Essie Go Go Geisha + September Essie Club Collab

We're one step closer to fall and I couldn't be happier about it. Fall is hands down my favorite season---I love crisp air and "sweater weather." I love the fashion and the rich, seasonal colors. Here in Southern California it definitely still feels like summer, but I'm ready to jump right into Pumpkin Spice Lattes and go on a Bath and Body Works candle binge. And if I'm being honest, going to Bath and Body Works during fall and winter might just be my favorite seasonal tradition... Well, you know, after the whole family gathering stuff! But anyway, I welcome the change of season with open arms; now let's get into the nail polish!

Here's a little Fall #nailporn for ya!

I recently bought two of the new fall Essie polishes from the Kimono Over Collection.... Playing Koi, and Go Go Geisha. I picked them up from eBay, where they were both $6.95 each, with free shipping. This is the first time I have purchased something from a current Essie collection. Shocker! I'm usually so cheap (#truth), but something came over me this month. Now, the funny thing is, that when I first saw the collection as a whole I wasn't very excited. The dark colors caught my eye, but I was confused by the lighter shades. And then I started seeing swatches online and I realized that they weren't the pastel hues I thought they were, they were dustier and more muted. And when Laurie from @gopolished mentioned in her Essie Fall 2016 swatch video she thought Go Go Geisha might be a dupe for OPI's Steady As She Rose (which I own and love), I was intrigued and the first thing I did when I received GGG was swatch it next to SASR. Now, stupidly, I posted pictures of the two on my Instagram story but forgot to save them, so I currently don't have any on-the-nail comparisons at the moment, but I will include bottle shots down below. Plus, if you follow me on IG you might have already seen that comparison. 

Go Go Geisha is an opaque dusty pink/lilac/grey toned neutral. Essie describes it as an "antique blossom pink," and in their press release images it looks WAY more pink that it really is (in my opinion). For the swatches below I used two coats, plus the Formula X Shine Xcel top coat. The first coat was a little bit streaky, but it covered completely on two coats. 

Go Go Geisha, from the Fall 2016 Essie Collection

Go Go Geisha

The closest colors in my collection were Steady As She Rose and Topless & Barefoot. Let's start with the OPI. SASR is a tiny bit lighter, and more gray, whereas GGG has a drop more pink to it...

OPI's Steady As She Rose vs. Essie's Go Go Geisha

Topless & Barefoot is more of a creamy beige, and on the nail they are distinctively different. I also swatched T&B when I did the GGG/SASR comparison, so if you saw that on my Instagram story you saw just how different they really are. Near the end of this post you will see a collection of nudes from the September Essie Club Collab, which includes both T&B and GGG, so that will showcase the differences as well. 

Topless & Barefoot (left) vs. Go Go Geisha (right)

L-R: Topless & Barefoot, Go Go Geisha, and Steady As She Rose

I know that Steady As She Rose is not something you can find in stores anymore, so if you have been wanting it and are looking for a comparable shade, definitely consider picking up Go Go Geisha. While they aren't dead-on dupes, they really are quite similar and from afar you would hardly be able to tell the difference. 

And just for reference, because I was curious before I bought it, here is how Go Go Geisha compares to some of the more popular pale pinks...

L-R: Peak Show, Go Go Geisha, Fiji (original), and Romper Room

As you can see, GGG has more of a purpley-gray tone to it, which makes it far more nude/neutral than these traditional baby pinks. So, if you were worried that it would be another pale pink you'd be adding to your collection, it certainly is not. I am so happy I picked this one up, and it has earned a spot in my favorite Essie nudes list, which leads me to the next order of business, the September Essie Club Collab...

For September we decided a cleansing of our palettes was needed as we transition from summer into fall. It's always so much fun doing these collabs with these wonderful ladies that I have come to consider friends, despite the fact that we are all so far away from one another. Participants and shades are below. I hope you guys find these collages helpful as an collection of shades in one space. 

September's #essieclubcollab

TOP ROW:

Topless & Barefoot, @gopolished

Master Plan, @sjs_nails

High Class Affair, @nails.ksjolund

Demure Vix, @essiebuff

CENTER:

Go Go Geisha, @lovefreshpaint (me!)

Spin the Bottle, @chroma_nails

Cocktails & Coconuts, @movemountains  

BOTTOM ROW:

Got Engaged, @essie_envy

Go Go Geisha (mattified), @xglitzandpolishx

Topless & Barefoot (mattified), @essieneutrals  

Sand Tropez, @hjs_nails

So, that's everything for now. I look forward to trying Playing Koi because the swatches I have seen online are just stunning, and if any color screams "fall!" from the new collection it is most definitely that one.

Have you picked up any of the shades from the new collection? Which ones are you most excited about? Until next time, happy polishing! XOXO


PS: I almost forgot to mention my exciting news for the week... a couple of days ago @essiepolish began following me and the rest of the ladies (that they weren't already following) in the Essie Club Collab on Instagram! Talk about making all of our days! : )