TAG You're It! - All About Nails

I came across this nail polish tag that's been going around from blog to blog and thought it would be fun because I'm a true nail polish lover.  I decided to ask my younger sister, Michaela, the questions as well.  She's into nail polish too but has slightly different taste!

The Questions

1. What's your favorite nail polish company?

2. Glitter or no glitter?

3. OPI or Essie?

4. When do you start to take off your nail polish?

5. What's your all time favorite polish?

6. Darks or brights?

7. What are you currently wearing on your nails?

8. Matte nails - in or out?

9. French manicures?

10. Favorite colors for fall?

Shannon's Answers

1. I'd have to go with OPI...but Essie comes in a close second!

2. Usually no glitter

3. Tie!

4. When it starts to chip...but if I'm wearing a light pink or beige color, and it's not as noticeable, I can go a few days without touching it up.

5. "Dulce de Leche" by OPI

6. Darks

7. Fingers: Essie "In Stitches" Toes: OPI "Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ"

8. Out - I prefer a glossy finish
9. In - gives your nails such a polished look!
10. I'm loving creamy beiges, dusty mauves, and wine-colored shades for fall.

Michaela's Answers

1. Essie
2. Usually no glitter unless it is for a special occasion, like a party.
3. Probably Essie, but I love both!
4. I usually leave my nail polish on for as long as possible, especially on my toe nails. But once it starts to chip too much, I repaint them or touch them up.
5. My favorite nail polish is probably Avon Nailwear: Midnight Plum
6. Darks!
7. I am wearing Avon Nailwear: Midnight Plum on my fingers and Essie: Island Hopping on my toes.
8. I think matte nails are out. I don't think they look as nice as normal nail polish. Nail polish should make your nails look glossy, so it can contrast your skin...matte nail polish just blends in.
9. I don't wear French manicures too often because I'm not able to do them myself! But I do think it is a classic, sophisticated look that can be very pretty when done correctly.
10. My favorite colors for fall are either deep purples or medium to dark reds! I also think that light pinks are a very nice contrast.

All That Glitters

We've all been guilty of purchasing beauty products based solely on the way they look.  Price doesn't seem to be too important in the heat of the moment and we can usually justify our purchases by telling ourselves that we don't own anything quite like this.  With beautiful packaging and intricate designs and details sometimes baked right onto the product...how can a girl resist?  Here are a handful of my favorite glittery and gorgeous makeup picks for fall!

Chanel Limited Edition Les Aquarelles de Chanel Ombres
Iridescent Effects Eyes
$75

Paul & Joe Beaute
Lipstick in "Soho"
$22

MAC
Bronzer
$38

MAC
Street Art Eyeshadow
$38

MAC
The Abstract Highlighter
$38

Crochet Anyone?

Remember crochet?  The stuff your grandmother's dining room tablecloth used to be made out of is making a comeback, not in linens, but clothing.  Crochet detailing can be seen well...really everywhere.  From the runways of Paris to high end department stores to more affordable stores like Forever 21 and H&M, this woven look can be dressed up or dressed down making it versatile and very high in demand.  Celebrities like Kate Bosworth, Nicole Richie, and Malin Ackerman have helped popularize the trend by being spotted sporting chic crochet tops and dresses.  Crochet detailing has even made its way into the world of accessories and can be seen on handbags, shoes, and even pieces of jewelry, particularly earrings and necklaces.  The following are some of my favorite crocheted pieces for summer.

Beyond Vintage
$144.90

Free People
$61.50

Free People
$75.60

Forever 21
$22.80

 

Power to the People

With the month of June just around the corner, summer, and more importantly summer fashion is about to kick into high gear.  For summer I'm loving the 3 F's.  Feminine pieces, Flirty hemlines, and Free.  No not getting my hands on some free merchandise, Free People.  Many know the brand as part of the widely popular Urban Outfitters family, but few know that Urban Outfitters actually started out as Free People.  Dick Hayne opened the first Free People store in Philadelphia in the early 1970's.  When the store began to take off, he opened a second store and changed the name from Free People to Urban Outfitters.  The company continued to flourish, especially the the private labels exclusive to UO which were overseen by Dick's wife Meg.  In 1984, the couple decided to create a wholesale line to be sold in department stores and boutiques nationwide.  They used Free People as the name, bringing forth the rebirth of the brand.  For years the line attracted mostly juniors, but in 2001 Meg Hayne and her team sculpted Free People into a contemporary, fashion forward brand for women in their late teens to early twenties. With a new targeted audience, the brand became a huge sensation and synonymous with the terms"effortlessly chic" and "trendsetting."  The magic words every designer and company one day hope to hear.  With highly coveted pieces for summer 2011 and dedicated customers, Free People continues to hold it's rightful place at the top of the fashion food chain.  Power to the People.

 Lace Flounce Dress  

^$98^.00

 New Romantics One Shoulder Top 

^$98^.00

 Love Joy Buttonfront Vest  

^$88^.00

Lost Temple Skort  

^$68^.00

The Return of Balayage

Balayage: (bah-lay-ah-je) French for "to sweep"

Bursting onto the Parisian fashion scene in the early 70's, the let-your-roots-grow-out look didn't gain popularity in the U.S. until the late 90's.  The coloring technique was the perfect alternative to the uniform look foils provided.  Instead, hairstylists would apply a thin amount of color to their client's roots or let them go au naturel then hand paint lighter hues in a sweeping motion all the way down to the tip, giving hair a chunky yet faded appearance.  The highlighting trend then faded.  Literally.  Recently, however, numerous actresses including Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, and Cameron Diaz, fashionistas like Rachel Bilson and Nicole Richie and countless models such as Gisele Bündchen, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Lily Aldridge have been sporting ombre hair.  But why has it taken celebrities almost 40 years to finally jump on the Balayage bandwagon?  For so long it seemed women would instinctively rush to their stylists for a touch-up the second their roots began to show.  Have we simply gotten lazy?  Or perhaps the 70's trend dominating spring/summer fashion thus far has leapt off the runway and right onto people's scalps.  After all Balayage did define the fashion capital of the world in the 70's.

Lily Aldridge

Jennifer Aniston

Cameron Diaz