My absolute favorite nail color for Fall 2011

Even if you're not a nail polish person, I hope you'll take a second to read this post. As many of you know, I'm more of a non-traditional nail color lover, but I bought this seemingly traditional shade of polish on a whim a few weeks ago (it was on sale and I had coupons) and I have since fallen in LOVE with it. Please allow me to explain exactly why I'm declaring this my absolute favorite nail color for Fall 2011:

 Maybelline Autumn Leaves

(retail: around $4.99, 0.5 oz)

Autumn Leaves is a limited edition shade that is part of the display of new Color Sensational nude lipsticks that I first showed you here. It might be tougher to find, but it's definitely worth the hunt. I've seen this display at various Rite Aids and when I first saw this color, I remember saying, "Oh, that's a pretty red with gold shimmer. Maybe I'll pick that up someday." Well then I kind of forgot about it (as I'm known to do with more traditional nail colors) but I am SO glad I eventually did get it, because it is FULL of surprises.

The beautiful, fine gold shimmer running through this shade gives it that same lit-from-with quality of Revlon Perplex. In fact, I would go so far as to say that Autumn Leaves does for reddish-brown what Perplex does for purple. It gives a common color a whole new dimension.

But let me clarify: this actually isn't a red polish. It's a chameleon shade that looks like a deep wine in certain lights, and then morphs to rich chocolate brown in other lights. But it also can look like a deep rust shade. It's just the epitome of fall colors, and the name Autumn Leaves fits it PERFECTLY.

To see the chameleon-like qualities of this color for yourself, here are some pics taken in a variety of different lights:

 All photos taken after two coats of color and one coat of clear top coat:

I hope you can kind of see how the fine gold shimmer in this polish gives it that lit-from-within quality. It's such rich, deep, delicious shade in person--I literally cannot stop staring at my nails when I wear this one. And on toes, it's AWESOME.

I cannot stress enough how much I love this shade and, believe me, I haven't felt this way about a reddish/brown/rust shade in, well, forever. If you spot this at the drugstore, I wouldn't hesitate for one second to grab it.

Do you already own Maybelline Autumn Leaves? If so, please tell me you love it as much as I do!