Orange is a tricky color
to pull off. Reminiscent of pumpkins and falling leaves it should be
the ultimate fall color, but it also is so bright and summery that it
just tends to look a little wrong with fall clothes …or worse like
you're trying a little too hard to look like an extra on
Halloweentown.
But "Playing Koi" from
Essie's fall collection is the answer to this conundrum:
Not bright but dark and
rusty, Playing Koi is the perfect way to to incorporate some orange
into your fall-style without looking like you forgot to adjust your
manicure to the season.
After celebrating their 35th anniversary earlier this year, Essie just hit another milestone: the nail polish giant is releasing its 1000th shade!
And instead of playing it safe with a classic red, or a festive silver, the limited edition shade called "Aim to Misbehave" comes in what might be the most controversial nail color to ever exist: Yellow!
Aside from that one time I tried a pineapple nail design (don't ask), I've never worn yellow. I'm simply too pale for it, and unless I want to look like I'm dying of organ failure yellow is just not a good look. But "Aim to Misbehave" promises to be different. It's an extremely warm shade and has a jewel like quality to it – which tends to look good on everyone. And all things considered, it is a pretty genius move from Essie to go with such a controversial choice for their 1000th shade – because fans and collectors are going to make sure it sells out no matter if it's wearable or not.
"Aim to Misbehave" launches on May 31 with the 2016 summer collection.
Holiday themed gift guides are always a little tricky. The stores are flooded with adorable heart print everything right now, but buying that pink heart shaped clutch just to wear it once before putting it into storage until next year is just a little ridiculous. That's why I kept it on the subtle side (as subtle as heart print can be), and only chose things that I think would work year round.
So no matter if you are shopping for a loved one or just want to treat yourself, these Valentine goodies are sure to keep any heart fluttering:
I decided to cut back on the gift guides this year, I just feel like everyone has it covered (and if not, you can always look up my old ones) but I still had to share a couple of my "christmas essentials":
I don't know about you, but I feel like it's not Christmas without the silly presents. Makeup and tech stuff is nice and all, but there always needs to be a cute teddy or a funny book under the tree. I also love little things that make the holidays even more festive, like fun straws for drinking hot cocoa or a cookie scented shower gel. And we can't forget a pair of awesome PJs (preferably one that's festive but still works after Christmas).
It's that time of the month again, time for my November favorites:
80s Movie Soundtracks
I have a new obsession: buying the soundtracks of all my favorite 80s soundtracks on vinyl (Still looking for the "Dream a Little Dream" one …just in case Santa's taking notes).
Turtlenecks
I've always preferred scarves over turtlenecks, but lately I can't get enough of them. This one's from H&M.
The Middle (ABC)
Two Words: Charlie McDermott. I'm kidding, sort of… Yes, he's dreamy but definitely not the only reason why I always find myself binge watching the hilarious ABC comedy this time of year, I simply can't resist a Heck Holiday episode.
Maybelline Perfect Cream Mascara
I'm a huge fan of Maybelline's Great Lash Mascara, no matter which other mascaras I tried I always went right back to the tacky pink and green tube - but then I was shopping online, and needed an extra three bucks to get free delivery so I decided to give thePerfect Cream Mascara a try. I won't recommend this if you are a fan of the "Falsies" look, but if you prefer a more natural makeup then this is the answer. It has a super silky finish, is a dream to apply, and is a total bargain. Hands down the best drugstore mascara you can get.
Cloud 9
There's only one thing I love more than a classic DCOM, and that's a classic DCOM set in a winter wonderland. Technically Cloud 9, doesn't fall into the classic category (it came out last year), but thanks to the lack of musical numbers it certainly felt like one (there's even a remix of Superchick's One Girl Revolution – Cadet Kelly, anyone? – on the soundtrack). My new favorite "snow-com".
I'm always looking forward to Essie's winter collection. Last year the brand surprised me by releasing a set of colors that seemed more fitting for a garden party than a holiday dinner – but I ended up loving it. And this year's "Winter Wonderland" collection is the perfect mix of last year's soft hues and some holiday classics:
I love the pastels (you can never go wrong with a powder pink) as much as the classic reds, and the platinum "apres-chic" is perfect for any holiday party, but my favorite has to be "haute tub", a rich black with a hint of amethyst sparkle:
I'm usually not big on sparkly or glittery nail polish, but for some reason I'm really drawn to this one. Maybe it's because the sparkle is so subtle, or maybe because it goes amazing with a sweater I just bought… But whatever it is, "haute tub" is definitely going to be my go-to color this season.
Camo nail polish and makeup! Maybe I watch too much Duck Dynasty, but I feel like camomakes everything better. The nail polish set comes with a black, a khaki, and a green polish, and the eye palette with black and green eyeshadow and a cream highlighter. Quality wise, the nail polish is not better or worse than polishes from other luxury fashion brands, and aside from the khaki the colors aren't anything special, but the set as a whole is simply a gorgeous thing to have. The palette on the other hand, is more than just nice to look at. The colors are easy to blend, can be used for a number of different eye looks, and have a super silky finish that really makes camo catwalk appropriate.
A good wine-red is n not easy to find. Essie's Wicked is my favorite deep red, but it's a little too dark to pass as wine, and their Bordeaux has the perfect coloring, but is so runny that it could pass as actual wine. So this red that Olivia has labeled her "fall favorite", is a godsend. Quality wise, the polish is amazing, with a formula that includes a special dual polymer mesh lock technology and volcanic glass it'll look flawless and glossy for days. Be sure to also check out the rest of the collection, as the palette is also pretty great:
I used to have a huge nail polish addiction collection, but sometime last year I cleaned out my make-up drawer and narrowed everything down to the essentials. That doesn't mean that I got rid of all the "fun" colors, but I decided to refrain from buying nail polish unless it's to replace one of my favorites (I only caved once!).
… And turns out that the essentials are more than enough, so here are my six
"can't-live-without" colors:
OPI "Suzi Loves Cowboys": Chocolate brown had a moment last year, but I've been loving it ever since OPI's Texas collection came out in 2011. It's not a shade that works year round but it is perfect for summer and fall. It's a great compromise between red and black, and looks so incredibly luxe with white or cream outfits.
Essie "Wicked": You can't go wrong with a dark red, and "Wicked" is the best there is. The formula is incredible, it looks flawless with just one coat, and really goes with everything.
Essie "Sand Tropez": This one is my go-to toe-color, the sandy beige has a super clean finish, and looks great with my skin tone (unlike many other nudes), as well as any colored polish (so you don't have to worry about your toes clashing with your fingers).
Essie "Mademoiselle": I must be on my third bottle of this. It has the slightest pink hue, and makes your nails look their best. Hands down the best "clear" polish.
Essie "Sew Psyched": I feel like this is "my color", as I never see it on anyone else. Green can be hard to pull off, but this silvery army green is surprisingly versatile. It also happens to have the smoothest application ever and sort of matches my eyes which is always a plus.
Chanel "Blue Satin": The holy grail of nail polish. I think that high end nail polish is often overhyped, but I have yet to find a navy that looks as good as Chanel's "Blue Satin". It doesn't even have the best formula (Essie's "After School Boy Blazer" is a lot easier to apply), but the shine and dimension of this are out of this world and worth every cent.
I'm usually not one to go for "cute" skin care products, but the South Korean brand TONYMOLY combines cute packaging with natural and organic products – and the result is fantastic:
TONYMOLY means something along the lines of "stylish packaging", and the brand definitely does not disappoint in that department. Just imagine these arranged in a basket in your bathroom!
…I'm gonna need the whole range.
Available at Urban Outfitters, most of the products are under 20 Dollars ( great presents!) and if you're not into fruit, you can always try the condiment inspired hair care line:
Even though I am usually not the superstitious type, I am a big fan of Astrology. I don't believe everything I read in my horoscope - but there have been times when it has been strangely accurate.
And this article from the Coveteur about nail polish astrology is definitely one of these times:
Pictures via The Coveteur
Gemini's love baby blue but have no idea why. I don't know how accurate this is for others but for me it's spot on. I've never been into pastels, I usually love black and navy but I somehow always find myself reaching for baby blue when I'm not sure which color to choose (Essie's greyish Cocktail Bling in the winter and their newest Saltwater Happy in the summer). It's a little thing, but it's fun to know that there is actually a reason behind my random love for this shade!
I may have made a groundbreaking discovery: Tea-chests are perfect for storing nail polish, especially Essie polishes.
Take a look:
Pretty awesome right? I used to store my nail polish in a shoe-box and was looking for something a little nicer, when I stumbled across this acrylic tea bag container. I wasn't sure if it would work, but it turned out to be a perfect fit. Seriously, it's almost like these little compartments where made to store and organize Essie polishes. It also holds OPI-sized bottles (one compartment holds three), but I just love the way the Essie bottles look in it:
Another plus? This thing holds my nail-polish addiction in check, as I made a promise to myself not to buy more shades than the container can hold. (I'm obviously gonna need a bigger one, oh well…)
Mine is from a local tea shop, but you can find them pretty much anywhere. And if the see-through style is not your thing, check out this bamboo option:
…and with a new year comes a new nail obsession. I'm talking about white. But stop cringing, because today's white is a lot cleaner – and so much cooler – than the white-out manicures we used to give each other in 6th grade.
The key is to pick the right shade, you don't want it to be streaky or flat (hello white-out). Shades that have blue or gray undertones are reminiscent of snow and really capture that winter feel, while Ivory shades are the most flattering:
OPI's "Don't touch my Tutu" is not the easiest to apply, but once it's dry this translucent white with gray undertones will make your nails look like a winter wonderland.
Rosewood, guitars are made out of it, it's the home of my favorite TV show, and the name of the greatest lip color ever:
Rimmel London's Rosewood (08) from the Kate Moss Collection.
Lipstick is a tricky thing. It looks different on everyone, so I was hesitant about calling this "the greatest color ever" - but it really does look great on everyone. A lot of my friends (and not all of them are pale blondes) swear by this color.
It's the perfect in-between shade: Pink enough to look girly, and red enough to look just a little bit vampy.
The best is, however, the great formula: It feels like a creamy moisturizer but is still incredibly long lasting (and so shiny!)
And then there's the packaging which – just like the color itself – is the perfect mix of girly and classic.
I spent the last four days cleaning out the attic (while listening to 1989), so I don't really have a lot to blog about (unless you're interested in antique toys).
That's why I decided to use this post to bring back some old favorites (especially recipes, everyone loves a good recipe):
and click here for an easy (and healthy) way to spice up (or dress up) a cup of coffee.
…and let's not forget my famous red velvet cupcakes (they're always in season).
Of course, you are going to need a good book to relax after all that baking, or (if you're anything like me) you might want to unwind by giving yourself a fresh manicure (or a wild one).
If you're in the mood for a makeover and want to make Taylor Swift's adorable vintage look your own, follow this link, or look here for my take on Emma Stone's laid back style.
Essie's new Holiday/Winter collection is as basic as it gets,
but that is exactly what's so great about it:
When I first saw the collection on Instagram, I wasn't sure about the colors. There's an odd contrast between classic christmas colors and pink hues that look like leftovers from the spring collection. But the longer I looked at them, the more I liked them. Essie has always been great at classic looks (Wicked, and Mademoiselle can't be beat), so why not celebrate just that? 'Cause as much as I love me some silver or green glitter, you can't really beat a color like Back in The Limo (below) in terms of versatility.
If you're not following Essieon Tumblr you need to change that right now!
Not only do they post the cutest ways to wear their new shades, they also like to celebrate the classics. And this month it's wicked:
Did you know that this color has been around for 21 years?
"Wicked" has been my go-to fall shade for as long as I can remember, last year it got some competition from the navy "After School Boy Blazer" but that didn't last long. There's just something about painting your nails a deep red. It looks super preppy with a navy blazer, incredibly sexy with black skinny jeans, and so cozy with a cream sweater.
...No wonder it has been a favorite for so many years, and to celebrate Essie gives you the chance to win "wicked" and 99 other shades. Check out the Giveaway here.
We made it! It's September, which means it's officially ok to break out the boots, the plaid, and – obviously – the trenchcoats.
And talking of trenchcoats, have you seen Burberry's ad for their newest fragrance: My Burberry?
It's so simple, so sophisticated, and so wicked cool (Cara and Kate!!!):
Of course, it wouldn't be a campaign from the British superbrand without some social media gimmicks, and this time you can "monogram" a bottle and share it on twitter, pintrest or facebook.
How cute.
I have yet to sample the actual perfume, but the website describes it as "the essence of a London garden after the rain", and you all know I love me some rainstorms. Is it too early to start that Christmas list?
Ever since OPI came out with their Texas collection in 2011, I've been obsessed with "Suzi Loves Cowboys" a dark chocolate brown. I'm especially drawn to it during this time of year, I just think it's the perfect transitional color before breaking out the burgundy reds for fall, especially paired with white or cream outfits…
And it looks like the rest of the world finally caught on because brown polish is everywhere this season. Sadly, my beloved Suzi isn't available anymore, but here are a couple of fantastic alternatives:
Technically brown looks good on every skin tone, but if you are on the paler side like yours truly you should opt for a warmer more chocolaty tone, and avoid anything that's on the grayish side. And always use a good top coat! If brown doesn't look flawless, you'll end up looking like you forgot to wash your hands after a chocolate bender (it's ok, we've all been there.)
Did you know that leopards have spots because it helps them to blend in with their surroundings? I think it's quite funny how this is the exact opposite of how fashionistas around the globe are using the pattern to stand out.
And even a classic nailpolish like Essie's Sand Tropez, can easly be transformed into a red-carpet worthy eye-catcher by adding a couple of spots:
Start to apply the black spots with dotting tool (a hairpin or toothpick will do just fine), and then add a few highlights with a glitter polish or a fun contrast color of your choice. I for one love to use brown and hot pink instead of black and gold.
