The Polish Convention Chicago 2017 - AFair to Remember

Nothing to Disclose

Hello lovely readers! The Polish Convention (Polish Con) returned to Chicago this fall and I was there to capture it all as part of the official press team!

Recap of the Polish Convention Polish Con Chicago 2017 AFair to Remember, including venue details from Navy Pier, tutorial tables, and indie polish maker vendors.


If you are not familiar with Polish Con, it is bi-yearly indie nail polish convention with products available for purchase, as well as nail art tutorials for all skill levels. Indie vendors come from all over the United States. This year, an established indie vendor from Canada returned to Polish Con Chicago and established Aussie vendors  made their first appearance in Chicago. 

This year, Polish Con Chicago hosted 30 vendors at Navy Pier. This tourist-friendly site is centrally located in the heart of Chicago. The convention room was extremely spacious and well lit. All attendees received a red tote featuring this year's Polish Con theme, AFair to Remember, as well as a program booklet. 

VIP bag holders (those with a higher tier ticket that included limited edition and exclusive polishes) were able to claim their bags an hour ahead of the event's starting time. This allowed plenty of time to peruse through the VIP bag and retrieve any coupons that could be used at the event. Like in past events, the floor was opened to VIP bag holders first, followed by early admissions an hour later, and then followed by general admission an hour after early admission. 

The Venue - Polish Con Chicago 2017 was held at Navy Pier, in the heart of Chicago. 

The venue's view of the pier and Lake Michigan

Signs made it easy to find the hall where the convention has being held at

The spacious venue was a departure from the previous year
The tote - This year's tote was red and featured the iconic Navy Pier ferris wheel

Polish Con Chicago 2017 tote



The raffles - There were lots of great prices, similar to last year's convention. This time around, however, raffles tickets were available for purchase onsite; these also came with the VIP bag.








Shipping station - Out-of-town shoppers were able to their hauls to their final destinations thanks to the return of shipping station onsite.




Polish Con branded merchandise - Polish Con branded merchandise with this year's carnival theme was also available for purchase. Products included decals and t-shirt designs from Green Goddess and an exclusive plate from Lina.

Nail decals by Green Goddess

Polish Con t-shirts

Polish Con exclusive stamping plate by Lina

The tutorials - This year's tutorials featured basic stamping, advanced stamping, gradients, free-handed designs, dry marble, decals and vinyls nail art, water marbling.

Vinyl mani done at the turorial table

Basic stamping done at the tutorial table

Advanced stamping at the tutorial table

Products available at the advanced stamping tutorial table

The trendy dry marble made it to this year's convention

Gorgeous dry marble done at the tutorial table

Free-handed floral design thought at the convention

Free-handed floral design thought at the convention
The vendors - Polish Con Chicago 2017 hosted 30 vendors onsite. Below is a closer look at the vendors' table and the merchandise on display.

Great Lakes Lacquer - 4- and 5-free indie brand and Polish Con co-hostess offered gorgeous multichromes, among other beauties. Shop from this brand here.










EverAfter - 5-free indie brand and Polish Con co-hostesses offered an array of gorgeous polishes (including a carnival theme collection!), their classic hand crelly and melting wax. Shop from this brand here.










Alter Ego - This Mid-West indie brand returned to Polish Con Chicago. Products featured included nail polish, jewelry, and PUPPego doggie treats! Shop from this brand here.








Bad Bitch Polish - This indie polish brand's first appearance at Polish Con Chicago featured gorgeous exclusive and limited editions polishes. The holographic bottle labels were a beautiful, eye-catching  touch. Shop from this brand here.






Beautometry - This indie stockist made its first appearance at Polish Con Chicago. Products offered included stamping plates from ex-US makers Creative Stamping Shop, Moyra, and Moyou London, among others. Shop from this stockist here.






Bluebird Lacquer - This re-branded indie had its beautiful creations on display once more at Polish Con Chicago. Shop this this brand here








Blush Lacquers - This first-time Polish Con Chicago vendor had a strong showing with exclusive and limited editions polishes and the pre-release of its Fall 2017 collection. Shop from this brand here.






Bohemian Polish - This Baltimore-based indie brand featured gorgeous event exclusive polishes and polishes named after Chicago artists! Sadly, this transplant does not know her Chicago artists! Shop from this brand here.






Contrary Polish - This 5-free indie polish returned to Polish Con Chicago with gorgeous creations, including a beautiful Lincoln-park inspired, limited edition trio. Shop from this brand here.






Cupcake Polish - This Texas-based indie brand returned to Polish Con Chicago, featuring its signaling holographic polishes and limited edition polishes. Shop from this brand here.









Different Dimension - This indie brand offered once more it signature multichrome and holographic polish creations as well as limited editions and a Halloween trio at Polish Con Chicago. Shop from this brand here.








Don Deeva - This Florida-based, 5-free indie brand left its mark during its first Polish Con Chicago appearance with its unicorn pee (UP) offerings and cute rubber duckies. When I asked about the rubber duckies, the maker, Danette, said that she started sending rubber duckies in her polish packages instead of candy. Her customers loved it, and the rubber duckies have now become her signature token. Shop from this brand here








Fanchromatic Nails - This 5-free indie brand offered its beautiful, fandom-themed creations at Polish Con Chicago for the first time. Shop from this brand here.










Girly Bits- This Canadian indie brand returned to Polish Con Chicago with an impressive array of beautiful nail polish, trendy nail art powders, and branded holographic t-shirts! Shop from this brand here.










Glam Polish - This Australian indie brand brought a couple of event exclusives as well as some of its popular collections for its first appearance at Polish Con Chicago. Shop from this brand here.








Glisten & Glow - This Connecticut-based indie brand returned to Polish Con Chicago with an impressive array of cremes and holographic polishes, as well as its CORE4 Nail Essentials line, among other products. Shop from this brand here.








KBShimmer - This 5-free indie brand brought back last year's Polish Con Chicago limited edition Let's Slang (featuring the popular UP pigment!), as well as new additions to the UP family, and new limited edition polishes, as well as items from its body and nail care collections. Shop from this brand here








Leesha's Lacquer - This Minneapolis-based, 5-free indie maker returned to Polish Con Chicago with an eye-catching display of neon, nude, and fall-shade cremes and hand lotions, among other items. Shop from this brand here








Lollipop Posse Lacquer - This 5-free indie brand returned to Polish Con Chicago with a gorgeous trio of  Chicago-themed polishes, multichromes, and holographic polishes. Shop from this brand here




LynBDesigns - This Mid-Western indie brand made its first appearance at this year's Polish Con Chicago, offering several beautiful creations.  Shop from this brand here








Native War Paints - This indie polish brand returned to Polish Con Chicago, bringing along limited editions, as well as their signature watermarbling neons, shimmers, and special effect toppers. Shop from this brand here










Nvr Enuff - This 5-free indie brand appeared for the first time at Polish Con Chicago, offering an array of fun and beautiful holographic and sparkly polishes. Shop from this brand here








NeverMind Polish - This Chicago local indie brand returned to Polish Con Chicago with stunning multichromes, among other offerings. Shop from this brand here






Pahlish - This Nashville-based indie brand returned to Polish Con Chicago with its gorgeous holographic creations and highly sought out bespoken batches! Shop from this brand here








Painted Polish - This California-based indie brand brought its beautiful cremes (that double as stamping polishes), crellies, and holographic polishes to Polish Con Chicago for the first time. Shop from this brand here.












Pretty Jelly - This 5-free indie brand visited Polish Con Chicago for the first time this year. The offerings were impressive, with several Chicago-themed collections including Chicago's World's Fair (Polich Con exclusive) and All That Jazz, and other irresistible themes such as Who Tells Your Story and Stranger Things! Shop from this brand here.








Pretty Serious - This Australian-based indie brand made its first appearance at Polish Con Chicago. On display were the beautiful polish bottles, as well as the overall and unique artsy packaging this brand is well known for. Shop from this brand here.








Scofflaw - This Chicago-local brought back its beautiful creations to this year's Polish Con Chicago. Shop from this brand here.






Supernatural Lacquer - This Ohio-based indie brand returned to Polish Con Chicago, bringing along some gorgeous Chicago Fair-themed polishes and a The Magician-themed collection. Shop from this brand here.










Tonic - This Ohio-based, 5-free indie brand returned to Polish Con Chicago with a well thought-out system that kept the long line of customers running smoothly! The beautiful polish selection did not disappoint either! Shop from this brand here











Fair Maiden Polish (shop here) and Lavish Polish (shop here) were not able to make it to Polish Con 2017, but still contributed to the VIP bag. 

Overall, this fall's Polish Con Chicago was a success. The venue's location and room and the ticket scanning were improvements from last year. And it was all done while bringing together high caliber indie polish makers.

If you are local or close by, or if you are a nail polish fan or you love pretty things and love supporting indie makers, the consider attending this convention next fall.

Let me know your thoughts on Polish Con Chicago 2017 and stay tuned for my review of the VIP bag.
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20 comments

  1. This looks like so much fun! I hope I get to attend next year.

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  2. I didn’t even know there WERE polish conventions! This looks so cool!

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  3. I am super envious! It would be so much fun to attend a Polish Con!

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  4. I had a blast! The only bad thing is that it was so humid. LOL.

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  5. I would assume this is the equivalent of the makeup show? I bet you had fun!

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  6. I can't begin to imagine how much money I'd spent. It would be amazing to see all the brands I've lusted over. I'd love learning to stamp too.

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  7. SO many great photos! Ahhh, I’m so excited that it’s going to be in Florida Next year!

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  8. Oh My! Heaven! I just wanna jump into your stunning photos lol ♡

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  9. Such a detailed post! You did a great job "bringing" me to the event.

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  10. As a nail polish collector...hoarder...nail polish obsessed hoarder, this post makes me super excited for next year. But as a maker, it gives me anxiety seeing all the work and details all the vendors put in. I don't think I can afford to go as a vendor and it makes me a bit sad. But...you did an amazing job covering the event my friend.

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  11. I did make it to Chicago for this event. my first time ever to a Polish Con. I deff plan on going next year and this time going as a VIP. Its totally worth it.

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  12. I wish I had the money to travel to one of these, I’m determined one year I will go x

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  13. OMG, you got so many amazing pictures! It was a complete joy to see you again at the event <3

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  14. Oh how I wish I could have made it to Polish Con!!! I will make it to one one day!!!

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  15. HOLY COW! I am drooling over all of your photos! This looks like quite an event!!

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  16. I'm so bummed that I didn't get to meet you there! But I'm also super happy that you didn't get any unflattering photos of folks (including my chubby butt sitting on the ground, sorting through things) haha. Your photos came out super gorgeous!

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  17. What a fantastic post! Polish con looks like a ton of fun!

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  18. Wow!!! Awesome pics! I'm kicking myself for not going to the NYC con.

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  19. Girl! Your photos are BOMB! So good and make me feel like I'm there. These conferences always look like SO much fun! Some day I want to go to a makeup show conference!

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  20. Aaah I wish we had a polish con in my country. It looks so much fun

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