Nail Spring.

Two weekends ago was my bachelorette party and of course we all had to get our nails done together. Manicures and pedicures courtesy of MiniLuxe kicked off an amazing time. (Thank you ladies!) Upon arrival I was very excited to find that CND finally has new colors for shellac manicures. And just in time, because as you know, a new season always makes me want to change things up.

From brights to pastels, spring fashion is all about color. In sharp contrast, the new CND collection is all neutrals and metallics. I love this. A colorful outfit can sometimes require the addition of a neutral to keep it in sophisticated territory, especially for work. If your shoes, handbag, skirt, and blouse are all colorful (which can often read playful), you might want to think about balancing out your look with makeup and nails in elegant, neutral shades.

This is the new Spring 2012 CND Nail Color Collection:

'Gold VIP status' and 'Silver VIP Status' are both shimmer effects that can be layered over your favorite shade. You know I love my metallics, as seen here.

'Dark Lava' is screaming my name on this grey March day. It is a creamy raisin which could be seen as your first baby step away from the black polish you have been wearing all winter. I'm happy to finally see a dark color other than black among the shellac polishes. Especially one without shimmer!

'Rubble' is a mushroom taupe, and looks very chic to me. Could be the perfect warm neutral shade? I can't wait to try it.

I've been waiting for a nice cool grey shellac for a while. Enter 'Cityscape'. Described as a creamy dove grey, I think it will compliment spring's pastel-colored clothing beautifully.

'Silver Chrome' is silver chrome. A cool, edgy shade for your weekend night out.

What is your favorite shade? Have you tried any yet? All nail color reviews are welcome. :)

Treat everyday like you are on the runway.

Warm Toes.

A common problem for New England women is the winter pedicure. Once the drying machine has gone through three cycles, you cannot sit there anymore! (And who has the time anyway.) It's what happens next that is the problem.

We've all been there. Maybe you make yet another sacrifice for beauty and wear your flip flops outside, despite frigid temperatures. You would rather feel your feet freezing off rather than risk smudging that new glossy sheen. Others, braver than I, ask for some plastic bags and oil and stuff their feet back into their leather winter boots/shoes and hope for a miracle. Inevitably, by the time they get home there is always a smudge from the unforgiving shoes and/or that annoying imprint on their nails from the texture of their socks.

Yesterday, The New York Times Style section offered their solution. Introducing, bootie-pies. "Bootie Pies are Ugg-like suede and leather boots with collapsible front flaps so that recently painted toes can continue to dry without risking hypothermia to the rest of the foot ($68 to $88 at bootiepies.com)."

Innovative, yes. But let me be clear here: I would not be caught dead in these. Sorry, NYT. They are ridiculous and may give me nightmares.

I would like to offer a better solution to your winter pedicure blues. As a person who is always cold, I am a slippers gal. (I usually buy a new pair each year and they help me make it through the winter months.) This year, I am loving this indoor/outdoor pair of Ansley Ugg Slippers, the updated version of my favorite Dakota Ugg Slippers. Both styles are available in a variety of colors and will not only protect your feet from the cold but they are cute, comfortable, and have more than one use.

{Ugg Australia Slippers, Ansley, $99.95}

{Ugg Australia Slippers, Dakota, $99.95}

How: Before you leave the nail salon, ask for two plastic bags and oil. Add oil to the bags and put the bags on your feet. Tie the bags at your ankles to keep moisture in. Skip the socks and slip your bagged feet straight into these slippers. Voila! Warm feet and the forgiving nature of the shearling will NOT smudge your pedicure. The Ansley slipper even looks close enough to a loafer that you can finish your errands (think grocery store or pharmacy) wearing them.

Bonus: As you may know, one of the best ways to keep your feet soft is to put lotion on them and to wear socks to bed. This is better. Keep the plastic bags with oil on your feet for as long as possible and you will have the softest feet ever. You will never sleep in socks again.

Whether you get regular pedicures or not, trust me when I say you need these slippers. Your feet (and freshly painted toes) will thank you. Happy 2012.

Treat everyday like you are on the runway.

Neon Denial.

The. Summer. Is. Over.

There, I said it. But that doesn't change the fact that even as the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, I am in denial. This may have something to do with why NEON is my favorite trend right now. The colors almost simulate sunshine when worn on a cold, overcast day in the city. I've had my eye on these babies for a while...

{The Cambridge Satchel Company, $170.}

My two clients who bought these neon satchels love them! They are the perfect size for a grad student or a busy mom. Neon accessories are about as subtle as this trend gets. If the bag isn't your style, try on some neon jewelry. This necklace is fabulous! You can wear it now and next summer. On Etsy, here.

I love this one too. Another great Etsy find, here.

Want a bolder statement? Try neon makeup. (Love the hot pink color above.) Maybe not a daytime trend, but for a night on the town? Hot. And why not? It's fun to try new things. 

Nail polish is another great "subtle" way to work neon into your style. 

Or take a page from this adorable little girl's style file, and try some neon in your hair!

Neon and leopard?! Amazing. I would like to take this outfit off of her and put it on myself.

Simply stunning. THIS is how you stand out in a sea of black dresses.

Still on the fence about neon in your everyday style? Here is more of my current inspiration. I hope it brightens your day the way it did mine.  :)

Will you wear neon?

Treat everyday like you are on the runway.

{All images via Pinterest.}

Seeing Red.

My future nuptials are forcing me to face many things I am afraid of. Two of those things are the dentist and orthodontist. Since my braces were taken off ten years ago, my teeth have moved and I've decided I want them straight again for my wedding. (With what we are paying our wedding photographer it seems like a no-brainer.) Our big day is a mere seven months away, so I've spent a lot of time in the dentist chair this week. Not fun. However, I received some fabulous advice from a dental assistant at the office yesterday. And now it is a life secret I feel I must share with you: Back unpleasant appointments up to pleasant ones.

Such a simple concept, yet I had never thought about it before. The dental assistant witnessed the tension in my whole body during a routine filling and suggested I schedule a massage for after the appointment. PERFECT. However, I was no where near the spa so instead I made a nail appointment on my way home. With a splitting headache, the novacaine wearing off, and nothing but 2 advil in my hand, I stopped at my nail salon. Two hours later I emerged with red nails and toes (a slightly darker shade on my feet) and feeling like a new woman. I had completely forgotten about my very unpleasant morning.

When I got home and Erich saw my nails he said, "You look like yourself again." He was right. Red is my signature nail color and I'm glad to be back. It always makes me happy and now I have a great way to combat future dentist and gynecologist appointments! Of course, a massage will do too.

You have all heard me rave about shellac/gel manicures (see here) and I have to say it is still my favorite beauty invention. I go to the nail salon every three weeks and my nails stay shiny for every day in between. My nails rarely chip which is somewhat incredible considering what I put a manicure through with my job. And a nice shiny coat of red lacquer on my hands is an instant pick me up. My go-to shade of shellac is Wildfire by CND.

{CND Shellac, Wildfire, $16.93}

If you are not ready to get on the shellac train yet, I also love OPI Big Apple Red and OPI The Thrill of Brazil. Both are similar to my beloved Wildfire. When I wear red on my nails, I usually choose a slightly darker shade for my feet. It keeps things interesting and adds some depth. This time I chose OPI Kennebunk-port.

What is something that always turns your day around? Do you have any signature beauty tricks that people associate with you?

Treat everyday like you are on the runway.

Gold Standard

I have been on a serious gold kick lately. It's all things I love: glamourous, nostalgic, and regal. The tone is also perfect with my skin tone. Here are three things I can't stop staring at this week:

1) My toes! What female doesn't love a little sparkle? My recent pedicure is perfect for the end of summer.   I'm wearing this pretty gold glitter polish over a very pale pink. After all of the bright shades from spring to summer, this neutral metallic is a welcome change.

{Deborah Lippmann Polish in Boom Pow, $20.}

2) We were updating our bridal registry at Bloomingdales when these caught my eye. Now they are my favorite cross-my-fingers-we-receive wedding gift. This table setting would bring glamour to even the most boring dish. I think I would eat my cereal with this and some feather slippers.

{DVF, Night, 5 Piece Place Setting, $105.}

3) The silverware above would look amazing with these drinking glasses. I would add a huge vase of light pink peonies and some fabulous white china to complete my fantasy table-scape.

{Dwell Studio, Gold Triangles Drinking Glass, $62- $72.}

*Sigh.* A girl can dream...

Enjoy your weekend.

xo

Happy May.

Ah, the start of another week. The good news is, it's May. I feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that winter could not be further away in New England. We get to look forward to seven glorious snow-free months and I am ready. Bring on spring!


For obvious reasons, one of the hottest trends in nail polish every spring is coral. It is a color that is off limits during the grey months of winter so it marks the change of seasons for me. Coral is bright, it's warm, it shows off a tan, and it always makes me think of tropical vacation destinations. You can't help but feel cheery looking at these shades. They are the perfect bold statement for spring. However, much like hot pink lipstick (see post here), you need to find the right coral nail polish shade that works for your skin tone. This means that shades of peachy melon or reddish orange may be more appropriate for you than a bright coral orange. Here are some of the best:

  

 Top to bottom:
1. Chanel, Miami Peach- A pinky peach with a very subtle gold shimmer. Office friendly and totally chic.
2. Deborah Lippmann, Girls Just Want To Have Fun- Pink Orange. Feminine and fun. New color for Spring 2011!
3. Deborah Lippmann, Lara's Theme- Double Dutch Orange - Hot orange. For those who are bold. It was also featured in the May issue of Vogue. (*Note: In the magazine it appears much more red than it is in person.)

4. Essie, Clambake- A rich red orange. Perfect for toes.


Handling hangers, zippers, buttons, and tape all day means that my manicures barely last a whole week before chipping. When I got engaged this past winter, people were constantly asking to see my ring and I had to come up with a better solution for my nail. (Acrylics were not an option. In fact, they should be banned in my opinion.)  Enter the god-send: gel nail polishes. I will never go back to ordinary polish for my hands. A gel polish manicure lasts me three weeks! And, because of the way the polish bakes on, it is dry when I get up from the table so my nails never smudge. When these polishes first came out, the color selection was limited, but not anymore. Here is the color I chose yesterday:

It's a shellac polish called Tropix, by CND. Out of the bottle it's a bright pinky coral and it is definitely putting me in the mindset for a new season. I've come out of hibernation! And so has the beautiful Kim Kardashian. She wore coral to the Kids' Choice Awards this year.

So, my fellow style goddesses, will you be wearing coral nail polish this spring?