Where Is Texas in OPI's Texas Collection? Swatches and a Complaint

I'm a die-hard Texan.  I was born here, I live here, and I will most definitely die here.  Just hopefully not any time soon.  Or actually preferably not at all.  So needless to say, I had high expectations for the OPI's Texas-inspired nail polish collection. Being the overly-dramatic Texan I am who takes offense to any perceived slight to my beloved home, I was outraged at the seeming lack of thought or research that went into picking the color palette.  I immediately saddled up my horse (we all own one ya know; it's a requirement to live here) and began the trek to OPI headquarters to express my outrage.  Okay not really, I just experienced mild distaste and decided I didn't need any of the colors.  Plus, I don't know anyone who even owns a horse.

Anyway, the color palette does not evoke Texas to me at all. And while the fruity-colored "sorbets" are pretty, I would like to know exactly what about Texas inspired them?  And while we're on the topic... c'mon, sorbets?  Really?  We all know they're jellies.  Stop pretending that you invented some groundbreaking new finish. Honestly to me it feels like they picked the theme AFTER they had picked the colors.

So I was grocery shopping a few weeks ago and came across a display with these on clearance (I guess all my fellow Texans were offended also.  Either that or no one expected to find OPI at the grocery store).  I bought Austin-tatious Turquoise because Austin is my hometown, where my family lives, and where I long to be. *dramatic sigh* I know the color is sheer and not-so-great from what I have seen on other blogs, but I had to have it for the name.  And how could you not love a city who's motto is, "Keep Austin weird."  I picked up a few of the sorbets (JELLIES!) because they looked pretty in the bottle and one other because it had a really pretty pink shimmer that does not show up at all in pictures.

These are swatched with no base or top coat.

OPI Austin-tatious Turquoise in the sun

 This was 5 coats and you can still see some VNL.  To be honest U was expecting this one to be a lot worse.  What disappointed me the most is that the cool purpley-pink shimmer you can see in the corner of the bottle does not show up on the nail. :(

OPI Austin-tatious Turquoise in the shade

OPI It's Totally Fort Worth It in the sun

This was 5 coats.  Okay, this one looks sort of boring and gross- a frosty, brushstrokey mess.  But in real life it has this really pretty pink shimmer/flash thing that sort of redeems it.  I don't know why it's so camera shy.  So is this one "Totally Fort Worth It"?  Probably not.

OPI It's Totally Fort Worth It in the shade

OPI Y'all Come Back Ya Here in the sun

For all the sorbets I used 1 coat of a nude polish on my index finger to hide VNL.  This was 3 coats on my index finger and 4 on the other fingers.  I'm not sure you would ever be able to get rid of VNL without an opaque base.

OPI Y'all Come Back Ya Here in the shade

OPI Guy Meets Gal-veston in the sun

This was 2 coats on my index finger over the nude base and 3 coats on my other fingers.

OPI Guy Meets Gal-veston in the shade

OPI Houston We Have A Purple in the sun

This was 2 coats on my index finger over the nude base and 3 coats on my other fingers.

OPI Houston We Have A Purple in the shade

 Available:

• This is a limited edition collection but may still be available at some places.  Check OPI's website for a location near you that sells it.
• This collection is still available on Transdesign and they sell for $5.75 each.

Oh, and just because I'm homesick, here are a few pictures of some of my favorite places/things in and around Austin.

Krause Springs

Image credit sonfotografias on flickr

 Austin skyline at night reflecting off the lake

image credit Michael Connell on flickr

Texas Longhorns

This is my momma before a Longhorn football game.  Shh, don't tell her I put a picture of her here.

Hamilton Pool

image credit Knowsphotos on flickr

This is one the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  Apparently it's a collapsed underground river or something.  They even let you swim here sometimes.

There are so many other places I love but this is getting a bit long. :)


Thank you for reading and have a great day/night/whatever!