Top 5 nail polishes for summer

Inspired by Alyse's post about her make-up collection, including an array of nail polishes, I decided to bring mine out and count them (and, of course, I inevitably took a picture, too: woot woot). I determined I have over 50 different kinds (I didn't include all of them in the photo), and, if you consider that each one, on average, costs $7, that's a $350 nail polish collection. Ew, I know.

Since I refuse to admit that summer is more than half way over, I thought I'd...celebrate? by choosing my top five favorite polishes for summer out of my collection. Here goes.


#1: a vibrant coral

Summer is the perfect time to sport cheery, bright coral nails. I bought O.P.I. "Conga-line Coral," as pictured, last summer and had a moderate fetish with it for a few months. It's less intimidating than coral lipstick, but still just as fun. I think the trick is to pay attention to skin tone. I chose a more red shade because (I think) I have yellow undertones, so an orange-based color would just be too much.


#2: a robin's egg blue (or green)

This seems to be a recent trend lately, and I'm just one more person jumping on the bandwagon. I just purchased Nicole by O.P.I.'s "Hint of Mint" and am in love with the color. I think it's, surprisingly, a very versatile color, and wore similar hues last winter and spring. I know Chanel has/had a similar shade out that I'm sure is wonderful, but I'm okay with spending a bit less and just applying a few extra coats to get the right opacity.


#3: a neutral

Seems boring, right? Not in the least. Neutral, beige polishes, like O.P.I. nail lacquer in "Sand in my Suit," look classy and polished (no pun intended). I also like going a little lighter, as seen here.


#4: a chocolate brown

I love this color, especially in August and September when the weather is transitioning. Revlon's "Totally Toffee" will be my go-to nail color next month.


#5: a hint of pink

A classic pink is always in style. Pink nails look so nice up against just about anything, but I love how they look with summer's floaty white dresses and tanned (or untanned, like some of us *ahemmeahem*) skin. O.P.I.'s "Heart Throb" is a color I tend to fall back on when I just want something more normal.

Tell me: what are your favorite nail polish colors for summer? How many polishes do you think you own?

* This is probably going to be my last post for a while (a while as in no more than a week) because, as you might have read, I'm on vacation and, as you did not read because I did not know, there isn't any free wi-fi here, and getting the internetz in your room is extra $$$ (which is kind of...ridiculous, considering it's 2010 and all) and I'm a cheapskate. So, be back soon!

Flora

It's only Tuesday, I'm supposed to be on vacation, and it's been a terrible week so far. So, you know, that's totally awesome. I just received this dress from Mod Cloth and planned on wearing it less vintage-y sweet, but it didn't quite work out that way. I was originally thinking dress, black belt, piles of jewelry, and black boots. Instead, I put on the total opposite. Way to go.

On a totally different note...has anyone heard anything about AmeriCorps before? I'm doing a three and a half month internship this fall (graduation requirement), but there's also an AmeriCorps position open at the same location...my future supervisor is REALLY pushing it, saying how great an experience it is, but it seems like she's just trying to be a good salesperson. My three month internship is unpaid, but the AmeriCorps position offers a monthly stipend...the only catch is it's a year long thing, and I'm afraid of commitment. So, anyway, I was just wondering if anyone knew anything or had any ideas.

Dress: Mod Cloth
Belt: Gap
Hat: America Eagle
Boots: Steve Madden

She's so heavy

"Sur La Route" photographed by Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin


Most of the time, I look at editorials in fashion magazines more for the photography than the actual clothes, since the clothes tend to be a bit extreme and I find it hard to relate to what I'd wear in real life. This editorial, featured in the April 2008 edition of French Vogue is not like that. I've always been intrigued by a look my mother not-so-lovingly refers to as "biker chic," so these photos really do it for me. Most of all, the editorial features the lovely Kate Moss, who I have a tiny bit of a girl crush on. Inspired by these photos so much, I created a little "get the look" section, featuring pieces inspired by this editorial. For real life, I'd probably turn down the harshness a tone or two by wearing more neutral make-up (NOT heavy dark liner) and a sweeter hair style (NOT that messy, overgrown mullet-thing).






TOP ROW: Diane Von Furstenberg, J. Crew, Urban Outfitters, American Eagle, Miz Mooz, Alexander Wang, MIDDLE ROW: Sam Edelman, Horse+Nail, Rich & Skinny, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, BOTTOM ROW: KUT from the Kloth, American Eagle, Top Shop, Frye, Linea Pelle


* I am unofficially officially on vacation, so I'm going to be changing up the posts a bit. I'm leaving for Florida in a few days and plan on packing lots of tennis shoes (for theme park walking) and, for the most part, rather unstylish clothing (partially because it's going to be HOT and I'm not going to be a slave to fashion if it means nearly passing out from heat stroke, and also because I think I have an irrational fear of my luggage getting lost, so I don't want to pack anything I really like and would miss if it were gone), so "what I wore today" posts aren't really going to be plentiful for the next week or so (oh damn, I know you're upset about that one) (please note the sarcasm). I have a few posts lined up already, but if there's anything in particular you would like to see, drop me a note.

Three cheers for ill-fitting dresses

American Apparel fans, what's your secret? Most everything I buy there either ends up being returned or hanging in the back of my closet. This double u-neck dress is no exception. I've been avoiding it ever since I bought it because it shows every little thang and then some. It's another case of a faux fupa (with an extra helping of faux lovehandles). I had an a-ha! moment (which probably came to me when I was viewing this blog, as she did the same thing with her dress, except she totally pulls it off better than me, most likely because she doesn't have tits the size of large cantaloupes like moi) and thought I'd outsmart it by putting on a skirt, since the top half isn't quite as bad. It worked well enough, except for the fact that it made my boobs look like I could use them as a tray to serve drinks on at a dive bar. Therefore, I'm going to be a pansy and not post any front views of this outfit. Look at my shoes and sunglasses instead, because they are lovely.

Tell me: do you own anything from American Apparel? What are your thoughts?

U-neck dress: American Apparel
Skirt: Urban Outfitters
Clutch: Steven by Steve Madden
Sunnies: Gucci
Stilettos: Giuseppe Zanotti

You say yes, I say no

My day started out like this:





And quickly changed into this after I realized the "pleating" on the yellow dress gave me a faux fupa:








After viewing all the pictures, I decided that the second dress really was not much better: it also made me look rather hefty. Look at my ass in the last picture. I wouldn't even include it, but I feel like the back detail of the dress was necessary to show y'all. And, since this is a fashion blog, not a look-at-my-not-so-great-figure blog, hopefully my fat ass is the least thing you'll notice. I swear, some outfit ideas just are not meant to work.


Here is the lovely blog award I was talking about in my last post. Thanks again Gets! This award comes with some rules, and they are:

1. Thank the person that gave you award.
2. Copy the award and put it on the blog.
3. List 3 things you love about yourself.
4. Post a picture you love.
5. Tag 5 people to pass the award on to.

So, three things I love about myself: 1) I have a good work ethic. Need an example? I'm taking 20 college credits this summer, and I'm graduating with a double major and a minor three years out of high school (and, I worked almost full time for two of those years). 2) I try hard. I put 110% of myself into most everything I do. 3) I have confidence. Like everyone else, I have my down in the dumps days, but I try not to show it.

Here's a picture I took over the weekend that I like. It reminds me of a summer full of relaxation, something I haven't experienced much this year. It's by no means the greatest picture ever, but I took it, and it means something to me.



Five blogs I am passing on this award to (let it be known that I love A LOT more blogs than just these five. Oh yes I do!):

1. Fashion First & Foremost
2. The-Not-So-Secret-Loves of Bri
3. Mostly Polished
4. Sour Tang
5. Closet Hound

Floral blouse: Urban Outfitters
Yellow dress: Urban Outfitters
Purple dress: American Eagle
Necklace: American Eagle
Wedges: Seychelles
Bag: Steven by Steve Madden

Also, due to my absent mindedness, I forgot to post what brand my shoes were in the last post. They're Jessica Simpson, and they are painful. Be warned.

1931

Fashion illustration from the August 1931 cover of Femina. Republished in 100 Years of Fashion Illustration by Cally Bleackman.


I've been inspired by this look ever since I got the book as a gift a few years back. Since then, I'd been searching high and low for a pair of pants as similar as possible to the "flared beach-pyjama trousers." I found the ones I'm wearing on sale at J. Crew, and at least they satisfy the color, but unfortunately, they don't have the same lovely shape as the "original" ones. Needless to say, I like the illustration's outfit better than mine...but still. Probably should have ironed the pants too. And I never thought I'd say this, but I wish my hat was actually floppier.

And...I would like to thank Gets for a blog award! I appreciate it m'dear and I'll be posting it *officially* next blog since I'm in a bit of a rush now. Visit her blog, it's one of my favorites! Also, I won the giveaway at Marie a la Mode, which includes some Mac cosmetics (one of my favorite brands). So yay, and thank you, and check out her site, too, because I adore hers as well. And, okay, while I'm handing out the thank yous here like they're going out of style, thanks as always for your comments (and support through following)! I'll be returning all comments from my last entry in a few days because, like I said, I'm a little pressed for time right now. But I want to let it be known that yes, I actually will return my comments because I think it's a common courtesy. So...yeah! I'm out like trout.

Tank top: Victoria's Secret
Vest: American Apparel
Pants: J. Crew
Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs
Floppy hat: UO

One piece wonder

There you have it: a smile with teef. And not just one, but two! Apparently I am quite excitable when I actually get my stuff done. And yes, "my stuff" would be that infamous stack of homework that's been dragging me down for a while. But today, I actually did everything I had planned to do, and then I went out and played with my camera. I'm quite content with my hair at the moment; I changed the part which gave it a little more volume, and I slept overnight with french braids, so all I had to do when I got up was unravel them and spritz and I had something similar to what one might call "a style."

It's still too hot to wear much of anything. Thank god rompers made a come-back recently; it's so nice to just grab one piece and have an outfit. I had paired it with a belt originally, but it didn't really need it, so I just threw on some rings and big hoop earrings (which is the point of the second picture, because it's the only one you can see them in. I'm serious, out of like...MANY pictures, that's the only one where my earrings are relatively visible. And the third one is the only one where my rings are in focus. Yeah! I'm a great photographer).

Romper: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Frye (I'm beginning to realize something--I own a lot of Frye shoes.
Rings: Various
Bag: M by MJ

Crop shop

My apologies for the long gap in between post, but, like most of my fellow Americans, I was celebrating the 4th of July via a long weekend away from home. I have absolutely no pictures from the weekend, despite bringing my camera, tripod, and multiple lenses with me. I had all intentions of trying to photograph the firework display, but my boyfriend and I ended up watching them from some of his friends' house, and it was my first time meeting them so I didn't want to be like, "Hi, nice to meet you. I'm just here to photograph the fireworks, kthxbye." But it was a decent weekend nevertheless. I went swimming for the first time in probably seven years (yeah, I'm serious) and I promptly discovered that I might have forgotten how to swim. Ate delicious bulgogi (my boyfriend's half Korean) and, for some reason, a shit ton of oatmeal.

It's been so hot recently that I haven't been dressing all that great. I'm sticking to cotton pieces, like this crop top (which I remember buying for like, $6 on sale a year ago) and skirt. I've been keeping the accessories pretty low-key too, because A) I'm just not that big of an accessory person in general, and B) they just feel so heavy in the humidity and heat! It's nice to just slip on a blazer when the sun goes down (I highly recommend one that blends in with the bushes like pictured above) (that was a joke). I feel like this outfit has a kind of 90's vibe, and for the record, I'm into it.

As always, thanks for all your comments! I'll be returning the ones from the last post tomorrow--I feel like I'm going to drop right now.

Crop top & skirt: Urban Outfitters
Blazer: Coldwater Creek (yes, I realize that's an old person store, but I was shopping with my mom and I fell in love with this piece)
Shoes: Frye
Clutch: M by M J
Sunnies: Chanel

Baby's in Black

There are times when I think I might just be the most unproductive person. Ever. I spend so much time doing absolutely nothing. I mean, I guess it's kind of a productive nothing...I surf the interwebs (sometimes, it's even academically related!). I mess around with my camera. I painted my nails yesterday. But at the end of the day, it's like...oh my God. I have absolutely nothing to show for my day. I know, I know, it could be worse. I could be sitting on my couch, smoking pot, eating Cheetos, and playing video games. That's probably what some people do with their summer. But I would actually like to get stuff accomplished, rather than sitting around pulling my tallywhacker.

I am making the same goddamn face in all of these photos.

Happy July everyone! Thanks to everybody for their comments, I really enjoy reading all the input! Extra thankies if you follow my blog, although I'm definitely not one of those people who is more hung up on getting a bunch of followers than actually posting quality entries.

Black lace top: Cheap Monday
Skirt: Forever 21
Belt: Anthropologie
Shoes & Nylon clutch: M by MJ