IT'S CRACK!

Now this is dope.

And what's more, BYS is an Australian company/brand.

I've been using BYS for a minute now and I LOVE their range - the colours are onpoint, consistency is extremely workable AND they retail for $4 a bottle.

Get into this concept. You paint a base colour (hot pink in this set) and then follow it with the special black varnish designed to crack and show the pink through it.

There are 3 sets in this collection all with varying base and cracking polish colours.

View all images and the full story at http://www.fashionaddict.com.au/fashion-blog/index.php/cracked-nail-polish-is-a-new-and-funky-look-for-your-nails/

Image courtesy of http://www.fashionaddict.com.au/

GETTIN THAT VISUAL??

Them jokesters over at Bleach Black have done it again with the release of their latest polish colour.

Described as a 'pearlescent, milky white' - it's been crowned 'Jizz'.

Hilarious.

...You may have heard of Bleach Black before, due to their attention-grabbing debut polish colour around Christmas time - a deep, metallic teal, entitled 'Dickweed'.

I love these girls.

These articles are equally bemused -

http://www.buzzfeed.com/scott/jizz-nail-polish

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/04/style_bloggers_share_their_new.html

http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-whats-that-on-fingernails-oh-just-my-jizz-nail-polish/

Images courtesy of refinery29.com

SHANGHAI SURPRISE

Following hot on the heels of that last dis - I will (and must) acquiesce just this once.

My faith has been temporarily restored. This is beautiful.

Thanks for bringing it back (finally!), KL.

full story at http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/03/best_bet_striking_gold.html

Image courtesy of nymag.com

PARTICULIERE-LY (NOT QUITE RIGHT)

If you're a regular reader, you'll already know how I generally feel about Chanel polishes (which, incidentally, happens to be the complete opposite of how I feel about Chanel handbags and Mr Lagerfeld - but, I digress....)

So, here's a professional's professional opinion...

If you feel some uncontrollable compulsion to aquire Chanel's current (yet, almost-out-of-favour, as May (and therefore 'Nouvelle Vague') approaches) varnish, 'Particuliere' - I urge you instead to do yourself one large and divert to O.P.I.'s 'You Don't Know Jacques!' or 'Over the Taupe', which is almost a dead ringer for 'Particuliere'.

I took Particuliere off a client the other day. It looks brown in the bottle, ugly khaki out of the bottle and baby-dodo yellow when it's coming off onto a cotton swab. I'm seriously starting to think Karl is playing us with these colours. For real.

Half the $$'s, O.P.I.'s consistency and wearability is infallible (and the same cannot be said for Chanel).

There. I said it.

P.s. Thank you, Vogue Australia - who, it looks, agree with me - with their first suggestion for this nail trend being 'Over the Taupe'. http://www.vogue.com.au/beauty/trends/taupe+trend,2857

Image courtesy of http://www.elle.com/

Check the link for the full story on brown varnish nail trends - http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Makeup-Skin-Care/Nail-Trends-Spring-2010-Shades-of-Brown

WELCOME BACK

Grazia Australia March 1, 2010

Vogue Australia May 2010

I, for one, (obviously) am hyped to see tanning coming back into high fashion photo shoots - and I am not talking about new season bags and shoes.

THIS is what an official spray tan looks like. Act like you (cottdamm) know.

And the Vogue Oz shoot is precisely why (spray) tanning should be perennial. I do not care if you can only see my face in winter - seeing ANY skin is reason enough, thank you very much.

Holla if ya hear me.

Images courtesy of Grazia Australia and Vogue Australia.

P.s. Would take any, and all, of these garments.... Ridiculous.

VUITTON IS FRENCH

New French by Sophy Robson for Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 - Paris Fashion Week.

I really believed all my prayers had been answered when permanent french acrylic went off the radar years ago - but like all trends we were (SO!) fond to bid farewell once upon a time (boot-leg jeans, clogs, anyone??..) - it seems it's making it's way back.

I can (sort of) get with this - because a) it's not reminding me of females named 'Cinnamon' or 'Lucious'... b) length, shape and crazy smile line all lend to this and make it refreshed and therefore, interesting... AND c) it's virtually impossible for Natasha Poly and/or Sophy Robson to make anything look anything other than 100% official.

It gets a pass (until I get asked for it...)

Many other fascinating pics at http://www.sophyrobson.com/

Image courtesy of Sophy Robson's twitter feed.

RESPECT!!!

Vivienne Westwood Gold Label A/W 10

Roland Mouret A/W 10

Giles S/S 10

I HEART Sophy Robson.

She is the undisputed heavyweight champ of the nail world right now.

I stan for her on Twitter (and elsewhere...) and she is EVERYWHERE all at once.

She's been doin up Paris Fashion Week, after taking 30 seconds to catch her breath from London Fashion Week.

Peep the magical stuff she (and her dope-ass team) conjured up...

AND then GET over to her super official website to see all the other behind-the-scenes pics and goss.

All images fresh off her blog... http://www.sophyrobson.com/

RUNWAY

Taking 'embellished' ALL the way there...

Marion (marian, marianne???) Newman (Creative Nail Design) for Gareth Pugh A/W 10 does it up, big and long and jangley (because that's a word....).

Yes indeed.

Full story over at - http://www.setyourstyle.com/post/fashion/gareth-pugh-detail-chain-nails.html

Image courtesy of them too. :)

RUNWAY

Alexander Wang

Cushnie Et Ochs

Tracy Reese

Nail trends from the runways at New York Fashion Week were bah-na-nas... seriously.

Everyone was confidently pushing their own direction and whatever you're into, someone was representing - from short and square to the refreshed long and almond. From slick, sheer and glossy to matte and muddy. From simply varnished to stompin-on-crushed-glass encrusted. From 1940's inspired to '90's throwback to eerie futuristic.

No colour trend (even from seasons recently gone) was off-limits either - black, red, white, nude, dark army green, taupe, ballerina pink, inky blue - even clear - varnishes showed out everywhere.

My favs were Alexander Wang, Elie Tahari, Diego Binetti (RIDICULOUS!), Jason Wu and Karen Walker.

ALL the images you want to see are over here - http://www.bellasugar.com.au/Nail-Trends-Fall-2010-From-New-York-Fashion-Week-7516024

Go forth and get into it.

All images courtesy of http://www.bellasugar.com/

VIVA ITALIA TAN

Big ups to RC for embracing the tan in the new decade!

But let's face it - Bob has never really been afraid of being truly tanfastic. History will show and prove...

Here...


Here...

And here! (this one's really good...)

The Jersey Shore kids have been vindicated this year!! (although, there is a fine, but CLEAR line between bronzed and tandoori (yees, as you can see - even mighty Bert (and Kate!) have fallen victim)).

Look forward to Snooki's guest appearance in the up and coming campaigns!! (Jk - but, don't front - weirder 'isht HAS happened).

Spring/Summer '10 image courtesy of http://www.fashionising.com/

PEEP TOM

This has got to be one of Tom Ford's tamer campaigns... It actually suits him!

Spring/Summer 2010 - very cute and cheeky and cool.

I'm submitting this one 'cause I LOVE the tan lines.

See a fuller collection of shots over at http://www.thehouseofpretty.com/

HOUSE OF PRETTY

The above bunch of posts come courtesy of inspiration (and images) drawn DIRECTLY from THEHOUSEOFPRETTY.

Let me be crystal clear - I cannot stan enough for this website (forgive me, Aja...).

Let me also remind you, it's all about the nails (well, maybe not...) just here - 'LOVE' magazine Spring/Summer 2010.

Get the #$*! over to http://www.thehouseofpretty.com/ to see ALL the goodness....

FRESH

Dunno who's collection this is or who did the nails - but, I DO know I want that clutch!

Image courtesy of http://www.thehouseofpretty.com/

THE ILLEST...

Illamasqua is the new make-up and polish range founded by Julian K (Kynaston), with input for the new summer range of nail varnishes by my newest idol, Sophy Robson.

As the Northern Hemisphere heads into Spring/Summer, all the pastels are coming strong and this range is no exception - the collection is gorgeous.

Just before this range launches, Sophy does a sneaky mention of it in her January blog - not really being able to reveal any actual detail about it - but she did hooked us up with the promo vid of Illamasqua's DYSTOPIA range to tide us over.

Ill doesn't even begin to describe... very inspirational.

http://www.sophyrobson.com/blog/?p=1483

Check out Illamasqua's other collections at http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/catalogue/nails/

Image courtesy of http://www.beautyshop.com/ (currently under construction)

RUNWAY

Givin it to you as it comes down the runway (or there-abouts...).

Chanel goes Minx-ie (and shorter, with a nice soft curve) with silver foil wraps to match the fingerless gloves.

Christian Dior is Parisian, mid-length, crimson, almond shaped with the (1920-30's style) lunulas exposed.

Jean Paul Gaultier has the squared off, icy blue talons.

More amazing images of this collection over at thehouseofpretty.com.

Chanel image courtesy of http://uk.stylelist.com/2010/01/26/chanel-haute-couture-beauty-spring-2010/

Jean Paul Gaultier image courtesy of http://www.thehouseofpretty.com/

DON'T FRONT ON THE LACE

Had to post this because the concept and image is so beautiful (plus, the McQueen minaudiere is bananas....*sigh*)

These gorgeous ones were done by Elle, celebrity manicurist, who has worked with just about every celebrity, top-tier photographer and magazine worth it's glossy pages you can think of.
http://barielle.blogspot.com/2009/02/get-to-know-elle-our-celebrity.html

Big respect to All Lacquered Up.com for the lead. If you love polish and you want a comprehensive breakdown of just about every brand and colour, style and trend on the planet, they've got you. (There's also a tutorial on there to recreate these lacy lovelies...)

image courtesy of http://www.alllacqueredup.com/

MANNEQUAN?? YES! WE CAN!

The nudist movement is gaining serious ground (almost critical mass) with many, many references to 'mannequin' hands (UPDATE - Feb 2010 - this term and look came from Soph Robson who did the nails at LV - official) popping up over the last weeks.

Reports from Louis Vuitton S/S 2010 runway (top image) mentioned MH's in stark contrast to the cr-aaziness sweeping the rest of the collections (in regard to nail design), and just about everyone had a go at the Golden Globe awards last week,

here... (about 1/4 way down the page)

http://www.thehouseofpretty.com/search?updated-max=2010-01-19T09%3A42%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=20

and here...

http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2010/01/mannequin-hands-golden-globes.html

And let's not forget, Vanessa Cruz, nudin' it right out there (2nd image) for L'Official Magazine - (also, it looks like, leading the charge with the backlash against spraytanning....sheesh (as divine as she is - no hate...)).

This is, by no means, the first nude-inspired photoshoot - they've been everywhere for a looong minute now, but it certainly is a nice one.

Cop the rest of it here...

http://www.fashionising.com/pictures/s--Vanessa-Cruz-LOfficiel-Brazil-October-2009-4257-1.html

P.s. ...maybe some of you can help settle an arguement for me? Have a little look there at Ms Cruz - cameltoe or a seam? Perspective/opinion could tend to be gender-biased....

Back on track!....I've been loving this part of the 90's revisited since probably late '08 and have been trying to push the nude since then. It's been real slow to gain ground, but I think it's safe to assume that all the kids have gotten the update.

Not only is it beautiful, but just about everyone can find a shade they can easily wear (as evident at the G.G.'s..).

Yay, nude!

Vanessa Cruz image courtesy of http://www.fashionising.com/

OFFICIAL

The goddesses that defy musical genre classification, Rihanna and M.I.A, tone it down slightly (in the nail department) and still keep it so fresh and stylistic.

Love. (I need that fringe bracelet/armband in my life.)

Check the beautiful http://www.thehouseofprettycom/ for more goood stuff.

images courtesy of thehouseofpretty

80'S BORDERLINE 90'S

If ya don't know, now ya know.... It's officially official!

My girl, Ciara (others may hate, but I can't...) has brought it back for L'Officiel Magazine (see?? even they know - official!) with the 90's heat at the tips of her fingers.

I think I still have photographic evidence of rockin (the stuffing!) out of this look the first time around - although, I think I may have held on to this burgandy madness just a smidge too long, because as dope as this is on Ci, I'm having a disturbing flashback right about now.

...I'm pretty sure it was Revlon that did the matching lipstick (...this is possibly where I started pushing the look downhill ....)

Get it while it's hot. Next week, it gon be somethin else....

more images at http://necolebitchie.com/2010/01/04/ciara-btch-you-better-work

RUNWAY

Few months old, but I feel the need to post these images of maverick trends from the runways - just to get 'em on here...

Top look was from the Dsquared S/S '09/'10 show - the ironic stark french talons to match up with their cheeky-chic trucker-chick styling was cute and funny. To be left on the runway, though (don't argue...).

Next one was from Thakoon's latest autumn showing, tying together the most current slick 'parisian' manicure (in which the lunula section of the nail bed conspicuously stands out from the rest of the paint job) with some modern, crisp, clean, monochromatic stencil-like design rounding out the rest of the nail.

Nice balance.

Definitely recreatable.

Completely wearable.

Third look was from a little way back at Prada's S/S 2010 offering - taking it right out there with clear tips on feet as well as hands.

I like this alot. I've used clear tips for a million years, because I always did (DID!!) permanent french with white acrylic (as opposed to white tips, ala Dsquared) - not that you'd get one day out of these little cherubs without something over them (gel, acrylic), and even with the added strength of some kind of coating, they have the nasty tendancy to split when they cop any kind of impact. These too, are just for the runway. Cool, though.

Predictably, I'm loving how much attention nails are getting at this time. There are some seriously talented artists finally getting the shine they deserve on a global, mainstream level.

Read on for more indepth analysis of many other designers' choices for nails to complete their directional visions... http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/nails--a-real-talon-contest-1851410.html

Thakoon nails image courtesy of http://www.independent.co.uk/