Nude Mauve Nails: Essie Clothing Optional vs Lady Like Swatches

A complete comparison of Essie Clothing Optional vs Lady Like with swatches – two gorgeous nude mauve Essie nail polishes!

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Where mauve makeup and mauve nail polish is, there I am too.

Lady Like was one of the first Essie shades I got last year in a local makeup store in Rome, which was (un)fortunately located just three minutes away from my place – I like to blame the location rather than myself for all the Essie nail polishes I got around that time.

Not just Essie, though – but that’s another topic (is it?).

Then, at the beginning of this year, I got ever more hooked on nude nail polish, and when I saw Clothing Optional at Superdrug in London, I knew I had to make it mine.

Since they can both look a tad similar depending on the lighting, the store or online websites, I thought a quick comparison would come in handy.

I’ve already compared Lady Like vs Eternal Optimist some time ago, and if you’re looking for something a teeny tiny bit more brown/warmer-toned, check out that post as well.

Nude Mauve Nails: Essie Clothing Optional vs Lady Like Swatches

Here’s what Essie says about Clothing Optional:

skin is in. this sumptuous shade of lighter sienna brown nail polish is all the fashion you need.

And here’s what the brand says about Lady Like:

etiquette, posture, protocol. did we miss anything? oh, yes, this elegant soft mauve nail polish. this dainty color makes for a proper mani.

Essie Clothing Optional vs Lady Like Nail Polish Bottles

nude nail polish essie clothing optional vs lady like swatch comparison

While I’m not sure when exactly the Essie Lady Like nail polish was released, the first mention of Clothing Optional we have is 2017, when it was released in the Wild Nudes collection.

Both are beautiful nudes, and where Lady Like is lighter and more mauve, Clothing Optional, described as a ‘lighter sienna brown’, feels like a mauve nail polish with warm brown undertones.

If I had to compare them to, say, MAC’s MACximal lipsticks, because they feel like they match well in terms of muted shades (and because I love the matte lipsticks from MAC!), Lady Like would be something a bit like the new Velvet Teddy lipstick, and Clothing Optional would match Viva Equality.

Read: Sheer Nails: Essie Not Just a Pretty Face Swatches

Comparison: Essie Clothing Optional vs Lady Like Swatches

essie clothing optional vs lady like swatches comparison

As you can see on the swatches, Clothing Optional appears more brown or more mauve depending on the lighting.

The fact that it’s a darker kind of muted shade means that whether you have warm skin, pale, dark, Asian, brown or olive skin, it is going to look good on a larger pool of people.

Lady Like, however, with its cool undertones, feels better suited to cool and olive skin tones – however, since mauve is a universal shade, it also makes for a great nude for medium and dark skin.

Shop Essie Clothing Optional – Essie Lady Like

Read: Sheer Nails: Essie Ballet Slippers Nail Polish Swatch

Both of these nude nail polishes apply smoothly and are fully opaque in two coats, and I have to admit that even if Lady Like is one of my favorite Essie colors, Clothing Optional topped it the first time I tried it on my nails.

Please note that Clothing Optional is marked as discontinued on the official Essie website, but since I have seen it in various countries these past few months, I am not too sure about its status.

However, since it’s a popular nude nail polish, I want to think that stores across the world will keep carrying it for a long, long time!

Read: Sheer Nails: Essie Mademoiselle Nail Polish Swatch

mauve nails - essie clothing optional vs lady like swatches comparison

However, and since you might know I love sheer shades such as Ballet Slippers or Mademoiselle, the lightness of Lady Like is something I enjoy more often than not, as it does feel less… high maintenance, if I may.

I do not usually wear top coat, and it’s pretty clear that on my fair skin, any chipping would be more visible with the Clothing Optional nail polish than with Lady Like.

Shop Essie Clothing Optional – Essie Lady Like

Read: 8 Gorgeous Kiko Power Pro Nail Lacquer Swatches

nude nails - essie clothing optional vs lady like swatches comparison

Nude Mauve Nails: Essie Clothing Optional vs Lady Like Swatches

I will soon write a complete guide to all my Essie mauve nail polish colors, and these are only the first two I’m showing you and comparing – I have many more in the works!

If you’re more interested in bright, summer nail polish type of colors, I would also recommend you check out the reviews of Essie Too Too Hot or, for something more sophisticated, Russian Roulette.

And why not learn how I created my beach-inspired summer mani with Essie’s Aruba Blue, You Do Blue and Blanc?

Until next time!