Under the Sea...

In the past few weeks fashion magazines have been going crazy about the upcoming Spring/Summer 2012 fashion trends as dictated by the catwalks of Chanel, Versace, McQueen etc..! (I know..how can we even start thinking about summer when it's still soooo cold outside !!) Well just because we're all still sporting our ever cherished cosy knits, it doesn't mean our nails have to be stuck in a winter style rut as well !

One of the trends that really shone through the new designer lines was the so called 'Under the Sea' chic ! This trend is all about a palette of irridescent blues, greens, silvers and pristine whites, with sparkly sequins to add a mermaidesque finish. Heres a few photos straight off the catwalks to give you an idea of what I'm talking about....

Ariel inspired Catwalk looks from Chanel, Versace and Alexander McQueen (Photo: Imaxtree)
http://fashionetc.com/fashion/trends/3418-spring-2012-trend-undertheseahttp://fashionetc.com/fashion/trends/3418-spring-2012-trend-under-the-sea

So after soaking up all this latest fashion info, I decided to write a new blog post on a few ideas about how this trend can translate nicely onto your nails. I tried out a few old polish combos and a few new polishes which I've recently acquired and I think I've come up with some good ideas to help you nail this trend (literally) !



Topshop's Beyond the Sea

 Beyond the Sea by Topshop Make Up

Firstly I applied one of the polishes which I've been holding onto for a while now, having never found quite the right time or event to wear it to. I got it from a mini collection of Topshop nail polishes when their Make Up Range was first released and it is named, quite ironically, 'Beyond the Sea'. It looks like a medium blue in the bottle, applies like a vivid teal and shines like a forest green in the sunlight...peculiar I know ! But it is the perfect seaweed shade to suit this trend! So here it is, the image on the left is three good coats of polish with topcoat and on the right I thought I'd see what it would look like with OPI's Silver Shatter, to be honest I'm not a big fan of the whole shatter craze..I mean I'm more of a block colour kind of girl myself but for those of you who do like it, I do think it looks quite nice over this colour and definitely sea queen material !

Topshop Beyond the Sea with OPI Silver Shatter



Topshop Beyond the Sea













Bourjois 18

Bourjois Ten Day Nail Enamel in Number 18

 Another lovely blue this time by Bourjois which sadly wasn't blessed with a name but does epitomise the tides of the sea. Bourjois make lovely nail polishes and I can't recommend them strongly enough for their fabulous colours, smooth application and good staying power (they're not lying when they say no chips) !! This colour in particular has a really light silver glimmer to it which you can tell from the photograph of the bottle and of the nails, giving it a nice metallic sheen. It also brings out a nice glow in warmer skintones and the fact that it actually paints as a medium blue is a refreshing change as many blue polishes you get seem to go really dark once you've done three coats ! I wanted to keep this one on for a few days so I didn't apply the shatter to it but I'm sure it would look equally as nice !



Bourjois 18

 Misty Jade by Rimmel



Rimmel's Misty Jade

Last of all I've chosen to feature this minty green that I just picked up along with some other Rimmel colours which were on offer in Boots. I really like this cool icy shade and I think it complements the 'Under the Sea' trend beautifully. The only complaint I have is that the formula was terribly runny and I had to apply three thick coats in order to get it to look even and even then I can still detect a slight opaqueness in the photo ! Not happy ! Such a shame as this pretty pastel is a perfect nod to the upcoming spring season ! It reminds me of Chanel's Jade which unfortunately I cannot afford, however this is not an exact duplicate because it has much more of a baby blue accent than the Chanel. I'm sure some other brand like OPI or Nails Inc might have a good copy but anyway back to the polish in question ! Despite the poor consistency, it's a nice colour for spring and a subtle way to work the trend, so I suggest buying a similar colour from another brand to get the same look !



Misty Jade (No Flash)

Misty Jade (Flash)



Painting the roses red...and other classic colours !!

Hmm where to start I thought ! Well nothings better than the classic go-to polishes that I use more often than any others. These polishes are to me so much more than a passing phase ! I've been wearing them for years now and I know that I will continue to do so for years to come (at least until they get discontinued!!) Maybe I should just take a leaf out of my mum's book and buy five bottles on ebay ! Anyway, anybody with coloured brown skin like mine will know all too well the dangers of wearing polishes that don't sit quite right against our skin colour ! Either too dark making our hands appear unusually pale or too bright causing them to look unnaturally darker than they are ! These classic colours do neither which is why I love them !

The Classic Nude

Image from http://www.comparestoreprices
.co.uk/images/ri/rimmel-lycra-pr
o-nail-polish-beige-style.jpg

Ok one polish every girl should have in her collection is the perfect daytime nude ! This natural colour will always look extremely elegant no matter what length or shape your nails are. It's a perfect colour to wear if your outfit is edging towards the brighter colours and you need something to balance it all out. It is essential however that you find the right nude to perfectly complement and add warmth to your skin tone.  The polish I use, which I admittedly stole from my mum, is Rimmel's Beige Style - three coats of this and a slick of a good quality top coat will leave your nails looking enviably chic !

Rimmel Beige Style on Medium Length Nails

Daytime Glamour



Image from http://www.co-operativep
harmacy.co.uk/assets/Pharmacy/catalogue
/product/large/378270.jpg

Another natural colour which I depend on for a flawlessly chic look is this pinky beige colour from the Bourjois So Laque range, called Beige Glamour. I wouldn't really say it was a beige myself more of a dusky browny pink, but what I do know is that it is a perfect match for my skin colour and a cool daytime look for those who prefer to keep their nails looking pretty and sophisticated ! Some may call it boring but every girl has to agree that there are days when you just want your nails to look nice and unobtrusive, to blend in with your outfit and accessories rather than overshadow them! Again a good three coats and a good quality top coat to finish should leave yout nails tickled pink for up to a week !



Painting the Roses Red...

Image from http://www.worcest
ernews.co.uk/resources
/images/1564658/?type=display

Every girls knows that to get her nails looking party ready, the ultimate failsafe colour has to be a rich ruby red ! Now the shade can vary depending on your skin colouring and the time of year, for example in the winter I tend to go for a slightly deeper red whereas in the summer it's all about the brights ! Nevertheless this colour is definitely eye catching and will certainly make sure that your nails are a stand out feature ! It's best to keep the colours of your outfit slightly more demure and muted to keep the nails centre stage, but if you're feeling brave then red nails against a sea of other brights will only make you look more confident !! The red I am most commonly sporting at the moment is Topshop's Bad Habit. Like most, I was at first sceptical of the new Topshop Make Up range however I have been pleasantly surprised by their variety of on trend colours and perfectly apt formulas ! As before a quick three coats followed by a topcoat and you're good to go !

Fashionably Grey...

Image from http://images.chemistdir
ect.co.uk/images/productima
es/large/o.p.iyoudontk
nowjacquesnlf1539429.jpeg

The last colour of my classic collection is a greyish taupe by OPI, called You Don't Know Jacques from the La Collection de France ! I love love love OPI nail polishes, from the sheer ease of application to the innovatively quirky names, this brand is definitely a one to watch for the latest trends in nail polish ! This colour in particular is good for when you're not really in the mood for a bright but you still want to stay on trend and fashionable ! One thing I would say is that it may be slightly dark for paler skintones but maybe just two coats would be sufficient in displaying the colour without appearing too harsh! Definitely one to be stored away till the colder months, You Don't Know Jacques will certainly remain a timeless classic !