Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Ombré Nails; Summer Blues

Sometimes I can tell early in a season when I'm going to be hooked on a certain color palette, and for this summer I have already declared my love of blue. Blue used to be my closet staple color and somehow I drifted away from that practice, but I'm getting back on track and I feel inspired to stock up on anything that reminds me of large bodies of water. This desire of course includes nail polish, so I was extremely excited to try the ombré effect that I previously featured here, only with beachy shades of blue and green instead of purple and black. This was the result.







I think I'm starting to nail this technique that I found via The Beauty Department, no pun intended. It really is easy if you have a free afternoon or evening to try it out. The color palette that I choose is from Sephora by O.P.I. and the colors I used are Havana Dreams, Read My Palm, and Teal We Meet Again. Another color palette that would look amazing for summer is from Essie's "Poppy Razzi" collection layered in this order starting at the cuticle; Action, Lights, and Bazooka

So who thinks they are going to try this out for some summer color fun?

Photos from: Me





Friday, May 25, 2012

Officially Summer Weekend 2012

It's Memorial Day weekend, which for many is the official start of summer. Where I currently live, Memorial Day weekend is a significant marker that we are no longer subject to freak acts of mother nature such as frost, sleet, or the occasional blizzard. That means that it's time to bust out the cut-offs, plant some tomatoes, and start planning evenings outside. Memorial Day also means that we can start indulging in summer trends. What was once a hot topic of blogging last Spring and Summer, has turned into a full on retail worthy trend this season. I'm talking about friendship bracelets! (You can find some old posts from last year here and here.) If you are not the patient type and can't see yourself spending an afternoon participating in this particular summer past time, or you just want a few pieces to layer with your own, I would suggest some of these affordable specimens from Urban Outfitters and ASOS.




From top to bottom; ASOS Pack of Three Friendship Bracelets, UO Cte d'Ivoire Bracelets, ASOS Spike Stretch Bracelet, ASOS Retro Skulls Pack, and UO Stacking Bracelets.  

All of these goodies are priced at $20 or less and would look great layered on a wrist with some handmade varieties and maybe a nice chunky watch. Even if you go the purchased route, I still recommend making a couple yourself. Nothing is better than a one of a kind DIY piece.

If anyone out there has been making their own friendship bracelets, please send me a link because I would love to see them!

Background image from; here



Monday, May 21, 2012

Mint of The Moment

With pastels being one of this seasons color trends, I find myself being drawn towards the mintier palettes. After all, mint ice cream has always been a favorite of mine. The trick with pastels is to not over-do it, otherwise one might find herself resembling one of the two extreme edges of age. In other words, too young or too old. One of the best ways to make mint look edgy and fresh is to pair it with black or white. Here are few pieces that could easily get a girl through the next couple of seasons.





{1} Kill two trendy birds with one stone, and pick yourself up some minty colored denim from ASOS. Denim never goes out of style, and besides, the colored variety is just getting off the ground this spring. {2} As a glasses wearer and lover, I couldn't pass up to chance to share these sleek mint frames by KBL. A sharp pair of frames is timeless no matter what the color. {3} If you're more of the traditional sort and not so comfortable sporting a color trend via your actual clothing, then accessories are the way to go. The Viscid Watch from Anthropologie is the perfect way to add a pop of mint to an otherwise classic look.  {4} If you're a bit on the edgier side, then a minty oxford from ASOS is definitely the shoe for you! Pair these with some white, ankle length denim and a basic white tee for a super fresh summer look. {5} The absolute easiest way to get in on a color trend is by wearing it on your nails. You can't go wrong with Mint Candy Apple from Essie. {6} Wear these minty Dolce Vita flats with just about anything this summer for an extra pop of color. {7} The Glimmered Piperita Dress from Anthropologie is the perfect spring and summer dress. Wear it with a black leather motorcycle jacket and boots for an edgier look, or with strap-y gold heels and accessories for a more formal occasion.

For more minty inspirations, you can visit my "Mint of The Moment" board on Pinterest.

Anyone else have any good minty finds this season?



Friday, May 18, 2012

A.P.C. Love

For a while now Tom has been trying to talk me into getting a pair of A.P.C.s, one of his most beloved brands. I've been on the fence since I'm pretty much in love with my Diesels, but he kept persisting that there's nothing more classically cool than a sick pair of indigo wash A.P.C.s.  Seeing as how Tom is a denim expert, I  decided to heed his strong suggestions, only I opted for a denim mini skirt over a pair of jeans. Well guess what? I love it!





After I eagerly ripped open the package, I was so pleased by the fit of this skirt that I requested an impromptu hallway outfit shoot. Tom was down with the shoot and here you go. A classic, indigo wash denim mini skirt. The magic of this little ditty is really in the fit, which is absolutely perfect by the way. The denim arrives a little tight, but conforms to your shape after a few wears, which is what makes this piece so perfectly form fitting. The really magical part about the skirt is that it's my shortest one yet, but somehow due to wondrous construction, my rear end never seems to be exposed. I highly recommend investing in this really not-so-expensive piece if you are a mini skirt lover in need of some summer basics.

I'm also in love with a few other minis (denim and non-denim) such as this amazing multicolored skirt from Urban Outfitters, this lighter wash mini from D&G, and this pretty printed paisley cotton mini from A.P.C. Anyone one of these babies would make a great summer staple!

Photos from: Tom



Friday, May 4, 2012

Elizabeth and James Spring 2012

In the spirit of summer clothing obsessions, it's only fitting that I feel the need to share some of my favorite pieces from The  Elizabeth and James TEXTILE collection.












What's more classically cool that a tee shirt and denim? Honestly, I just can't pick a favorite look from this book, which is what makes the collection so great. I'm in love with all the bright colors, but then again, what's better than an edgy black and white ensemble? There is even a pair of traditional blue jeans paired with a white tee, which is an outfit I could personally wear everyday. Plus, all the acid wash and tie-dyed effects provide some serious inspiration for my DIY kick that I've been on lately.

You can find a killer pair of the acid wash jeans here, and a pair of jean shorts in Rose Python here

Anyone else have a favorite look for summer?

Photos from: TEXTILE Elizabeth and James