Vampy Varnish Fav’s Featuring: Taupe
Taupe (aka mushroom) is probably in the top three of my favorite nail polish colors (behind olive green and dark vampy colors). Something about how unusual it looks draws me in every time. I have never met a taupe that didn’t look good on my skin tone.
Today’s post is an ode to taupe, and I have featured my top ten favorite ones. Most are cremes, but I do have a few shimmers in there as well.
All of these have been reviewed before on my site, so these aren’t full reviews.
So without further adieu, here they are in no particular order.
BB Couture Cowboy
Cowboy is simply amazing. What I love the most about this one is that it’s a dark taupe and it has a very subtle silver shimmer. This might be in my top 3 fav taupes.
OPI You Don’t Know Jacques
Obviously this picture is old, blurry, and horrible, but the color is still tops. I must remember to get a back up bottle or two of this one, I love it *that* much! This would be in my top 2 fav taupes.
Orly Prince Charming
Nice, more in the brown side, but I still consider it a taupe.
Color Club High Society
Mmmm another one of my favs, I love this! This is like a grey/putty colored taupe.
Barielle Putt-E-On-Me
Another great one, despite the silly name.
Sephora By OPI Metro Chic
Another horrible, old pic, but amazing color. This color is what started my fascination with taupe. I need to re-take this badly because I am destroying all that is beautiful about this polish with a grainy photo. 
Cheeky Monkey Hangover
Hangover took me by surprise actually. I thought it was going to be more of a sheer nude, but it’s a fabulous shimmery taupe, and the shimmer has silver, green and pink. Love it.
OPI Over The Taupe
Another one, leaning more towards brown.
Chanel Particuliere
I don’t love this color as much as a lot of the other taupes on this list, but still felt it was top 10 worthy.
American Apparel Mouse
Mouse is a very grey/concrete taupe, which I adore, and don’t have anything else like it.
Which of these are your favs? Which ones would you have put on your list?
-VV
Welcome! My name is Kelly and Vampy Varnish is a cruelty-free beauty blog.
Ahh, Metro Chic…love, love, love!!!
Hi Courtney,
I know it’s just so great. I think I need back-up’s of that one also!
I would definitely put Rimmel Last Finish Pro in Steel Grey on my list. I’m also looking forward to getting my paws on China Glaze Ingrid. I’m not sure how taupe-y that one is but it looks so good! Definitely a worthy ode to taupe!
Hi Nicole,
Steel Grey was in the running, but didn’t make the cut for me.
Do you consider Barielle Belly Dance a taupe? I like that one a lot too. Do you have any interest in doing a top ten “nudes” list? I used to be in love with the vampies too, but nudes are my favorites now!
Hi gena in ca,
Yeah it’s a taupe/nude. To be honest I am not really a fan of nude polishes, so that might be one of the last “Top 10″ lists I do. But I will do one!
Ok, Cheeky Monkey’s Hangover really reminds me of my all time fave polish by Chanel – Brown Sugar. It needs to have a bit more shimmer, but the base is right.
Now I’m going to have to get that.
Carinae L’etoile´s last post…Barielle – Lava Rock
Hi Carinae L’etoile,
I don’t have Brown Sugar, don’t think I have ever seen it actually. But I love browns!
You know, it’s funny, I really like the color taupe, but only have one taupe polish – China Glaze Channelesque. I’ll have to look into picking a few of these up! I especially love High Society, and Cowboy looks stunning.
Hi Amber,
Oh yeah Cowboy is awesome, you need more taupe in your life
You should check out Moonstruck by Confetti ($1.99 at CVS). It may lean a little more to the purple side, but I think it definitely falls in the taupe/mushroom category. I’m wearing it right now, and for $2 the application was really nice.
i agree with this comment. i bought it two weeks ago and have been wearing it non stop ever since.
Hi alicia,
Which one are you referring to?
Hi Laura,
I will have to check that out, thanks!
I love taupe! It is amazing that none of these look too similar. I have a few, but now I am lemming more. Cowboy is pretty, and will be on my next BB order. Thanks for the swatches!
Hi Melli,
I know you would think a couple would be identical, but nope. You will love Cowboy
I have the both OPI, they are nice!
Emma´s last post…MAC Strobe Cream
I wore OPI Los Angeles Latte for my wedding in 1999- my mom could not believe I was wearing “brown” nail polish, but I loved it. That color has a special place in my heart!
Sasha´s last post…Vitatops
I really need to get some BB Coutures! Cowboy is on my list!
Karin´s last post…Another Awesome and Cute Find
I love taupe/ mushroom shades as well! Right now, I’m wearing Vintage Grey from Petites which is sort of a grey, lavendar & taupe shade. Sort of like CC’s High Society but a bit lighter.
i has been trying to ignore cowboy but oops theres goes another BB onto my lemming list – thanks your swatches make it look sooooo pretty
I love and want all of these now!
Zara´s last post…Rimmel Rapid Ruby Nailene Bedazzle Stickers
Definitely – essie Chinchilly!
Taupe, how I love thee! Great selection. I especially love the taupes with the subtle shimmer (Cheeky Monkey & BB Couture). Add ‘em to my “wish list.”
p.s. Love the gallery view on this one. It really helps to highlight the subtle differences in these polishes.
I love taupes as well! My favorite is Chanel Particulière.
Solveig´s last post…Nail Art Of The Day- Sponge & Sparkle
Oh it is so cruel living Down Under, that Cheeky Monkey polish amazing! I will dedicate myself to getting that into my hands somehow!
i have ingrid and prince charming-those work with my skintone. i like them all on you very pretty
1. LOVE the new VV! I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve been able to check out my blogs (stupid reality called) but love the new updates!
2. I love taupe/mushroom and this post!
That’s all….carry on
Ack! I LOVE (and want) every single one of these! Your blog is so bad for my bank account =)
Great post!! I love taupe shades, I only have a couple of those though, I want them all now!
Susy´s last post…Milani Cyberspace
Love it. Taupe is is my favorite kind of polish. I want them all
lacquerholic´s last post…Zoya Wonderful Collection Swatches and Review
Ooooh I was really hoping I would see Essie’s Mink Muffs on your list! It’s one of my favorite taupes! I’m so happy to see Particuliere and Over The Taupe on there though.
Excellent choices! This post made me happy.
My favorite taupe right now is Butter LONDON All Hail McQueen. Taupe holo? I’ve found my soul mate.
I bought it for the McQueen reference, but it’s gorgeous.
I like Essie Chinchilly! It is a tad grey, but still in the taupe family for me! I am really liking that American Appareal one! So pretty (again on the grey side).
Love those taupes! Who can resist them? My favorite is You Don’t Know Jacque. I’m so glad I already have Cowboy. I haven’t worn it yet. Great post I have a few of your faves.
Finally! An ode to taupes. Yes! I love High Society. But I also love Who Are You Wearing, which I put in the same category, a nude/light taupe. Both very unique and interesting colors. I just bought Over the Taupe, and I mostly just love the name. I agree that their uniqueness makes them amazing colors along with their ability to look good on any skintone.
Danica´s last post…Blue Shimmer Franken
I just love all of these and have spent a small fortune overnight buying most of them – the Cheeky Monkey polishes, it seem will be a bit harder. Are they a well known brand in the US? At $15, that’s quite expensive for the States, isn’t it?
Hi Louise,
I don’t think they are very well known here actually. And $15.00 is on the high end, but not unheard of (Illamasqua, Rescue Beauty, Deborah Lippmann, butter LONDON are all about that or more).