Today I needed a good shot of courage to steel myself against a barrage of insults I knew was coming. My boss tends to really lay into people after they give a research talk, and I was giving one today in front of some important people. He is very hyper-critical and cannot give constructive criticism let alone positive reinforcement - he told me once that he simply doesn't believe in it! I think he believes in soul-crushing instead. So I chose my polish accordingly and went for a confident, devil-may-care, sexy red - OPI Got the Blues for Red:
Even though no one in the audience was going to be able to see my polish colour from the podium, I felt like it gave me that little boost I needed!
I'm normally not a red wearer - maybe I'm just not enough of a sultry screen-siren from an era gone by, maybe I'm not confident enough, or maybe I just haven't met the right red! I spent quite a bit of time researching and tracking down what I thought might be a good red for me (wow I really am a nerd, eh?) and I think this is it!
Usually I'm far too cool-toned and yellow to carry off warm tones, and most reds I've found seem to be either very dark or too orange-based for me. But this is a lovely blue-based red creme that looks quite bright (well, for me...) outside in direct light - more of a cherry. But inside it looks more deep and burgundy. Application was a total dream (Dear ProWide brush, one day I shall write you a sonnet.) and negated the need for clean-up! (Yay! Hate clean-up!) I also only did two thin coats, so this was great because I was in a bit of a rush!
I'm feeling pretty relieved that my moments in the line of fire is over and tonight I'm going out on the town with my friends to paint the town red - and I've already got the nails to match! ;)
I feel a bit like the Lion in the Wizard of Oz - the nail polish wizard granted me some courage today. In fact I think it helped so much that I'm going to wear this to my upcoming thesis proposal defense! Bring it on flying monkeys of science, I'm ready!
kittytokaren
P.S. Chopped off my nails - they are nubbin-ized now! What do you think???
P.P.S. My talk went really well. :)
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23 comments:
this looks awesome on you! you should wear more reds! i am the same way though, don't wear reds too often. glad your talk went well!
I think you've found your red! Glad your talk went well! Sorry you have a mean boss. Sounds like you've found the perfect ways top deflect his ugliness! Constructive criticism is an essential part of life, insults are not.
Mean bosses suck! Your nails look fabulous...
kolourmekrazy.blogspot.com
Kitty your nails look amazing in that polish!
I am so glad that your talk went well, a little bit of courage and a nice red always helps =P
@jbrobeck - Hi MUA friend (i'm kittyje11 on MUA)! I'm thinking of wearing reds more often because of this!
@April&Ashley - Thanks for the sympathy! :( Nail colour helps but i need nerves of steel to endure him. Constructive criticism I can totally take, insults are much harder.
@lovemy3 - thank you! and they do. checking out your blog...
@Claudia - hey friend!!! thanks!! I did need the extra courage. Wasn't even nervous for the talk, just the reaming afterwards :(
<3 kittyotkaren
That is a beautiful red on you. I sympathize with your inability to find a 'good' red. I've got one "true" red that I think looks incredible. Every other red I've owned looks too...garish? (or trampy... or something else is wrong with it).
That red looks great on you!
I really like this red on you!
Shame on your boss, really frustrating that some people don't get the idea of positive reinforcement - in the end the would benefit from it, too.
Like the chopped nails - good lenght for such a color!
I love the length and shape of your nails. I think shorter nails look much prettier and attractive, apparently contrary to the majority of nail bloggers. Maybe they grow their nails extremely long to have a bigger canvas to work on but really with some types of nails and shapes it just looks awkward to me.
ahhh insomnia...
@mKat - Thanks! And yeah I think you hit on it - most reds look garish and like I found mommy's makeup and played in it...they just look...off. I'm convinced now that that was because of the orange content. I need something really blue to be able to pull it off!
@gildedangel - Thank you friend!
@PolishedSheep - Thanks....yeah he's a jerk. He doesn't realize that we'd all work much better if every once in a while he said "good job". And yeah I find that there are some lengths of nail that work better with certain colours and red is one I like better on nubbins!
@ozlem - Aw thanks :) I don't know how some bloggers do it and still function! I can't really do my job with nails any longer than how I had them in my post about Naked Nails. Not just my job but I can't even do normal life things like type, go to the supermarket, peel a banana with nails longer than that! I think mega long nails look awkward on me anyways like you said :)
<3kittytokaren
Good that you nailed that talk! I know the feeling a good manicure and color can do, it's not nerd at all. :)
And bold reds do look greater on shorter nails in my opinion, anyway.
Love the colour. Love your nails. Shorter nails are so much smarter and "younger".
Rotten boss. Stupid too to hold such views.
@laquermanic - I'm glad I'm not a nerd and not alone! And thanks :) I think long red nails might overwhelm me
@jaljen - Thanks!!
<3 kittytokaren
I feel your pain. I have a hyper-critcal boss too. I think she reckons she's just being realistic but it comes across so negativelyv all the time! Still, you showed your boss today! That is a beautiful nail colour.
I love the short nails :)
Wow that's a really nice colour. (And well personally I like short nails better so... Your "nubbin" nails look gorgeous. ^^)
'sigh' seeing a nice red that looks good on somebody's fingers makes me jealous... I want a good red too! (Still searching...) >.<
@Rebecca - its upsetting that these people have so much power over us! I just need to take the small victories and focus on those. Easier said than done! I'm sorry your boss has the same philosophy....
@Cailley - Trust me it took me a long time to find a red that worked for me. Whats your skintone??
<3 kittytokaren
I love the nubbins! I think deep reds on long nails are a little Cruella DeVille, but on short nails they're chic and gorgeous. I have my own thesis proposal defense coming up, and I'm more of a warm-toned girl, so maybe a little of Essie's Really Red will get me through it?
@Grace - *waves* hi there!! I'm so dreading my proposal defense :( Its going to be terrifying. My own fault for picking the brainiest committee members around. Whats your field?? I saw Essie Really Red the other day and it looked beautiful but too warm for me - probably *perfect* for you!
<3 kittytokaren
Ooo that red looks really great on you. Get confident! =)
And thanks for the comment. I'm SUPER happy you like Brandie Alexander!! I was afraid you wouldn't because of the shimmer, but I agree that it is more of a pedicure color than mani. Hurray!!! Hope you're doing well. I'm trying out Essie Millionails right now so hopefully my nails won't be nubbins for too much longer!
~Kelsea
Aw that's too bad that you don't get to see your man on v-day =(
But hey that means you can eat ice cream and watch sappy movies all day!!! =D haha.
=(
I'm lactose intolerant so I kinda know how you feel.
And good call on pretending it's a normal day. Best of luck, let me know how it goes!!
~Kelsea
That's a gorgeous red on you and your nubbins still look fabulous.
Thanks Josefin!
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