence that is wonderfully complemented by the colorful speckling of the glitter mix. Open Toad Shoes is one of creator Christy's most inventive glitter crellies yet. She is a master of the genre, and this one, with its unconventional combination of earthiness, lighthearted pops of color and tiny sparkly holo bits, has a whimsical appeal that I find irresistible. 

Application was a pleasure. The consistency of Open Toad Shoes is fluid, light and smooth with an easy, self-leveling flow over the nail. Component payoff is Goldilocks wonderful, not too many, not too few, just the right amount of glitters per brush dip dispersing easily and randomly over the nail without tumbling, stacking, stickups or protrusions over the free edge. Pigmentation is very good -- some sheerness on the first coat builds quickly to wearably opaque coverage in two, and I added an additional coat for a bit more glitter. Be sure to wrap those tips -- I ended up with a bit of sheerness there, perhaps the result of tip pull from too much topcoat. Cleanup presents no unusual issues if done as you go along, before any stray glitters have the opportunity to adhere to skin or cuticle. Open Toad Shoes dries naturally in very good time to a surprisingly smooth, shiny finish with minimal texture from the components. I applied two different topcoats in a less-than-successful effort to get a glassy finish, which the polish really doesn't need. Next time, I'll only use a single layer of topcoat and embrace whatever texture remains.

Photos show three coats of Open Toad Shoes over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite followed by a topcoat of Pretty Serious Crystal Coat. 
 

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

KBShimmer Open Toad Shoes

This sweet polish really does remind me of an herb garden in bloom. The soft sagey green of the base dotted with blossom-like colors is so pleasing and restful to the eye, just like looking at a real herb garden. 

My pinkage isn't the best platform for showing off Open Toad Shoes, which I think has a more robust appearance against richer coloring, but I love it anyway. Of the photos I've seen online, my favorites are those from Addicted to Polish, KellieGonzo and Amanda Loves Polish. Check them out to see this polish at it's best!

love,
Liz