Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Good Golly Miss Giada



I have a terrible addiction to The Food Network. And I know there are many who share my addiction. I'm sure there is a therapist out there who could talk me blue in the face about why I like watching other people make gorgeous and complicated food in pristine kitchens and then go out to eat, but what's the point? I would rather sit on the couch and ponder what color nail polish Giada De Laurentiis is wearing and how she keeps her perfect nails so perfect.

As many of you probably already know, Giada De Laurentiis is the star of Everyday Italian on The Food Network. She makes gorgeous looking Italian recipes that are often skewed towards a lighted and Americanized palate. She films in a beautiful, light, open kitchen somewhere in California and stays impossibly perfect looking while cooking.

Because 90% of her show is focused on the lush food that she cooking, there are many close-ups of her hands. In every shot, she has the most perfectly manicured nails in a shade of baby pink.

For the longest time, all I could wonder is: what color nail polish she was using?

(The second curiosity was how in God's name she stays so thin while constantly eating. I mean, c'mon! The woman is a toothpick with a really big head. Why is nature so good to some and so mean to others?)

I have always been partial to the Essie Mademoiselle/Ador-a-ball/Ballet Slippers trifecta. I layer them, I wear them alone, I line them up on my nightstand and admire them in all their sheer elegant glory. I was convinced that it was one of these colors that adorns Giada's nails. The good money was on Ballet Slippers.

I recently attended a book signing for Giada's new book, Giada's Family Dinners, and while I was up there with my friends gushing about her fabulous Chicken Tetrazzini recipe I suddenly blurted out, "What color nail polish do you wear on the show?"

My friends were mortified, as this was obviously the dumbest question ever, but she answered immediately. "Bubble Bath by OPI." She said that everyone thinks it is a Essie color, but she prefers OPI because they hold up better during all the washing of dishes and tearing of bread and such.

Who knew?!?

I (of course) ran out and bought Bubble Bath and plan on doing a home manicure for my big trip to the Left Coast this weekend. I'm hoping it will stand up to the grueling drive to Dulles and the endless turning of pages on the airplane. And then there is all that smog! This will be quite a test run.

What do you think? Do the OPI colors stay on better than the Essie ones?

47 comments:

Julia said...

I was forwarded your blog because someone mentioned that you loved Giada. I too was at the signing. Isn't her cooking great. BTW, I have been wearing OPI Bubble Bath for 5 years. Another great color is Sweetheart by OPI also. I alternate between the two. I used to the whole Essie Mademoiselle/Ballet Slipper combo, but once I saw the OPI I was hooked. When you get half way through the bottle, it will become a little thick so I add 2 drops of nail thinner and voila the color is back. I hope this helps.

Anonymous said...

I just searched for "Giada" and "nail polish" and your site came up. I was just pondering the same thing and hoped that someone else had discovered what color she wears- it's great! I am wearing Mademoiselle right now, and I can't wait to buy "Bubble Bath". Thanks for answering this question for all food-network & nail-polish-
obsessed girls everywhere!

Anonymous said...

Hi CapHill Barbie - I recently found your site and love it. I'm a fellow DC'er as well. I watch Giada's show frequently and I own her first book. I have always wondered what color she wears! I'm so glad you asked her. I was convinced it was Sweetheart by OPI as it looks very similar. I'll have to try Bubble Bath. Thanks! By the way, there is a great beauty supply store in NOVA that my mom found where you can get OPI and Essie polishes for around $5 a pop. Maybe less. My mom picked up several OPI and Essie Mademoiselle for me. OPI products are terrific. For light pink my favorite is Sweetheart. For red, it's a toss-up between Chick Flick Cherry and Kennebunkport.

Anonymous said...

I prefer Essie on my hands and OPI for toes.
I find Essie to be thinner in consistency. This is great for manicures. Thin coats dry more quickly. This is great for sheer shades.
As I like something a little stronger on my toes I use OPI. It is thicker and requires less coats to achieve the look I am after.
The staying power is pretty equal.

Anonymous said...

I think it's wonderful you asked. I've (and obviously others) wondered the same thing. And as luck would have it -- or a predisposition to buying EVERY sheer pink/ivory nail color out there -- I already had Bubble Bath. I love it! I didn't know until reading your blog that that's what she wears. Thanks again.

Anonymous said...

I too am a Food Network Aholic. Giada, Ina, and Elli all wear the same nail polish color and I absolutely ador it! Just like the rest of you, I often wonder...what color is that?? Thank you so much for submitting your e-mail and info.!

Anonymous said...

This is just fabulous and made my day! I wonder everytime I watch her show (which is just about everyday) what color that is and how it stays so perfect! Thank you for posting this...I will be sporting Bubble Bath in no time!

Anonymous said...

ditto ditto ditto! finally an answer to my most wondered question! on my way to the store today! :)
michelle

Anonymous said...

ditto ditto ditto! finally an answer to my most wondered question! on my way to the store today! :)
michelle

Anonymous said...

I thought the polish was Adore-a-Ball or Limoscene by Essie but I will order the OPI! How funny that we all think the same thing!
Kim :)

lindsayloo said...

thank you thank you thank you!!!
i've been wondering this forever.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't believe others had the same question about Giada's polish! I laughed out loud when I read that it was Bubble Bath because and I've been wearing it for months! Sweetheart by OPI is a nice pearl-esque twist on the same shade, BTW.

Dyslexia Alliance of Merrimack Valley said...

Brilliant! I am so glad you asked. I was at my nail salon the other day and commented on Giada's nails as her show was playing at the time. The owner didn't know what color she wore, but I am delighted to have the answer for my next round of pampering (I can't paint my own nails to save my life!).

Anonymous said...

Hoooray!!! Someone finally found the answer to all of our questions.. well one in particular! Been wanting to know as all of you do what Giada's nail polish was. So nice to know we all think alike Thanks again for bringing it home!

Anonymous said...

HA!!! That is so awesome that you found out what color she wears!! I have Everyday Italian set to Tivo on a daily basis (embarrassing...I know) I have always wondered about that perfect shade on her fingers...that and of course how she stays so thin eating all that Italian food.

Anonymous said...

this is fantastic! Thanks for the info, i am actually in a wedding this saturday and we are getting manicures and pedicures beforehand. I was going to ask for the Giada manicure, but am happy now that I will definitley be able to get the right colour...

so silly, i know, but thanks!

Lexi said...

As soon as I read this, I bought OPI Bubble Bath. It is a nice color! I then decided to try the trifecta you mentioned above and the combo is great. Personally, I put them on in the order you have described in your blog: Essie Mademoiselle/Ador-a-ball/Ballet Slippers and I like it better than Bubble Bath. The combo seems to have more life to it. Thanks for the advice. I am so glad I read your blog.

Anonymous said...

Yeah! I finally learn what the color is. How funny that so many people want to know. I love her nail color and am very excited to try it out. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Isn't she amazing? I, too, googled giada nail color because it's just always so perfect! I'm glad someone shares my curiosity and has taken the time to figure it out! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

finally, the answer to my question! I've admired her nails before, and decided to search online for the color she uses...thanks for finding out!

kyleek said...

I actually do nails, and I could never fiqure out just what color she wore! Finally, answer to my question! Now, I wonder how she keeps it looking so great???

lyndseycr said...

One of the reasons I like Giada's show so much is to look at her nails. I have complete hand envy. My little nail beds and weird fingers.
Here beautiful hands compliment her gorgeous looking (and tasting) food.

Thanh-Tu said...

Thank you so much for having the guts to ask and sharing with us. I've always watched Giada for the pretty lighting on the delicious foods she makes, and her immaculate nails.

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for finding out the answer to Giada's nail polish!! I, too, am a Food Network-a-holic and had started to envy the manicures that Giada, Ina, and Ellie had that I just started calling it the "Food Network manicure". I'm going to get OPI Bubble Bath immediately!! Thanks so much for asking the question for all of us!!
ps. I'm in DC too and someone had posted that there was a beauty shop that had the OPI products. Does anyone know the name of the store?

Anonymous said...

I am glad to know that there are so many other people out there trying to figure out what nail polish Giada wears! I swear I knew it was Bubble Bath, although I also thought it might be an Essie color...anyway, now I can sleep at night, at least I will once I go change my nailpolish color!

Anonymous said...

Thank you sooo much for the info. Now please don't roll your eyes because I have an even sillier question: Are her nails real or acrylic and filed very short? I only ask because I cannot for the life of me keep my nail polish (OPI)from flaking off and the last thing I want is nail polish in the food I cook. I have tried acrylic nails once before and I liked them but I am afraid of ruining my natural nails. Any advice? I have used base coats, top coats, and every combination in between. I just want my nails to look like Giada's!

Anonymous said...

Thank you, also for finding out the nail color! My sister and I love the show and her nails! I too have purchased 500 pink shades of nail color in my quest....thanks for ending it!! :)

Unknown said...

OMG... I had no idea so many others out there wondered the same thing I did. I was actually laughing as I "googled" this thinking there was no way anyone would know the answer. I'm getting some Bubble Bath this weekend!

Too funny!

Unknown said...

OMG... I had no idea so many others out there wondered the same thing I did. I was actually laughing as I "googled" this thinking there was no way anyone would know the answer. I'm getting some Bubble Bath this weekend!

Too funny!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much, I just searched for Giada and nail polish as well! I saw a lady with nails that looked the same as Giada's and she said it was Bubble Bath by OPI, so I bought it yesterday. Then, I searched online today to find out Giada's color and I am so excited it is the one and same bubble bath!

Anonymous said...

i don't think giada has fake nails-- i'm sure food network has employed someone to paint the chef's nails prior to each show!

Anonymous said...

It's so funny that we all wondered the same thing! Believe it or not after looking at all the nail colors that OPI has, I did pick that one! Love OPI nail polish it stays on and doesn't chip off.

Anonymous said...

This is so funny!!! My mom and I have been wondering this very thing for at least 2 years. Just before I left for school last week I went to get a new OPI nail polish (my fav!) and as always I tried to find Giada's exact color. Never would have guessed it, but I ended up getting Bubble bath and having been wearing it ever since. So glad to finally know that this is it. Love the color but will definitely try Sweetheart next. Thank you soooo much!

Anonymous said...

Thank you SO much for asking her what polish she wears. I am constantly on the hunt for good sheer pinks. I always watch Giada and adore her nail polish. I never thought I would find out which color she actually wears. You just made my day!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for asking about the what I've been calling the "Food Network Manicure"! I've been trying different colors and haven't been successful in getting the shade just right but now I can't wait until my next mani!

Anonymous said...

i have been playing around with various shades of Essie for YEARS trying to find the perfect Giada match, until i just thought of googling, and i found your site! so glad you posted the cute story & info- and it seems just like Giada to very happily offer up the color name! now maybe OPI can get on board and name a color after Giada! :)

SK said...

Wow I am so glad you asked that question!! I am currently watching Giada and have always been wondering how her nails look SO great all the time.

Thanks again!

Meghann said...

Thank you so much!!! I have been wondering for forever what color that is!!! I think it's awesome that you asked her, I would have too! I am so surprised by the amount of people who wanted to know also, I thought I was the only one! :) Anyway, I will be going to get this ASAP. Thanks again!

Shauna said...

I ordered the Opi Bubble bath.. wasn't too impressed with the shade of the pink. I found out there are 2 shades.. one a whiter shade and one a pinker shade. The pinker shade is the newest version and I seem to have gotten the whiter shade :-( However, in my "research" I found Essie Luscious Lips... it's just about the perfect match to Giada and Ellie Krieger's color.. LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! My quest to finding their shade of nail polish has come to an end! hehe!! Had to order it through Amazon, but that's OK.. it's perfect!

Marty said...

Thanks for sharing that info! I too stay glued to the Food Channel and have always wanted to know the color she was wearing. Now if we could only find out how she stays so skinny... Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

Now if you can just find out what that gorgeous red nail color is that kelsey Nixon wears on the Cook channel!

Anonymous said...

Yay! I thought I was the only one to wonder what colour she wore. Can't wait to get me some!

JC said...

she tweeted the other day she weare Adorable by ESSIE...

Sheer shades said...

Sheer shades will be an option to set it off in the kitchen room.

Coach Outlet Online said...

Coach Outlet Online

Coach Factory Outlet Online said...

Coach Factory Outlet Online Leading American designer and maker of luxury lifestyle handbags and accessories.Large market in Europe and Canada,UK,USA etc.Welcome to Order!

Anonymous said...

I'm sure she gets short acrylic nails with a gel overlay. It costs more but lasts a lot longer with less chance of chipping.