OPI Holland Collection - Spring/Summer 2012 and a Guest Model...

When I first heard about OPI's upcoming Spring/Summer collection was going to be inspired by Holland - I got a little excited. It's a little personal because my father spent a good part of his childhood in the Netherlands - by way of Indonesia. He's Dutch-Indonesian and he speaks fondly of his Dutch boyhood. I remember picking up a Dutch phrase book so I could learn some words and perhaps impress him and my Oma (Dutch for Grandmother). He asked, "Why would you do that? You're better off learning Spanish..."

So much for trying to impress my old man. He migrated to San Francisco at the age of eight and became and American citizen not very long ago! I still dream of visiting his native country and meeting relatives that still live there. I'm sure he's gotten over his heartbreak to the Netherlands soccer team losing to Spain - World Cup 2010.

Okay on to the featured polish collection. It's a well rounded collection featuring twelve different shades - from a neutral putty to deep metallic aubergine. I couldn't afford to buy all twelve so I bought four that I really liked, plus my husband would have some words if I walked out with the entire collection. However, I am thinking about picking up another color from this collection.

Here's a quick nail swatch picture - I'm a NC42 for reference:

Colors I chose:

1. Gouda Gouda Two Shoes - it looks like a rose gold in the bottle because of the gold shimmer but on my nails it's a bit like a mauve.

2. I Don't Give a Rotterdam - a cool, grayish slate blue with silver and gold glitter. This went on pretty sheer, I'd probably layer up to four coats of this.

3. Kiss Me on my Tulips - a cool, hot, HOT pink creme. At first I thought this was like Berries in the Canaries from the Spain collection but that is more fuchsia.

4. A Roll in the Hague - Bright Orange - that's all it really is. You love a bright, sunny pedicure for the summer? This is your color. I can't wait to paint my toes with this. I don't know if I can rock this on my nails at the office but maybe with short nails?

I'm really happy with this collection - I love that there is truly a color for everyone. It's screams warm weather - maybe not the darker colors in the collection like Vampsterdam or Wooden Shoe Like to Know but I appreciate the variety it adds to the collection. I actually think constantly of returning back to Ulta to pick that one up.

The colors applied smoothly. I applied three thin layers or you can do two thick, with the exception of I Don't Give a Rotterdam. I get about a good 3-4 days of wear time if I apply my Seche Vite top coat every other day.

Curious to see Kiss Me on my Tulips? Here's my guest model:

My mini cupcake picked out this shade in the store and I couldn't resist!

Now I'm craving Hagelslag Melk toast - something my father taught me how to make as a young girl as an after school treat.

Curious about these colors mentioned or the collection in general? Click here. These were bought by your truly at my local Ulta store. They each retail $8.50/USD.