BubblesPop

It’s true—I get a bit fanatical about nail polish. And now that the sun is finally shining and everyone’s donning their warm-weather attire, what better way to channel our need for a summer manicure fix than by showcasing the season’s freshest lacquers? I’ve got you covered with an awesome color wheel full of more than 30 totally transformative shades. So, instead of opting for your usual hues, get ready to kick up your digit decoration with a broad spectrum of brights (think true reds, eye-popping yellows, orange-infused corals, and sea-inspired turquoise blues), try on a gritty green, or go beyond the pale with an earthy neutral. Also included in my nail polish wheel of fortune: The top coat du jour—cracks in every color. Because when it comes to nails, nothing is really off-limits, so give it a whirl!

Neutral Territory: Channelling all things organic and natural, we tracked down gray, iridescent, white, and beige hues that quietly proclaim a dignified nature and also represent a fresh start.

neutral2 — Above, from left: MAC Surf Baby Nail Lacquer in Hangin' Loose, $15, available May 25 at MAC; RGB Nail Polish in Stone, $14, available at RGB.

Seeing Red: This season’s reds are so brilliantly punched up, they almost yield a cherry-scented impact. The hue is both joyful and seductive, and, in China, an omen of good luck and fortune. Who’s winning now?

: Above, from left: OPI Red Shatter, $14.95 (for Glam Slam! set with Rally Pretty Pink), visit OPI for locations; Estee Lauder Nail Lacquer in Pure Red, $19, available at Estee Lauder.

: Above, from left: Lancome Le Vernis in Sarong, $19, available at Lancome; Essie Nail Polish in Too Too Hot, $8, available in June at Essie.

Shocking Pink: Forget pastels. This season, it’s all about being flashy with bright, candy-colored fuchsias and magentas that call for action-packed, summer festivities.

Designers set sail this season sending stylish, nautical fashions down the catwalk at every show from Junya Watanabe to Christian Dior. I can’t blame them—sharp stripes, fresh whites, and natural fabrics feel perfectly summer-ready. But whether it’s a ship-shape dress or a high-waisted pair of sailor pants you choose, just remember to go light on the theme—too many rope bracelets, and you might as well walk the plank as a fashion victim.

Adam Denim Sailor Pants, $195, available at Adam.

A-Different-Stripe Maxi Dress, $138, available at Anthropologie.BDG Nautical Pullover, $15, available at Urban Outfitters.Betsey Johnson Star Ring, $36, available at Zappos.Calypso Striped Maxi Dress, $650, availablea at Calypso.Feel The Piece Casper Top, $77, available at Singer22.Forever21 Rhinestone Trimmed Rope Bracelet, $6.80, available at Forever21.J.Crew Silor Short, $68, available at J.CrewL.A.B. Navy Cotton Knit Striped Shawl Collar Cardigan, $106, available at Bluefly.Lauren by Ralph Lauren Pants, Fisher with Sailor Buttons, $100, available at Macy's.Madewell Noonday Stripe Shutterbug Top, $110, available at Madewell.Rachelle Celine Knot Earrings, $32, available at Simple Soles.Splendid Nautical Sandal, $98, available at Splendid.Tory Burch Maribel Skirt, $295, available at ToryBurch.Vans Nautical Colorblock Lo Pro Sneaker, $60, available at Urban Outfitters.White House Black Market Striped Swim Tote, $44, available at White House Black Market.

A while back I posted some of my fav sunglasses for summer and they included these Jeremy Scott X Linda Farrow beauties. Hurry up and get yours on Karmaloop…I know I will 😉

I’m obsessed with OPI‘s shatter nail polishes, so happy they extended the line with three blue-hued shades! The three new shatter shades includes: Blue, Navy and Turquoise. Inspired by graffiti art, Shatter leaves behind a crackled, two-texture finish when painted over any dry OPI hue. Adding top coat takes Shatter from matte to glossy in seconds. I love it! The collection launches this month, so get your shatter on!

Since Serena Williams’ first Glam Slam collection with OPI is so popular, they team up again with four additions to the collection, including two new shades of Shatter – Red and White. Launching in conjunction with the French Open, Glam Slam! France celebrates with two duo-packs. The first Lacquer set includes Spark de Triomphe (a monumentally marvelous gold glitter), paired with White Shatter. The second Lacquer set features Rally Pretty Pink (rise to the occasion with this shimmering sunset-pink), paired with Red Shatter. New shades in the Glam Slam! collection will be introduced to coincide with each of the four major tournaments, beginning with the Australian Open which was January 2011, followed by launches this month for the French Open, June 2011 for Wimbledon and August 2011 for the US Open. Glam Slam! France will be available beginning this month.

Go get’em girls 😉

Glam Slam! France Red Shatter, White Shatter, Rally Pretty Pink and Spark de Triomphe

News just broke that Patrick Robinson has been let go as executive vice president of Gap Global Design for Adult and Body. “After spending the last three months in New York with the creative team, I’ve made the decision to make a change within our Gap Adult design team,” said Pam Wallack, head of the Gap Global Creative Center. Robinson joined Gap in 2007 hoping to revive the brand, but his efforts did not make the mark as North America sales reports indicated negative sales results and inconsistent compared to its international operations. The brand is currently looking for a replacement, but in the interim, Jennifer Giangualano, senior vice president of Gap Kids and Baby Design, will help oversee the adult design team. [WWD] Who will be next?

I’VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT STRIPES LATELY BUT THE REASON IS: THEY ARE ALL THE RAGE RIGHT NOW. IN TANKS, MAXI DRESSES AND SKIRTS, INCORPORATING STRIPES INTO YOUR SRPING/SUMMER WARDROBE WILL BE A BREEZE. CHECK OUT THE BELOW NEW STYLES NOW AVAILABLE ON SHOPBOP.COM

Bronzer is key in my daily morning makeup routine. So below I talk about the different kinds and which one can work for you, since there are sooooo many. 😉

Bronzer definitely has a lock on summer. With its universally appealing sun-kissed finish, a touch of bronzer adds an instant glow that evokes a breezy, beachy, weekend look. But it’s not foolproof, or, unlike the bright makeup we’re also loving this summer, something to take creative license with. Read: Over-applying or picking the wrong shade can result in that cringe-inducing, beyond bronzed look. In the hopes of demystify the world of bronzer, we turned to celebrity makeup artist Carmindy for some expert tips, and also rounded up a bevy of new bronzers, including options that go beyond the basics—think shimmer, cream, and liquid formulas. Because, as Carmindy affirms, “everyone can wear a bronzer, it’s just about knowing which shade works best for you.” 1. Pick Your Shade and Go Easy With Application—”Go about two shades deeper than your natural coloring, and don’t dust bronzer all over the face, which can make you look dirty,” says Carmindy. “Instead, strategically brush it on in a C formation. Start at the temples and sweep along the sides of the face and under cheeks for a more natural glow. You can add a slight sweep across forehead, nose, and chin at the end, but very lightly.”

Above, from left Chloe spring '11 images courtesy of MAC MAC Bronzing Powder in Matte Bronze, $23, available at MAC — Above, from left: Chloe spring '11 images courtesy of MAC; MAC Bronzing Powder in Matte Bronze, $23, available at MAC

2. Matte vs. Shimmer—A common mistake Carmindy sees often is applying a too-dark metallic bronzer all over the face. Instead, for day, try a matte bronzer: “Matte looks good if it’s very sheer and applied lightly,” she says. “It’s more natural than shimmer bronzer, so it wears best during the day and on lighter skin tones. If you’re really porcelain, make sure you use a very light shade of bronzer, and if your skin is really dark, use a deep shade with a bit of shimmer.”

imageCA6BBZ70 — Above, from left: Maybelline Fit Me! Bronzer in Light Bronze, $4.99, available at Ulta; Sephora Oversized Sun Disk in Aruba, $22, and Body Buki Brush, $25, available at Sephora.

3. Rules Of Sparkle—”Make sure to only use heavily metallic bronzer at night and stick to shimmer bronzers that have a slight pearlescent glow for day.”

Above, from left: Urban Decay Baked Bronzer in Gilded, $26, available at Urban Decay; Bronze Goddess images courtesy of Estée Lauder.

4. Try A Bronzer-Blush Combo—Carmindy recommends using bronzer and blush separately, with the blush applied on the apples of the cheeks and bronzer in the C formation. But some duos are made for blending and these duos can give you a brightened up tan if you start off light and build from there.

Above, from left: Chanel Soilel Tan de Chanel in Bronze Corail, $50, available at Chanel; Topshop Cheek Duo in Desert Sun, $24, available at Topshop; Too Faced Peach Leopard Brightening & Perfecting Bronzer, $28, available at Sephora; Dior Diorskin Nude Healthy Glow Powder in Aurora, $46, available at Saks; Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sunglow Powder Bronzer, $12.99, available at drugstores nationwide or visit Sally Hansen Natural Beauty.

5. Step Into Liquid—”Liquids can be messy and tricky,” says Carmindy. “So, it’s easier to stick to creams or powders. But if you must use liquids, try mixing them in with your moisturizer.” Plus, some of the new products with a foundation-like texture (like Guerlain’s Terracotta foundation and Stila’s One Step), help illuminate and can be applied all over the face or just in the T-zone.

imageliq — Above, from left: Chloe spring '11 images courtesy of MAC; Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Luminous Liquid Bronzer, $28.50, available at Estée Lauder; Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Bronze Shimmer Dust, $39, available at Sephora; Stila One Step Bronze, $29.95, available at Stila ; Guerlain Terracotta Skin Healthy Glow Foundation, $49, available at Sephora.

Now is the time to bust out your whites, as smartly styled by Nicole from Gary Pepper Vintage. She puts together a look, made up of a chiffon skirt, striped top, cardigan, and oxfords, that’s Spring defined. Inspired? Shop my similar and exact picks from American Apparel, Rag & Bone, and Topshop now.

Left to right: American Apparel Chiffon Skirt ($58), Rag & Bone Beach Tee ($150), Topshop Cross Necklace ($28), American Apparel Bobby Oxfords ($120), Topshop Crochet Cardigan ($60), Yves Saint Laurent Ring ($195), MAC Lip Gloss ($19), Rebecca Minkoff Tote Bag ($150)

Neons and Neutrals

To say the S/S 11 shows were bright is an understatement, to put it mildly. Between the fluorescent pink column skirts at Jil Sander, electric blue accents at Versace, and acid yellow sweater dresses at Cacharel, there was enough neon on the runways to power the Jem and the Holograms 1986 World Tour. But while everyone loves a kitschy ’80s reference, no one actually wants to look like a cartoon character—so what’s a fashion-loving girl to do? My suggestion is easy: simply temper your not-so-quiet neons with traditional neutrals to create a sophisticated take on this of-the-moment look!

If you need some concrete examples of how to execute this neon-neutral mash-up in a fashionable way, I suggest checking out the streets and some stylish celebs for reference. For example, Jessica Alba was early on this trend when she wore a nude and neon yellow Miu Miu dress to a dinner celebrating the brand’s new London store late last year. The nude bodice and Alba’s equally neutral platform heels perfectly compliment the frock’s highlighter-yellow skirt. For a more casual take on this look, take a page from Rashida Jones’ playbook. The actress was snapped at the Lucky Shops L.A. event last month wearing a darling outfit starring Prada’s Striped Drill Skirt ($650, 212.327.4200). Her pink and black mini skirt is the standout item, and she let it stay in the spotlight by wearing it with interesting, neutral pieces, including a gray Rebecca Taylor Gray Marled Sweater ($295, 212.243.2600), army green Isabel Marant jacket, and khaki 3.1 Phillip Lim X-Cellent HighHeel Sandlas ($675). I also totally approve of the way a stylish civilian on Stockholm Street Style wears this look and love the idea of pairing a neon pink draped dress with a nude leather vest.

With all of these inspirational references in mind, it’s easy to create your own version of the neon and neutral look—especially with the help of the amazing products I found! If you’re looking for a high-end, effortless option, you simply must check out Jil Sander’s Neon T-Shirt ($259) in Bright Fuchsia, which would look fresh with white trousers or flare jeans. I also adore Vanessa Bruno’s Neon Woven Shorts ($390), an as-seen-on-the-runway piece that is perfect for summer barbecues. For a thrifty thrill, don’t miss Zara’s Two-Tone Dress ($69.90, 323.935.5041) in Nude/Orange; its simple, body-skimming silhouette is so chic!

If you’re hesitant about committing to an article of clothing, no worries, there are loads of accessories that will work too. Marc by Marc Jacobs’ Tangramarama Rocky Bag ($478) in Jalapeno will update your basics in a festive way. I also adore Marc Fisher’s Sabina Sandals ($89)—a darling cork wedge with an electric turquoise patent upper and a tan ankle strap—which would look so cute with a floaty white dress! For even less commitment, you could always nab one of Madewell’s Colorblock Chain Cuffs ($18) in Limeade or the new NARS Pure Matte Lipstick ($25) in Carthage, which is the most amazing shade of hot pink I’ve ever seen! However you incorporate neon and nude into your wardrobe, just make sure you go for uncomplicated silhouettes and otherwise understated makeup. By opting for simplicity, you’ll keep the focus on the color—which is exactly what you want!

Photo of Jessica Alba, courtesy of Getty; Photo of Rashida Jones, courtesy of Wenn; Versace and Jil Sander runway images, courtesy of PR Consulting; MaxMara runway image, courtesy of First View, Cacharel runway image, courtesy of Cacharel

NARS Laguna Bronzer is my go-to bronzer in my make up bag- I simply don’t leave the house without it. With that being said, I was extremely excited to hear about their new launch.

NARS introduces a limited-edition collection of products this summer inspired by the cult classic Laguna Bronzing Powder. Taking a cue from Founder & Creative Director François Nars’ island, Motu Tane, the collection evokes vivid images of the exotic French Polynesia. The campaign image, photographed by François Nars, boasts a stunning black and white image of a Tahitian woman. The collection is available now on www.narscosmetics.com.

Products include:
· Laguna Body Illuminator ($45) – After the high demand of light-reflecting golden bronze face Illuminator comes an Illuminator designed for body application that won’t transfer onto clothing. Perfect for legs, neck and décolleté, the Body Illuminator is a limited-edition product.
· Laguna Multiple ($39) – Fusing an iconic shade with a cult classic formula, the brown with golden shimmer shade will debut for the first time as a limited-edition Multiple – perfect for highlighting, lightly contouring, or all-over bronzing.
· Orgasm, Albatross, Laguna ‘Blush/Bronzer Trio’ ($55) – Three iconic NARS products, one portable zip-around compact. With Orgasm Blush, Albatross Highlighting Blush Powder, and Laguna Bronzing Powder, this limited-edition trio makes a flawless complexion more attainable than ever.

BubblesPop

Posts

Super Summer Nail Polish Guide

Get Ship-Shape In The New Nautical

Jeremy Scott x Linda Farrow Sunglasses @ Karmaloop

OPI Launches Blue Shatters & Glam Slam! France Collections

Patrick Robinson Let Go From Gap

STRIPES AHEAD….

Golden Goddesses: Killer Summer Bronzer Guide

STRIPES AND WHITES

NEONS & NEUTRALS

NARS LAGUNA: Portrait of Paradise Collection