It’s time to jump back into our metaphorical DeLorean and visit the past with my Squarehue subscription. Each month takes us back to a different decade and today we’re visiting a time period near and dear to my heart. The 1990s were that precious decade where I graduated high school, spent hours waiting to connect to the internet and sported all kinds of flannel. Back then, my life revolved around music: I went to Woodstock 99, interned at Columbia Records and studied music in the dungeon of a castle, high up on a hill.
This one to be exact:
(And as a shout out to my old alma mater – They just made the list of top 25 music school by Hollywood Reporter. It’s amazing how that fact suddenly makes me feel oh so more talented that I did before.)
In a different castle like building, in 1998, I took an undergrad writing workshop with George Saunders where I wrote a short story that ultimately became my grad school thesis and will now be my novel, “The Ice Maiden’s Tale”, set for publication in 2016. So needless to say, the 90s were a huge time in my life (and not just because of my undying love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), so this collection carries a lot of emotional weight. It needs to live up to my fond (and occasionally hazy) recollections of my lost adolescence and young adulthood. That’s a lot for a small box of polish to pull off. Let’s see how it does.
1990s BOX
Vogue 1990 (High Gloss Shimmer)
Description: Vamp Red Shimmer
Verdict: Vintage Madonna
The only thing better than 80s Madonna is 90s Madonna. And if there wasn’t a dark red polish in this box, you would have seen me go all Hulk Smash, except with letters and words, so maybe not Hulk Smash but like Hulk Blogging. Is that a thing? Can I make it a thing? In any case this shade is a perfect fit for the decade and the title is a perfect nod to the pop culture at the time.
Desert Storm 1991 (High Gloss Créme)
Description: Khaki High Gloss Créme
Verdict: Like the Gap, but not when they had those cool swing dance ads
Maybe it’s because we’re almost through our trip through the century, but am I the only one that wants a little less war in my polish? In any case, khakis were big in the 90s so this shade works in that regard as well as its obvious military connection. I’m sure I can have some fun layering interesting topcoats over it.
Y2K (High Gloss Shimmer)
Description: Gunmetal High Gloss Shimmer
Verdict: I’m gonna party like it’s 1999..
Oh remember this, when everyone thought the world was going to end and computers were going to explode or make everyone’s electronic records say they were 200 years old, or maybe ATMS would just turn into robots or something. Y2K was awesome in its anticlimacticness and a perfect reference for this box. This polish is pretty and edgy but I feel like we’ve seen a lot of silver and gray shades in the previous collections. Maybe instead of shimmer, a microglitter or a different finish? In any case it’s a cool shade and I’m sure I’ll use it.
OVERALL
Verdict: If the apocalypse comes, beep me.
Overall I think this box did a pretty good job, even if it can’t capture the joy of my first college apartment where I learned that cherry Koolaid slushy mix can magically make the cheapest, strongest alcohol taste like a popsicle or the time we snuck alcohol into music theory class at 9:30 in the morning. (No, we weren’t alcoholics, just musicians…wait, I can see your confusion, but no worries now I can’t drink a glass of sangria without getting sleepy.) In any case, I will use all 3 colors from this box, so definitely a good deal for the $19.99 I paid.
So where were you in the 1990s? What polish would you expect to see in a 1990s collection?
SQUAREHUE NEWS!
SquareHue has introduced a new subscription option called Box. No. 2. For 10.99 a month (per shipping) you can opt for a 2 polish box (instead of the regular 3). The regular 3 polish sub is now Box No. 3.
THE BACKSTORY
SquareHue is a monthly nail polish subscription box. SquareHue delivers a unique, curated collection of premium nail polish colors to its style aware members.
Cost:
Box No. 3: $14.99 plus shipping for 3 polishes.
New Option! Box No. 2: $10.99 plus shipping for 2 polishes.
(Shipping is $5 for US destinations and $9 for Canada.)
Polishes are:
“5-Free” Clean formula – Do not contain Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP, Camphor or Formaldehyde Resin
Not tested on animals
Proudly Made in the USA
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Lisa Preziosi 