NOTD #7: Jazzed Pink

I love painting my nails. I find it almost therapeutic and relaxing to take half an hour once or twice a week to give myself a mini manicure. For a base coat I always use the O.P.I. Nail Envy and at the moment I am also using it as a top coat as I am on the hunt for a good and inexpensive replacement. Any suggestions will be hugely appreciated!

For a base I applied the No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in the shade Pinky Pure. This takes three thin coats to achieve an opaque colour which isn't ideal but it gives a really chic, manicured feel. To jazz it up a bit I decided to layer two coats of the Miss Sporty Sparkle Touch Nail Varnish which has multicoloured glitter particles mixed in and goes with literally any polish. I love this combination which lasts on the nails for around seven days due to the glitter top coat which helps to prevent chips more than one without glitter. The only thing I dread about glitter nails is the painfully long process of taking it off once it starts to chip! Someone really needs to invent something that makes it less taxing :P

You can purchase the pink nail colour here and the glitter polish here. Hope you enjoyed this quick nails post! :)

Hayley xxx

SS12

Right, so this time of year has come around again. It's the coldest part of the year but all the high street shops are packing their stores with brightly coloured cropped jeans, denim jackets and floral dresses. Many shoppers (including myself) fall line, hook and sinker into buying the newest spring/summer must haves. The thing is, once you get home you realise it's still -5 outside and you have to store your new purchases away for a good few months! With this in mind I though I would do a SS12 trends post to show you guys what colour, fits and pieces to look out for.

White and Pales

Now, there was an abundance of whites floating down the cat walk from structured, boxy two piece suits to floaty, girly dresses laden with lace, satin and broderie anglaise. Pastel colours were also a prominent feature -especially mint according to Lady Gaga- and if not all a one colour wash, then colour blocking, which we also saw as a trend in 2011. 

                       

Ethnic Inspiration


Many catwalk designers have taken inspiration from different countries and cultures in the latest collections. Tribal prints were big last year and prove to be once again a big staple. Animal prints seem to be a perpetual favourite throughout the whole of the fashion industry, whether that's a leopard print scarf or a zebra stripe cocktail dress. Teamed with earthy coloured, safari inspired basics, you should be right on trend. Paisley prints which are normally associated with the swinging sixties, gives an interesting Indian influence mix of patterns when paired with more contemporary prints. I must admit I am a bit terrified to mix loud and bold shapes on my clothing, how do you guys feel about it?

Beauty

Make up wise, the simpler the better. Minimalistic make up is the key with just a slither of brown mascara as well as a flawless base and moisturised lips for that healthy, radiant look. I'm not one to hold back with the extra volumising mascara so this one might be a bit tricky for me ;) If the thought of no-make-up-make-up scares you then no fear! Oddly, at the other end of the spectrum for spring 2012 is heavy eye make up. You thought that with the holiday season over, all those glitters and metallics would be thrown back into the depths of your make up bag. On recent catwalks, models have sported dark, metallic and even sometimes shimmery eyeshadow to give a grungy and care free look.