Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in African Violet ($32)
Purple eyeshadows; purple liners; purple lipsticks; flowers; candy; sweaters; one-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eaters! PURPLE EVERYTHING!
And purple paw polish, too. 
Of the millions (well, hundreds) of promising purple paw polishes in the universe, the one that electrifies me like a Tesla coil from the tips of my ears down to the tips of my toes has to be Tom Ford’s bright creamy Nail Lacquer in African Violet.
Purse by Reed Krakoff; bracelet by Na Hoku
It borrows its name from one of Mother Nature’s most perfect purple creations, in my opinion, the Saintpaulia ionantha plant, or African violet, which, coincidentally, happens to be cat-friendly, according to the good folks over at VCA Animal Hospitals.
Speaking of cats (’cause we alway circle back to the kittehs around here), this particular African Violet has never elicited any complaints from my favorite fashionable feline.
Ring by Wings Hawaii; bracelet and earrings from Nordstrom
In fact, if Tabs had his way, I’d be required to wear this shade 24/7, because he thinks it looks stunning with the grays and peachy beige in his tabby coat.
The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite permanent collection products from a variety of bodacious beauty brands.
Coincidentally, those are shades I happen to wear a lot (hey, they hide the cat fur!), and if I plan to wear a gray dress or carry a purse with either gray or neutral colors in it, like this beige, peach and dove gray purse by Reed Krakoff, I’ll paint my fingertips with African Violet for an eye-catching pop of color.
Silver Midi Rings by Kristin Perry
I also think that African Violet complements silver and gold jewelry very well, so no matter what shiny baubles I happen to be wearing, it never, ever clashes.
Not only does it look fab with just about everything, it’s also one of the smoothest, creamiest, most intensely pigmented polishes I’ve seen in Tom’s line.
I usually apply two coats, although I could probably get away with one, and when I wear it with a base and top coat, it lasts at least seven full days before I start to see the first tiny chips at the tips.
I think if I were better about reapplying a top coat during the week I could probably get 12-14 days out of it, and I should also say that because of how much typing I do, I wreak SERIOUS havoc on my claws.
Eye-catching with just enough of an edge to keep things interesting, African Violet rocks.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Unsung Makeup Heroes: Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Viper 
Laura Mercier’s Lustre Eye Colour in African Violet 
Unsung Makeup Heroes: Chanel 505 Particuliere Le Vernis Nail Colour 
Covergirl’s Hunger Games Collection Lipslicks Smoochies Sizzle Gloss in Violet Flare Should Satisfy Your Appetite for Smoochies 
That is a beautiful purple!! Love the earrings too!
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love the shade and it look stunning on shirt nails it is so shiny and chic, btw love all your accessories and mostly the silver rings, where are they from? they are also so stunning
Stunning shade! It falls right in line with the Radiant Orchid trend. I’m going to have to find a dupe, Tom Ford ain’t in the budget right now.
Happy Monday, Karen!!
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Sounds absolutely perfect! Have you tried Illamasqua nail varnishes Karen? You should check out Stance – same color family but different shade. I love it!
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Ughh. Gorgeous color! Looks great with your gold accessories
My first tom ford nail polish and I love it!. Get so many compliments whenever I wear it. Looks great on you Karen!
Oh my, I need this polish! Absolutely gorgeous photos and I love your accessories.
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That’s a nice shade! Why oh why, must you be so expensive Tom Ford!
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Do you happen to know if L’Oreal’s Violet Vixen is at all similar to this? (Or of any cheaper dupes for this?) I love the color of the TF but it’s just way too expensive for me!
I just test drove African Violet and it matched pretty closely with Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Cherry Cherry Bang Bang. This color is no longer available in stores but you might be able to pick it up on the cheap on amazon or ebay. It is a pretty dead on match. African Violet is a tad sheerer, so the Sally hansen is actually easier to work with, more pigmented, easy to get looking good in 2 coats, whereas the TF takes a little more patience and effort. Hope that helps.
Stunning color – just the perfect orchid that I’ve been looking for :o) Xx
Makeup by Candlelight
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Sounds great!
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Karen, if you chose one more Tom Ford polish for your Unsung Heroes I will be forced to send my credit card bill directly to you! I am still thinking about Viper every day and may have to dash to my nearest mall to pick it up! And I might get this one while I’m there! :p
Love the color, hate the price. I used to save and wait for coupons or F&F codes to buy high end but now even the mediocre stuff is expensive. Tom Ford, YSL, and a few others are just ridiculous.
I’m sorry but can someone explain what makes this worth $32? I get a full week out of OPI and Essie so…??? (And, I think they are over priced.)
Hmmm, I think I’m in a bit of a snit today. LOL
Sorry if I am a wet blanket, I really do love the color!
I agree about the overprice. Tom Fords that I have tried are hit and miss. Some are worth the splurge. Some are just a fancy name and bottle. Sometimes you can find TF polish at the Cosmetics Company Outlet stores for a discounted price. But a discount of $8, it’s still a splurge polish. this is why I only have one Tom Ford polish in my stash.
Pretty! Gotta love purple, it’s totally the best colour
I love that Nordstrom bracelet, too!
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p.s. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE african violets. My mom used to grow them and now I’ve started. I even get them to re-bloom. YEA!
that is gorgeous. opi has a color called ‘dim sump plum’, it’s similar although a teeny bit lighter and more pink, i think (not having the tom ford myself).
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That color purple is so gorgeous. its a day to night color <3
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soo pretty…I love the purple shade
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LOVE that colour!!! And your accessories are gorgeous too!! Especially that ring!!