High Street Heroes: January

It's been a while but I thought I would trawl through the high street aimlessly so you don't have too!

With the weather being as crappy as it has been of late, I have spent most of my time trawling through coats, hats, gloves and scarves (amongst other things!)

Lacquer Up: Negative Nails

I have seen a lot of negative nails in the blogosphere of late.

Merricures       One Nail To Rule Them All    Nail That Accent

So I thought, for this lacquer up I would do my best, easy interpretation of a negative nail for you all to try. 

I have done a simple, diagonal negative nail on my first try as I haven't the steadiest of hands. 

In order to make sure the line is clean, I have used surgical tape to ensure a straight line.

Surgical tape is my new, best nail art friend. It's cheap and easy to use and can be cut and shaped with a pair of manicure scissors incredibly easily. Just like the manicure strips that I have written about before if you are wearing another colour underneath make sure the polish is bone dry before applying the tape. You will ruin your under polish otherwise. If you have time, put your base colour on the day before for the best results.

I applied my base coat and allowed to dry before adding the tape in the direction I wanted it to go. Once I was happy with it I applied my first layer of polish. 

I left to dry and applied another coat. Here I am using Ciaté's Mink, this needs a couple if layers for the colour to really shine through. 

This is now a discontinued colour, a similar colour that will work work their range is Cream Soda. 

Leave to dry completely. If not you'll end up with a jagged line, like one of my failed attempts 

Once dry, peel the tape of and apply a quick topcoat. I have added a couple of metal nail art hearts that I found on Amazon. I bought these to add interest to my manicure because it is a bank holiday carnival weekend and I have gone a little nail appliqué crazy since my last post; it's a simple and fun and easy addition to nails that require minimum effort. 

I completed with a more thorough layer of a high shine topcoat.

It's super easy and I will definitely persevere with it. I like how modern this looks, this can be formalised for a job interview; the colour above works well for that (above sans appliqué hearts obviously) or you could make it fun by slicking on a neon colour like Model's Own Toxic Apple. All winners in my opinion.

Go on, bag yourself some surgical tape and get negative!

#WantItWednesday (07/05/14)

I love the power of a good necklace. 

It can transform an otherwise safe t shirt and jeans combo into something unusual  and edgy. Rather than going to the shops for milk, you're going somewhere cool for drinks or for a casual date. 

E K Throngprasert does this best. The mix of silicon and jewels is a winning combination. 

The bright colours and intricate designs are worn best with a paired down silhouette, Single colours work best, allowing the pieces to shine. I think all grey works fabulously with the entirety of the collection. 

My favourite of the latest collection is this intricate wonderfully lustrous confection in purple. 

This is worn best with Navy and White. I want it all!! 

Details of all looks can be found here

#WantItWednesday (26/03/14)

I am a lover of handbags, but not in the way you would expect. I appreciate them, I always covet the latest satchel and cross body bag going. My bag purchases however are few and far between. 

Why? Because I shove my whole life, the kitchen sink and my ubiquitous emergency flats into my handbag so I NEVER change it. It needs to be sturdy, look effortlessly chic and go with the entirety of my wardrobe. I am often laughed at because I am known to lug my giant bag everywhere with me, even on nights out. 

I buy once a year, if that. I'm am currently lugging my ever so easy and effortless Longchamp around with me. And this is the bag I want next. 

Willow Tote, Mulberry

The Mulberry Willow is roomy, functional and utterly breathtaking on your arm.

It even (if you are so inclined) has an inbuilt emergency shoe holder!

(the pouch in the front) 

Not only is this a beautiful bag, it can carry everything you need and more and make you look effortlessly chic while doing it. 

Want! Want, Want on a Wednesday!