Review: Essie Leading Lady nail polish

I picked this little Essie beauty up when I was in Boots yesterday.  I’d been looking for a new polish for some time now and wanted something a little different from my usual plum or cotton candy colours (I had to resort to superhuman strength to resist the urge to buy Essie’s Fiji, Mint Candy Apple or Bahama Mama) instead I opted for this deep read shade with sparkling red glitter.  I did stop and reconsider for one second wondering if it was a bit too festive – especially since February is just around the corner – but since there is snow outside I think it’s only right to have a little Christmas cheer to go with the weather. 

Overall, I really like this nail polish. The application was smooth and it dried extremely quickly – something which for me is an extreme bonus as I am so impatient.  There are a lot of glitter particles in the polish which meant I only needed two coats of the polish to achieve a full red discoball effect.  My only slight disappointment was that in a bright light the polish in the bottle has a slight pinky tint to it which does not translate on to the nail.  But in hindsight this is probably a good thing as the deep red colour stops this polish looking like something a 7 year old would wear at a Nativity play and gives the polish an overall effect of being altogether all more sophisticated and decadent! 

Love is in the hair...

With Bebo being permanently deleted from the Internet, it prompted me to let out a joyous sigh of relief.  Gone are the crass online attempts at teenage flirting through the medium of hearts, cringey messages where I tlkd smthin lyk dis, and explicit drawings of the male anatomy (which was left on my page by a once-upon-a-time unrequited love).  Gone are the pictures documenting those awkward teenage years of acne, braces, over straightened hair and the love for anything with Jane Norman, FCUK or Kookai labels splashed all over it. But perhaps best of all gone is the evidence of me having essentially the exact same haircut since I was 15. That’s 8 years of having shoulder length brown hair with a swept over fringe.  Okay – I wear it longer now and with a curl, but apart from a brief infidelity with a full fringe, I have been faithful to the same basic cut all this time.

And here is my problem: I LOVE my hair.  But I am bored with it.  So, I’ve looked to the Spring/Summer 12 catwalk trends for inspiration.

One look I know it will not be rocking is the wet look, seen below at Alexander Wang, BCBG and Chanel.  Whether it is accessorized, quiffed, centre parted or just simply slicked back this is one look that is not going to happen. 

One look that I will most definitely be attempting is the twisted and braided up dos.  I can do all the basic braid - Lauren Conrad’s simple side plait is my go-to when my fringe is being uncooperative - but I want more...halo, milkmaid and waterfall braids are what I want to achieve!  The hair at Valentino will be my hairspiration this spring summer.

Moschino, Giorgio Armani and Valentino.

My favourite of the trends is the Glamorous Blowout.  It is so old Hollywood, 70s glam. It is timeless, chic and gorgeous! I can’t wait for my hair to grow longer and then these voluminous and glossy loose curls shall be mine!

 

Versace, Issa and Anna Sui.

And finally, after debating getting this done for roughly a year (I am indecisive and don’t take well to change – can’t you tell?!) I have committed myself to get a modern, honey-blonde ombre do. It is really not that radical, but I do heart it very much.  After 8 years of having the same hairstyle this may just been the beginning of a whole new follicle awakening. 

Yes, it is really the time I took plunge, or the dip as the case may be...

rumble ramble.

Since moving back to Social-Siberia (that’s Perth, Scotland FYI) I’ve been feeling pretty uninspired.  So, while sitting here on my little single bed, trolling about the internet on my laptop, sipping on a Coors Light, I have come over all Carrie Bradshaw and decided to update my blog of all the things that have caught my eye of late.

I just about lost my shit when I saw this on The Stylist’s Facebook feed.  How inspired! It has been taken from Tumblr and I think it’s bloody brilliant.  I especially love Cinderella & Confessions: “I used a cleaning service.” Very, very fun.

Another thing that I am loving is my new bag from River Island. 

Now, I am not the biggest fan of River Island.  I have not shopped there in years. But I was skipping through it on my way to Tesco whilst on my lunch break, the glitter of gold caught my eye. I simply couldn’t resist this bag. It’s a high street version of Mulberry Carter (which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE), and despite having River Island embossed on the front, I am pretty much obsessed.

B E A UTIFUL.

And last, but not least, I could not end this this post without talking about the advertising campaign sent to us from the Chanel Gods.  Yes, Mr Lagerfeld has created this simplistically chic, effortless and timeless ad. 

Why cannot I be a bouclé skirt suit, sandal and sock wearing gymnast? Oh, well maybe because it is about 2 degrees outside...But anyway, it is stunning.

ti amo Versace!

I have broken my months of silence on this blog to celebrate Versace's Spring 2012 collection. It has been without a doubt my favourite show from all New York, London and Milan (however, there is still Paris to go)! 

Okay, I'll admit its not the most boundary pushing or outrageous of collections, but the sheer prettiness of it makes my heart a-flutter and makes involuntarily girly squeals come out of my mouth.  What's not to like...?

 The Little Mermaid aesthetic? GOOD.

The Lucky Charms colour palette? GOOD.

Bombshell models with long, glossy hair and glowing skin? GOOD.

 Beautiful full-length gowns that I would kill to wear? GOOD.

Lindsey Wixson was so bowled over with the collection she fell over on the runway! 

Maybe falling is becoming her signature pose (as Tyra would say).

Donatella has created a totally sexy, fun, flirty and glam collection.  Chiffon, studs, seahorses and plenty of leg on show - life is complete. 

I leave you with a parting thought, and my only dislike of the collection...

I can help but liken this dress to Heidi Montag's discoballs.

**scary**

new beginnings & first times.

Well, well, well.  My first post.  I'd been struggling to decide what to dedicate this most pivotal moment to...and I have came to the conclusion than nothing would quite suffice than a roundup of a couple of my most favourite fashion things. (Extremely self indulgent, I know.)

The first thing I HAD to mention is one of my ultimate favourite labels, Marchesa.  Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig know how to get my heart fluttering with their breath-taking, squeal-inducing, fantastically romantic designs.  Astronomically expensive, but in a way I like that.  It adds to the fantasy and unattainability of Marchesa.  It's impossible to pick, but the three dresses pictured above are three of my favourite.  All from the Fall 2010 collection, to me they define beauty and perfection:  monochrome, stars, feathers, complex embroidery, cut out and mesh panels.  Heaven.  The fact that the first dress is styled with a pair of Madame Butterfly booties only adds to the dizzying heights of perfection.

Which brings me round perfectly to my next favourite...shoes! I work in Schuh which unfortunately do not stock, Atwoods, Louboutins or Charlotte Olympias.  So instead trailing around net-a-porter.com and House of Fraser in Glasgow has to suffice. Christian Louboutin's Madame Butterfly booties are at the top of my wish list. 

 

Ahh-mayyy-zing.  Not that I would be able to walk very well in them...which would most definitely ruin the effect of wearing such a chic pair of shoes.

I would also love these Brian Atwood beauties (I've nickednamed them The Princess Shoes).  They're not something I would usually go for, mainly because of the super-bling embossed heels, but oh-my-gosh these are so pretty!

I could not end finish this post without declaring my love of Miu Miu (je 'taime Mrs Prada!), Valentino, and Chanel. However, please do not get me started on Blake Lively as the face of Mademoiselle...