Spring Nail Trend: Textured Polishes

One of the biggest trends for nails this spring is textured nail polish. It doesn't necessarily mean a texture you can feel, but instead a textural look. These three can all be found at  your local Sephora, although the Illamasqua polish on the right is sold out on the website.

The Nails Inc. polish on the far left has long strands of holographic glitter. It comes in a few colors that lean tropical/summery but you should have no trouble getting away wearing them now. Heads up, this polish is a b!$%^ to remove. It's best to soak your nails for a few minutes before attempting removal.

Ciate has a whole line of textures available for polish. Instead of being built into the polish, you can apply tiny sequins, velvet, or even caviar beads for an endless amount of looks. These are really fun, albeit messy polishes so plan for at least an hour for a manicure.

This Illamasqua polish has been in every magazine and blog known to man. It's a pastel polish with random black bits mixed in. It looks exactly like a robin's egg shell. It's a pretty polish and I've had my eye on it for at least a month. Scarce is a dusty light pink with the previously mentioned black bits in it. The polish is neutral enough to wear to the most conservative of business offices, yet the speckled texture adds some interest.

I'm not afraid of expensive nail polishes, but this is one instance where I don't feel this polish was worth the $16 price tag. It's neat, it's fun, but now that I got the polish home I feel like it's something I wouldn't wear very often. I've been known to change my mind before about polishes.

If you want a similar look, Walmart's Hard Candy line has a polish that's pretty close to Scarce's finish, but I haven't seen them in the West Virginia stores yet. I saw a display of them at the Walmart in Cincinnati last week so I'm hoping they'll make their way here.

Spend or Save: Kate Spade Floral Beaded Necklace

Kate Spade and J.Crew jewelry has really become popular in the past few years and it looks like the momentum isn't going to stop anytime soon. This is evident by the abundance of the Bubble necklace and its imitators.

So you get two more flowers with the Kate Spade necklace, but for a mere $25, I'll gladly go with The Limited's version. Since we no longer have
The Limited in West Virginia (sadness), you should be able to find an equally cheap version at Charming Charlie's or Charlotte Russe.

LOOKBOOK: liberty x j. crew scarf

LOOKBOOK: liberty x j. crew scarf

Liberty of London x J.Crew Silk Scarf, $150 + 25% off

Every now and then, there comes along some bag or a pair of shoes I can't get out of my mind. I keep saying I'll buy it on sale, only to find out it's gone by the time the sale comes around. I call these "the ones that got away." In fact, a Coach bag which is on my "got away" list was one of my first blog enteries. I still have a search saved for it on Ebay.

I first saw this scarf a week ago. Since then, I've been unable to get it out of my mind. I've actually had two dreams where I was wearing the scarf.

I am having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around the price. $150 for a scarf is a lot of money and I keep thinking of what else I could buy or save with that money. However, the fashion side of my brain says it's a silk scarf and will last for decades. There are pants and shoes also available in the print which are cheaper, but the shoes will get ruined in the first downpour and I'll outgrow the pants with my next stop at Jolly Pirate Donuts. I could wait for it to go on sale but I've been burned a few times doing that. It'll be gone and I'll be searching for it on Ebay, debating if I should pay $278 for it.

sigh.

LOOKBOOK: welcome to the jungle

Visit the Polyvore set for purchasing information!

It started off with a simple giraffe necklace I saw at the J. Crew factory store outside of Columbus. Then it became J. Crew's enameled animal bangles.

The giraffe made friends with elephants with chevron blankets, a zebra showing off its Art Deco influence, and a peacock displaying its magnificent colors.

The leopard with a bow? So elegant and luxe. The snail teasing a turtle with a carrot? Simply too cute for words!

What's great about these charming necklaces and bracelets is that they can be found no matter your budget and will fit in with many styles.

LOOKBOOK: an easy, chic bag

Madewell Essex tote in Colorblock, $218

This is a simple, chic bag for spring and summer.

I love the fact that this bag can match a wide array of styles. It can be preppy, it can be boho, it can even be edgy.

I can easily see myself throwing a water bottle and some sunscreen in this bag for a leisurely morning at the Capitol Market.

LOOKBOOK: a stunning lace dress

Kensington Lace Dress, Coldwater Creek, $150-$160 +25% off

I featured this showstopping dress last week in a post for WV Living, but I want to show it off here as well.

If I were to only buy one thing this spring, it would be this dress.

This is a classic dress that is flattering, seasonless, and comes in sizes 4-24. It also comes in petite.

LOOKBOOK: polka dot flats

Polina Bow Flat, Christian Siriano for Payless, $43

These flats are neutral and perfect for work, yet the detailing keeps them from being anything but boring.
The polka dot print is just darling, but my eye is drawn to the unusual bow on the toe.
I have no doubt that you'll get compliments everywhere you wear these.

$43 may seem like a lot for flats, especially for Payless flats, but make sure to join the store's Rewards program. I joined back in 201o, and ever since then about every other week I'm receiving texts with coupons codes, sometimes with as much as 30% off.

Spring Favorites Week @ WVF

I am currently in Cincinnati for the week for corporate training.

It's going to be somewhat quiet around here, on Twitter, and on Pinterest for the week. (You should follow me!)

In the meantime, I've created a new board on Pinterest for the clothes, shoes, bags, and more that have me excited for Spring.
I'm going to do a Lookbook each day for the things I truly love, beginning today at noon with the sweetest pair of flats that are also affordable.

Click on the graphic above to head over to see what I'm craving for Spring.
You can also check out my boards for outfit inspirations from the Spring/Summer 2013 runways, and get a head's up on Fall fashion.

Polish Swatch: Chanel Fracas

Fracas Le Vernis, Chanel, $27

About a month ago, I bought Fracas and Emprise from Chanel's Spring 2013 collection. Fracas looked Barbie Pink in the bottle to me, and since I found it hard to wear bright pink when snow is flying. The other day I decided I needed a pick-me-up and thought Fracas would fit the bill.

While appearing almost hot pink in the bottle, Fracas applies on the nail as more of a dark rose or pink than Barbie Pink. There's also a hint of sparkle that doesn't show up until sunlight hits your nails.

Fracas is a fantastic pink for all seasons. It's subdued enough to be just a spring/summer polish and is appropiate for even the most conservative business office enviroment. I think it'll look great as a pedicure this summer.

If you gasp at the price of Chanel polishes, you're in luck because there are dupes abound for Fracas. The one in my collection is OPI's Party in My Cabana, which is from their 2009 summer collection. In the picture below, you can see the OPI has a bit darker tinge to it and doesn't have the Chanel sparkle. However, in most lights it's almost impossible to tell the difference between the two. If you can't find the OPI, Essie's Status Symbol is another good choice at a much cheaper price point.

LOOKBOOK: A Stunning Maxi Dress

Java Stripe Maxi Dress, $139-$149, Coldwater Creek

Every so often, I come across something that makes my jaw drop. This dress is one of those things.
It's simple yet the design of the stripes really makes this dress stunning.

I don't like most maxi dresses because they either look like swimsuit coverups or Little House on the Prarie-calico-esqe pieces with a ruffle on the bottom (really?!). I love this dress because it has the ease and comfort that people desire in a maxi, yet with a grown-up look.

Spend or Save: Textured Turquoise Dress

 Sunstream Eyelet Dress, Anthropologie, $128  |  George Knit Belted Dress, Walmart, $15-17

I first saw the Walmart version of this pretty turquoise dress a few weeks ago. I almost bought it at the time, but decided against it. Then maybe a week later I was reading an email from Anthropologie where they feature their version of the dress. Like the chicken and the egg, I don't know which dress came first, but this is probably one of the best Anthro knock-offs I've ever seen.

Both dresses feature a texture similar to that eyelet, only in a softer cotton fabric. You can see more of the underlayer in the Anthro dress, plus it has some amazing drama in the back. The Walmart dress captures the color and the texture in a more conservative dress, although I would skip the cheap-looking skinny belt. Good news for plus size ladies: the Walmart dress comes up to a size 4X in the turquoise, black, ivory, and lavender.

The color of the dress is just beautiful and would amazing fresh with a white cardigan or blazer for work. It also works for anything a sunny weekend may throw your way.  For accessories, I can easily envision this with metalliacs (gold or silver, your choice), and a wood bead necklace. No matter if you choose to spend or save, you're not going to lose either way. Both dresses are great additions to any wardrobe and I daresay will become your favorite dress.

In The Nick of Time: Watches

I studied Printing Mangement at WVU Tech. One of the first things they covered in any of my printing classes was safety.
The first rule of printing safety? Don't stick your hand in the d@mn press. The second rule of printing? No dangling hair, jewelry, or clothing.
After spending several years around a press, I have developed two fashion "quirks:"
I rarely wear my hair down. Twice a year, tops. My second fashion quirk is I don't wear a lot of jewlery.

I'll rock a statement necklace on occasion but I'm not crazy about bracelets and I hate rings with a burning passion.

However, for my job at the airport I needed a watch because I couldn't use a cell phone on the ramp unless it was an emergency. I picked up a cheap but decent watch and didn't expect to wear it outside of work. I now wear it almost everywhere. I like my watch but since it was so cheap--it was one of those pre-Christmas specials that comes in a pre-wrapped gift box--I'll probably have to replace it in a few months. Here's a sampling of what I'm liking:

Colorful Watches: Nixon | Lacoste | Kate Spade
Exotic Watches: WeWOOD | Anne Klein | Balenciaga
Classic Watches: Kenneth Cole New York | Kate Spade | AX Armani Exchange

If I had to pick any watch off this list right now, I'd probably go with Kenneth Cole (at $95, it's a great buy) or the Kate Spade off the classic list. The WeWood and Balenciaga wouldn't be far behind. I love unusual accessories and a watch is a great way to show a bit of personality while wearing suits to work.

What kind of watches do you like?

Fashion Bloggers Can Be Idiots

The above tweet is from a fashion blogger.
Depending on the fashion blogs you follow, you may know who this is.

Don't be alarmed by that mystery sound outside. It's just the sound of my eyes rolling.

Most of the purchasing power in the fashion industry comes from people wanting to express themselves. At the very heart of it, we're all wholly consumed by consumerism. We want the latest styles, the latest gadgets, and the latest miracle cream.
As a great big DUH, the entire fashion industry is run on consumerism.

At least sneaker heads pay for their sneakers.

Being Careful With Beauty Products

All I wanted was a basic facial cleanser and moisturizer. I stood in Sephora for probably an hour, comparing foaming cleansers to oil cleansers and debating between gel or lotion moisturizers. For some time, I had been using Sephora's branded skincare line and while it kept my face moisturized I was really wanting something more. I had started reusing some leftover Ole Henriksen products I had from last year and was really happy with the outcome, but sadly Sephora didn't have them in stock. Since I work outside in the elements and jet fuel emissions I needed something ASAP. I decided on Philsophy's Purity Made Simple cleanser and their cult-favorite Hope in a Jar. Shortly after using them for the first time on Sunday morning, I broke out into a mass of hives. I had a horrible bumpy, itchy, and scaly red rash all over my face and neck and even parts of my body that I had touched while getting dressed.

Most of the hives are gone now, but I still have some rash on my forehead and cheeks that I'm worried might scar. From what i've read, this rash could stick around for another few weeks. Great, fantastic, WONDERFUL. But, this isn't so much a story about a product that didn't work out for me. This is more of a story about how I was an idiot and didn't do things properly that could have avoided this whole hives episode.

I usually see it on the instructions of hair dye, but you should always try new skincare or cosmetics on the back of your hand or your forearm instead of just slathering it on your face. I'm pretty positive it was the moisturizer that cause the hives, since I've used Purity Made Simple in the past with no problems. I have even sampled it on my arm in two places before I decided to purchase it. In one area, I had two small bumps that resembled tiny ingrown hairs and on the other spot I had nothing happen. I didn't even notice the two tiny bumps until I was trying to figure out what had caused the reaction.

I don't have sensitive skin or allergies so I've never worried about having reactions before. Now I'm mildly terrified of breaking out again. I've let my skin rest all week, only washing it with Cetaphil. When I returned the Philsophy products I was sort of scared to buy any skincare even if it was meant sensitive skin. In the end, I purchased to the Ole Henriksen products I should have bought in the first place. I've used them before and was happy with the results I got the second time I used them. I did do spot tests on the inside of my arm the night before I started using them and thankfully, no hives.

But take care next time you're looking at new skincare or cosmetics. Let my itch and rash be a cautionary tale for everyone.