OPI | Fall 2020 Muse of Milan Collection: Review and Swatches

Disclaimer: The products featured were provided for review.

For this fall, OPI is taking us on a journey through the Italian city of Milan (because we certainly can't hop on a plane right now). Inspired by the "vibrant colors, textiles, and material trends of Milan's fashion scene", the Fall 2020 Muse of Milan Collection offers 12 beautiful shades. With lots of rich warm neutrals, blues, and purples, the colors are bound of please! I've got reviews and swatches of all 12 shades to share with you today. To read on, click......

My Italian Is A Little Rusty:

A unique gingerbread brown, My Italian Is A Little Rusty is super rich and pigmented. As is an issue with many of the shades in the Fall 2020 Collection (particularly the Infinite Shine versions)*, the formulation is actually a bit too thick, making it challenging to work with at times so I would recommend adding a few drops of polish thinner (several options are available online) to ensure a smooth application.

*Please note that the entire collection is available in the original, Infinite Shine, and GelColor formulation. I have a mix of the original and Infinite Shine formulation here so there may be some discrepancies due to this.

OPI Fall 2020 | My Italian Is A Little Rusty | Two Coats with No Top Coat

Have Your Panettone and Eat It Too:

A smoky orange that perfectly evokes fallen autumn leaves, this shade is also very pigmented and a bit thick. If you work quick enough with confident strokes, a smooth and even finish is achievable. Otherwise, like the previous shade, the polish could benefit from a few drops of polish thinner.

OPI Fall 2020 | Have Your Panettone and Eat It Too | Two Coats with No Top Coat

Fall-ing for Milan:

Packed with subtle soft golden shimmers, Fall-ing for Milan is a unique sandy taupe. The formulation is pigmented but a little thick.

OPI Fall 2020 | Fall-ing for Milan | Two Coats with No Top Coat

Suzi Talks with Her Hands:

This is a simple elephant gray. The formulation is pigmented but thick, making it difficult to attain a smooth coverage.

OPI Fall 2020 | Suzi Talks with Her Hands | Two Coats with No Top Coat

Complimentary Wine:

A fall and winter classic, Complimentary Wine is a deep oxblood red. The formulation is decently pigmented and easy to work with.

OPI Fall 2020 | Complimentary Wine | Two Coats with No Top Coat

Drama at La Scala:

Another very unique offering, Drama at La Scala is a deep inky blue with just a hint of teal. Although extremely pigmented, the formulation is very, very thick. This is a shade that definitely needs to be thinned out to ensure an even application.

OPI Fall 2020 | Drama at La Scala | Two Coats with No Top Coat

Duomo Days, Isola Nights:

A more traditional blue, Duomo Days, Isola Nights is an deep royal blue. Like Drama at La Scala, the formulation is pigmented but thick.

OPI Fall 2020 | Duomo Days, Isola Nights | Two Coats with No Top Coat

Galleria Vittorio Violet:

A soft lavender with a subtle iridescent shimmer, this shade is nicely pigmented with a smooth and creamy consistency.

OPI Fall 2020 | Galleria Vittorio Violet | Two Coats with No Top Coat

Leonardo's Model Color:

A definite standout from the collection, Leonardo's Model Color consists of iridescent purple and gold glitter suspended in a sheer purple base. The formulation is a little sheer but two coats provide a mostly full coverage.

OPI Fall 2020 | Leonardo's Model Color | Two Coats with No Top Coat

OPI Nails the Runway:

Another stunner, OPI Nails the Runway is an iridescent silver glitter with hints of pink, blue, and gold. Unlike the previous shade, this one has a mostly transparent base so I had to use three coats to ensure an even coverage. With that said, the formulation has a nice consistency so it's easy to build. 

OPI Fall 2020 | OPI Nails the Runway | Three Coats with No Top Coat

Addio Bad Nails, Ciao Great Nails:

Another very unique shade, this is a dusty lavender gray packed with very subtle iridescent purple shimmers. The formulation is creamy smooth and easy to work with.

OPI Fall 2020 | Addio Bad Nails, Ciao Great Nails | Two Coats with No Top Coat

This Color Hits All the High Notes:

A silvery pearl shimmer with just a hint of lavender, this one is quite sheer but buildable. Two coats give a decent coverage but the finish is a touch streaky.

OPI Fall 2020 | This Color Hits All the High Notes | Two Coats with No Top Coat

In terms of unique color offerings, the Fall 2020 Muse of Milan Collection is definitely one of OPI's best in recent years. However, the formulation is flawed for quite a few of these shades. I know I've complained about how OPI polishes seem to have gotten sheerer and thinner over the years but with this range, the brand seems to have done a 180 and went in the opposite direction. A lot of the shades (particularly of the Infinite Shine variety and the original to a lesser extent) are way too thick and pigmented, making them difficult to apply. I would take thick and pigmented over thin and runny any day but the formulation could definitely be fine-tuned here. So the bottom line is that if you love these colors and want to pick up a few shades, be prepared to have to thin them out to ensure a smooth, headache-free application.

Availability:
The OPI Fall 2020 Muse of Milan Collection is available in the original, GelColor, and Infinite Shine formulation as of September 2020.

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