PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIMOTHY MUSHO, FIG PHOTO | FILM BY EMILY HARD, G&F
CREATIVE DIRECTION BY D. GRAHAM KOSTIC | WRITTEN BY ELLE EICHINGER
Lovebomb Lacquer—a brand name we predict will one day be synonymous with Essie and OPI—hasn’t even officially launched yet, but is already making a colorful splash on the Chicago beauty scene. This is thanks to its creator, the effervescent and enviably creative Thai Tyler, who by day runs her own talent management group for young performers. It was her visual arts background—specifically painting and photography—that inspired her to create Lovebomb: “The concept was to take something simple and make it iconic,” she says. “[My goal] is to become the Porsche of nail polish.”
Now, there isn’t a one of us who hasn’t fantasized about being the person whose job it is to come up with nail polish color names—so we count it among Thai’s most fabulous business decisions that Lovebomb polish names can be personalized (and come with a customizable ‘love note’ to boot). No matter what the clever moniker, though, these colors are gorgeous. For everyday wear, Thai dons Purpfection, a pretty lavender shade; and we can’t wait for the next collection, for which she was inspired by the hues of stained glass windows. (If you hadn’t already guessed it, Lovebomb is NOT your average lacquer line with two dozen shades of nude.) Of course, we love anything completely Chicago-made, which both the brand and Thai herself are. Though she lives in Oak Park now, she always makes into the city for the Pump Room’s fried chicken with extra hot sauce butter, dining at Owen & Engine, and shopping at Alexis Bittar for pretty baubles that bring attention to her nails.
The (love)bomb officially drops April 10th, but in the meantime, check out its Tumblr page, where Thai posts a barrage of adorable images, feel-good quotes, and nail art inspiration. It all aligns with the bigger picture: “Lovebomb is focused on spreading love.”