Zoya Charli

Charli was recently released by Zoya as part of the Focus collection for fall 2015. Officially described as a "dusty taupe cream that has a hint of green," this is an unusual color in a collection of otherwise conventional shades, so naturally it had a magnetic effect on my attention. I haven't done any Zoya purchases of consequence since last fall's Ignite collection and haven't even featured a Zoya here in over six months, so it was about time. I ordered Charli, of course, and three polishes from Flair, sister collection to Focus, and a couple of others. I have to say, it's quite agreeable to see Zoya's squared vase-shaped bottles lined up on my desk. Long time no see, little guys!

But today is about Charli. I'd agree that the color begins with taupe, but not the sort of lightened, grey-oriented taupe we usually see in nail polish. The word taupe derives from the French noun taupe, meaning "mole" (the creature). Originally, the term referred to the average color of a French mole, which was a deep robust mix of brown and grey. Nowadays that color would probably be called dark taupe. That's the kind of taupe we're talking about with Charli, a dark taupe with decidedly green undertones -- no hinting about it! On me, Charli reads as a medium-dark creamy grey-green generously infused with sepia and more or less green-leaning depending upon the circumstances in which it's viewed. Like a dark murky artichoke or eucalyptus with sepia undertones. It's an earthy, organic color but has an interestingly clean, modern and sophisticated look on the nail. Industrial chic? Perhaps.

Application was just dreamy. Bless you, Zoya, for this fantastically formulated creme! The consistency of Charli is fluid, creamy and dense with a perfectly balanced viscosity for painting, a buttery glide over the nail and outstanding self-leveling properties. Pigmentation, also outstanding. We're talking completely even opaque coverage in one coat. I added a second to finesse some of my shapes and quite frankly because I wasn't quite ready to let go of that profoundly satisfied, triumphant kind of feeling you get while working with an incredibly well-made polish. But otherwise one coat will definitely do the job. Cleanup with this polish is easy and straightforward. Charli dries naturally in very good time to a shade that is slightly darker than the bottle color would lead you to expect and a beautiful glossy finish.

Photos show two coats of Charli over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. Apologies for the scruffiness of my nail surrounds, which are in need of a rendezvous with some cuticle remover.

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Zoya Charli

Charli, while unusual and certainly not traditionally feminine, emanates a particularly unfussy kind of graceful feminine confidence. It reminds me of the admirable way a well-tailored suit always hangs so beautifully on the body. The color may be ambiguous but it's not muddy and has a singularly structured feel to it, a well-grounded feel. It doesn't have anything to prove, it is what it is. Very zen.

Having read several reviews that remarked on the military aspect of this color, I made a point of showing it to our resident militaria expert. He studied it for a while and said slowly, "I can see some kind of enameled metal in this color...." Yes! When I showed it to Fuzzy and told her what he'd said, she agreed, saying it reminded her of an enameled watering can, the vintage kind that go for beaucoup bucks for at the tony antiques place. She totally dismissed the point I was trying to make about there being a certain amount of brown in it, pointing instead to her ancient old metal filing cabinet, which is a dark murky green and weighs about five tons. "It's like that!" Hmm. Not really.

Even if I can't articulate very well why, this polish really does work. It's unique and deeply cool. Definitely a keeper. Even -- dare I say? -- a treasure. 

love,
Liz