Daring Digits

I have always loved having pretty nails…even after dating the hand-obsessed MBA student who will forever be known to me as “Hand Man”…but that’s another story for another day. There is something so fun about bright colors and patterns adorning each pretty nail. Often times in professional settings, women tend to keep muted, plain colors painted on each nail. I am a firm believer in having some fun with your nails! If you carry yourself in a professional way and can rock that power suit well, why not have a little fun on your nails? The key to keeping them classy and not trashy is making sure that they are short, cleanly filed, and chip-free with a great top coat. In the past I have blogged about Sally Hansen Nail Effects, but this post will be about some other Do-it-yourself nail trends that will keep your dialers fresh and funky.

Metallic Nails

Simple, yet so chic. We are not talking about cliché golds and silvers. Look for gun-metal grays. Metallic blacks. Dark, shimmery bronzes. At first glance, these colors may look typical, but the fabulous metallics can add punch to any simple pair of jeans and black top.

Half Moon Manicure

The half-moon is the modern take on the French Manicure. No more dated white tips and pink bases, the Moon manicure punches up your look by mixing two colors for a daring look. You can do an understated moon with nude and black, or be a bit more daring with brighter colors. Either way, the moon manicure will turn heads.

Read all about it

Newspaper nails are by far my favorite new nail trend. They look like they are so difficult to do, but they are beyond simple. Simply paint your nails a light color-any light color will do. Grays, pinks, nudes, or even a pretty light blue or purple. Let your nails dry completely. Soak your nails in vodka or rubbing alcohol. Press a strip of newspaper against the soaked nail, and voila! You’ve got hip, printed nails! Cover with a top coat to protect your prints and you can rock your look for days!

There are so many other hot nails trends happening right now-I had a hard time choosing just three! What are your favorite nails trends? Any tricks or tips to achieving these looks?

Cheers.

 

What’s in a name?

 

I came across an article today telling the inspirational story of girls in India who recently participated in a “renaming ceremony.” You see, these young women had names such as “Nakusa” or “Nakushi,” which mean “unwanted” in Hindi. These names were given because of gender discrimination in some Indian regions, where the birth of a female child can be seen as a disappointment. The girls chose new names to mimic bollywood stars, or to represent something more hopeful: ”Vaishali,” or “prosperous, beautiful and good.

The story of these beautiful young women got me thinking about the burdens we bear as women. What names are you carrying with you? I don’t mean your birth name, but what mistakes have you made in your past that you carry with you? How have others branded you? How have you branded yourself?

Women carry pain with them through their lifetimes. All too often, we bury the hurt, and allow it to define us later in life. How inspirational are these Indian girls, shedding the names that have defined their lives thus far, and taking hold of their future.

I challenge you to take whatever you allow to define you – whether it be something that has been done to you, a mistake you have made, a shortcoming you feel you possess – and replace it with what you are and what you can be. Allow yourself to be strong. Allow yourself to be beautiful. Allow yourself to be as inspirational as these girls have been to the rest of the world.

Cheers.

You can read more about the renaming ceremony here.

Autumn Trends we Love: Crazy Colors and Walking Wild

Now that fall is here and the weather is about to change, sweaters, scarves, coats, and tights will become new wardrobe staples. We love the colors of fall-the oranges, browns, tans, reds…they are all gorgeous on the trees. All too often when fall rolls around women tend to opt for what they feel is the obligatory fall color palate.

Well ladies, News Flash! The days of orange and brown fall wardrobes are over! Shake your fall looks up with these bold trends that will be sure to keep you warm while you wait for Spring to roll around!

Walk on the Wild Side

Animal prints have been around for decades in fashion, dating back to the Bohemian Movement of the 1960′s. They went from offbeat, to upscale, to tacky, and if worn correctly, they can be chic and fabulous. Pair ONE bold animal print item with a brightly colored garment. A bright sweater with a leopard skirt. A lace trimmed cami with a belt animal print cardigan and jeans. Look for python shoes or bracelets. Find a thin leopard belt to cinch your otherwise demure office looks. As great as these items can look, BE CAUTIOUS! When purchasing animal print items, be sure to look for items that will look expensive. Leopard can easily look cheap and ruin an entire outfit. If you are going to rock an animal print, class it up with simple accessories and classic cuts. A classic pencil skirt in a bold print is sure to turn heads.

Jewel Tones

The hot colors of fall 2011 are Mustard Yellow, Jade Green, and Cobalt Blue. Warm, rich, jewel tones take the fall pieces and cuts you love to the next level. A blue jack or a yellow fall skirt, (of course, paired with FABULOUS tights) can help you from being bored with all of the browns and reds you are surrounded with this fall. Add some dark, royal purple and you are sure to stand out! Jade green is flattering to most skin and hair tones. It is an easy color to wear and compliments to many other colors. Yellow, purple, and orange all look great with jade. Don’t be afraid of colors! This leads perfectly into the next HOT trend of the fall:

Bold, bright, bottoms

Bright pants are all the rage in 2011. Red pants. Blue pants. Yellow Pants. You name it. It’s out there. Whether you choose to wear jewel tones or a warmer shade, be sure to snag at least one pair of bright, bold pants to pair with your traditional, plain tops and jackets. Finish the look with a great bag and booties and you will take fall by storm!

What is your favorite bold fall look?

Cheers.

Autumn Trends We Love: Pretty in Preppy

Each year when fall rolls around and the leaves begin to change, I automatically find myself gravitating towards preppier clothing than I wore all year long. The bows, cardigans, and tweeds all call out to me. Here are a few preppy staples-each with a bold twist-to keep you pretty in preppy now that Autumn is upon us!

[Funky] Tights

Tights are a great way to wear summer skirts and dresses into the cool, crisp days of fall. But say good-bye to the tights of the past, and hello to funky, colored, and patterned tights that spice up every wardrobe. Every preppy girl has her basic gray, black, and white tights, but in recent years tights have become cooler and funkier than ever. They are no longer just to keep your bare legs covered in the cold. The tights of today are just as fabulous as the shoes, purses, and jewelry used to accessorize and fabulous outfit. Whether you opt for a bright pair of yellow rights with a tweed mini, or a pair of hounds tooth patterned hose with your favorite suit for your meeting at work, these tights can be dressed up or down with ease.

Polka Dot [Prep]

I have always loved polka dots, so of course I was beyond excited to see them in so many fall lines for 2011. The polka trend has hit and I am LOVING the feminine touch it adds to preppy looks. Flowy blouses with ties, pencil skirts, and scarves are all punched up a bit when splashed with this trend. Be bold and wear a bright, spotted blouse with your plain, professional suit. Add some whimsy to a date by rocking a dotted skirt. Keep your neck warm with a darling polka dot scarf. Rock a red lip to take the look from trendy to vintage-chic.

Office Wear [Evening Flair]

Too often we shop for items with one purpose in mind. “This skirt will work for the office/happy hour/girl’s night.” etc. I love preppy, clean office wear, that can be easily converted into an evening look for cocktails, happy hour, networking, or date night. Preppy looks can easily look funky by taking traditional shapes and fabrics, and adding a punch of color or bold accessories. Gray and black tweeds always look fabulous with color. Add pink, yellow, blues, green. It all works! You can accessorize with traditional pearls, or add a large flower pin a la Carrie Bradshaw. Or a belt with a large bow to tie the look together. Office wear has evolved over the years and bright colors, funky shoes, and a little bit of fun is totally acceptable! Look fabulous in the office for your 9-5 and then walk into your evening activities with confidence that your preppy look is not only classy, but also fabulous.

What are your favorite preppy looks?

Cheers.