Go for the bold Dark makeup makes a trendy statement for autumn

There’s a fine line between trendy and ridiculous.

I’ve known this for some time and, frankly, I thought I had immunity. Then I tried this fall’s “hottest” new nail polish shade: deep blue.

Some people – such as my rock-star colleague Emily Burnham – can pull this look off. I cannot. For three days, I was distracted by a flash of navy every time I caught a glimpse of my hands. Truth be told, it was a little embarrassing. Especially when I had to do interviews.

Every fall, cosmetics cross over to the dark side. Every fall, fashion-savvy women who don’t have a Goth streak try to figure out how the hell to wear indigo eye shadow, liquid black liner and almost-black nail polish.

As Mom used to say, don’t be afraid of the dark. Trust me on this one. With a light hand – and a little faith – anyone can incorporate this season’s trendiest looks into her existing regime. Think of makeup as an accessory – if you overdo it, you’ll look silly; if you use restraint – one bold color at a time – you’ll look thoroughly of-the-moment.

First things first: Dark nail polish is the easiest of all makeup trends to pull off. The key is color. Blues and greens are OK for toes, but for hands, deep burgundies and purples give a more sophisticated look. My favorites this season are Midnight in Moscow (a black cherry) and Siberian Nights (a deep, matte plum) from OPI’s Russian collection, $7.50 per bottle at J.C. Penney’s beauty shop and worth every penny. The adventurous among us might delve into black, which is surprisingly flattering. Just keep your nails short and a little bit squared off. Talons aren’t stylish no matter what color they are.

This season’s dark eye shadows are shimmery and sheer, making them easier to wear and far more flattering than their matte counterparts. You can get a rich, luxurious feel at every price point.

On the high end, I love Bobbi Brown’s Midnight Metallics palette ($45 at Nordstrom.com or BobbiBrownCosmetics.com) – as I discovered last fall, a hint of navy at the outer corner of the eye makes blue eyes pop. Smashbox is my favorite source for dramatic looks, and I love the shadow trio in Opulence, a collection of shimmering brown and burnished gold shades that are anything but tame ($28, smashbox.com). Clinique’s Colour Surge eyeshadow trio in Totally Neutral has rich pigments that belie its name ($21.50, Macy’s).

As a light, luminous foil to all these deep, dark shades, I suggest The Body Shop’s Eye Shimmer – it’s like fairy dust for grown-ups. Visit TheBodyShopAtHome.com and search for a consultant near you.

On the inexpensive side, I am wild about N.Y.C.’s Smooth Mineral Kits – the rich golds and silvers, deep greens and blues double as eyeliner, and they’re a steal at $7. N.Y.C. also has an ’80s-inspired palette of purple, pink, aqua and pool-blue, but I’ll leave that to the kids. You can find the line at drugstores and large discount stores, including Target.

For lips, sheer, glossy looks are still in style – which allows anyone to wear even the darkest of shades with ease. Case in point: the new Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in Fig (about $5 at The Grasshopper Shop, Mr. Paperback in Belfast or Target). I just love the minty flavor and balmy texture. Speaking of flavor, The Body Shop’s Hi-Shine Lip Treatment ($11.50, I like Red Gleam) tastes like a dream.

Covet Angelina Jolie’s pout? Try Sally Hansen’s Collagen Lip Lift, a sheer lipstick that plumps lips and reduces the appearance of fine lines. I was skeptical, but I like it, especially the Berry Bliss shade. It costs $6.99 at drugstores and discount stores.

Generally, I like my makeup a la carte; all-in-one kits aren’t really my style. But Stila’s Fall Fantasy collection changed my mind. The packaging alone is worth the price of admission – three shadows and a blush are wrapped in a sueded compact and adorned with a slice of agate. They’re tiny, so they’ll slip right into your purse or carry-on. The only drawback? No brushes.

That’s OK – because now I’ll have something to dream about. Namely Smashbox’s professional brush kit wrapped in faux fur. It costs $150 (Smashbox.com), which is way out of my league, but I love it. And besides, it kind of makes my blue nail polish look a little less ridiculous in comparison. Not that I’ll try that look again.

We have a winner!

Barbara Ouelette of Old Town is the lucky winner of the Toe-Goz pink ribbon flip-flops. Congratulations, Barbara, and thanks to everyone who entered.

As always, happy shopping!

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329, or by fax to 941-9476. For exclusive online shopping tips, click on the ShopBlog icon on the bottom of the BDN homepage: bangordailynews.com.